Conference Hints,Tips and Warnings

During this difficult time and the COVID-19 pandemic, please check and double check that the conference you have booked for or planning to book for, is still available and running.  From May 2020 conference organisers seem to think it will be alright to carry on as normal. However, that is a matter of wait and see.  In the meantime as an alternative, many orgzanisers have scheduled webinars and online activities.   Where they are available, we will add this to our listings.

1. Practical Environmental Options and Eagle Environmental checks event listing details, as far as possible, at the time of inclusion in our listings. We cannot take responsibility, or be held liable, for any subsequent changes that may occur. Event organisers do not always notify us of changes. Please check directly with the event organisers for changes in details. If you are formally booked for an event, the organisers will normally notify you of any changes that may occur, such as venue changes.

2. Although Practical Environmental Options and Eagle Environmental checks details of listings, you should always contact the event organisers directly by phone, email, telephone, or website to confirm details and bookings. Practical Environmental Options and Eagle Environmental are not involved in the events, unless specifically noted in the listing. All queries should be referred to the organisers of the event.

3. For multiple day events, do not assume that the registration fee will include accommodation. Event organisers may arrange for accommodation discounts but they rarely include accommodation in the registration fee unless it is clearly stated on the event documentation.

4. Single day or part day events normally include provision for refreshments but you should confirm this at the time of booking. At the same time, confirm specific preferences such as Halal, Kosher, diabetic, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, etc.

5. When booking for an event, remember to include provision in your planning and budgeting for travelling to the event, accommodation and meals (as appropriate), and transport to and from an airport to the venue if you have to fly to the event location.

6. Consider carefully the start time of the event and the time it takes for you to get to the event location. You may want to save money by travelling to and from the location on the same day but travel logistics such as flight times and morning traffic congestion may inhibit this. It is much better to travel the day before, get a good night’s sleep and attend the event rested and refreshed and ready to absorb the topic of the event.

We recommend that you take some or all of the following basic precautions to check the event and its organisers:-

  • Phone the organisers and discuss your needs. During the phone call, ask for details of their credentials, educational or SETA registrations, and any other references or testimonials (including contact persons) they can provide you with regarding their bona fides.
  • Try and find independent references to the existence and operation of the organising company or training institution by using Google, telephone directories, Department of Education and Training databases, and relevant SETAs (Sector Education Training Authorities).
  • Use Google to search for “scam” training courses, referring to the name of the organisation and the course. People will often describe scam situations on websites or blogs and Google will pick these up.
  • If you are really suspicious or worried, check if the event organiser’s bank account is genuine. A call to the bank’s customer care line will give you the information needed to check if the bank account is genuine or subject to investigation.
  • You could also check the venue for the course and confirm if a booking has actually been made there.

We hope this helps you to make an informed choice.