The European Guide Dog Federation Conference in Athens
We are pleased to invite you to the historic city of Athens, Attica Greece for our 2022 conference.
Our local hosts are the Lara and Greek Guide Dog Schools
The conference will run from 16:00 on Thursday and finish with dinner on Saturday night. Sight-seeing will be arranged for Sunday We are pleased to tell you that the conference cost at €200 for members/supporters and €250 for non members is only €10 more than our last conference in 2019, despite spiralling costs. The detailed conference programme will be announced shortly.
Our venue is the Ramada Athens Attica Riviera, Nea Makri, Attica, Greece. A 30-minute drive from the airport and just an hour from the centre of Athens, the hotel sits right on the Agean Sea. In addition to top class conference facilities, the hotel has wonderful outside garden areas, easy access to 2 beaches, an outdoor pool and second indoor pool as part of the hotel spa. The special rates we have negotiated for all delegates can be extended for 3 nights either side of the conference - so it you are need of a getaway - now is your chance!!
We are planning a varied and exciting programme, but as always presentations from members are welcome. If you or someone you know, could make a meaningful contribution, please let us know. Email us with your name, organisation, country, type of presentation and a summary. Deadline for this is 1st August 2022.
The conference begins on Thursday, 22 September at 16:00 and finishes on Saturday at 17:00. Breakfast is included in the room rate. The conference fee includes morning and afternoon coffee breaks, lunch on Friday and Saturday. On Friday evening we have arranged a welcome dinner at a small beachfront restaurant a short walk from the hotel. Our Gala dinner will be held on Saturday night in the gardens of the hotel, with entertainment from local blind dancers and a choir of children from the blind school in Athens.
On Sunday morning there will be a meeting for board members from 8:30 to 11:00 and free time for other delegates to enjoy the beach, pool or spa. An optional sightseeing tour including lunch is planned for the afternoon, returning to the hotel at 17:30.
We will offer 'Meet and Greet' services at the airport on Wednesday and Thursday. Transport will be arranged back to the airport on Sunday or Monday. Outside of those times, you should arrange your own transport to or from the hotel. Guide dog spending facilities will be available at the hotel, with volunteers there to help.
As previously mentioned, you can benefit from our special conference rates from Monday, 19th September through Tuesday night, 27th September, if you would like to extend your stay. All hotel bookings must be made through EGDF to get these rates.
Here is a link to the hotel's website where you can find more information about the hotel and local area. Ramada Hotel
- Updates on technology to assist access for disabled people
- Disability awareness training for service providers
- Air travel regulations for guide and assistance dogs
- Reports from our European associates - European Disability Forum (EDF) European Blind Union (EBU) and Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu)
- Developments in Greece on the provision of guide and assistance dogs
- New developments in sustainable canine nutrition
- The implications of waiting for a replacement guide dog
- Update on the European standards for assistance dogs
- Training trends for assistance dogs from around Europe and further afield - presentations from members and open discussion
We would love you to present the trends, ideas and problems you are facing in your organisations, please contact jane@egdfed.org if you are able to share your experiences.
If you have not yet registered, full details and the booking form can be found here on our website or you can go straight to the booking forms below
Booking form - pdf
Booking form - download - word.doc
Booking form - online form