Annual Conference - Frequently Asked Questions

  • You book by completing a short form via the ALMA website. Our events are also advertised in the ALMA Newsletter, so you can complete your booking using the link provided there as well.

  • If places are available you can book up until 24 hours beforehand.

  • The Annual Conference is a paid event and prices are available on the website from October onwards. (The Annual Conference is held on the last Thursday and Friday of January each year).

    The Conference package includes the cost of attending the conference and overnight accommodation at the venue. The cost of accommodation must be paid to the hotel on either arrival or departure at the conference. If you do not use your accommodation, the cost must still be settled directly with the hotel.

  • ALMA payment terms are 30 days from the date of the invoice, and in any event the invoice must be settled in full before the start date of the conference.

  • On submission of the booking form, ALMA will issue an invoice which must be paid in full prior to the event in order to secure your place.

    Once the booking has been processed, joining instructions will be sent via email usually within 72 hours of the booking being received. A reminder email is then sent out 48 hours prior to the date of the Annual Conference. If you have not received your delegate instructions 24 hours before the event, please notify ALMA by emailing info@ukalma.org.uk. ALMA accepts no responsibility for non-receipt of joining instructions.

  • The Conference starts at 2pm on the Thursday afternoon. There is a conference dinner on Thursday evening and the main conference takes place on the Friday, from 8.45am – 4pm.

  • If we are able to provide copies of the slides used at the event, these will be available afterwards on the ALMA website.

  • Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided throughout the day. Water will be available in the room.

    Lunch is provided for all delegates on the Friday of the conference. A formal drinks reception and dinner takes place on the Thursday evening.

    Dietary requirements will be requested on the booking form. However, if you have any other specific requirements, please email ALMA on info@ukalma.org.uk.

  • The dress code is office casual. For the dinner, the dress code is business attire

  • Cancellation terms will apply once a completed booking has been received (inclusive or exclusive of payment). Please note that cancellations can only be accepted by email at info@ukalma.org.uk and are subject to the following conditions:

    1. Cancellations must be received more than 10 days before the event start date for a refund of the full fee less a 15% (plus VAT) cancellation fee. Cancellations received less than the above number of days before the conference start date will not be refunded, but a nomination for a replacement delegate will be accepted without any additional charges.

    2. The Conference package includes the cost of attending the conference and overnight accommodation at the venue. The cost of accommodation must be paid to the hotel on either arrival or departure at the conference. If you do not use your accommodation, the cost must still be settled directly with the hotel.

    3. If ALMA cancels the event for a reason within its control, then delegates will be offered a full refund or a credit note against an equivalent future ALMA event. Delegates will not be entitled to a refund or credit note for any cancellation outside ALMA’s control, such as, for example, fire, flood, epidemic, terrorism or governmental order. 

  • At ALMA, we want to encourage open discussion and debate. To this end, all the conference will be held under the Chatham House Rule. This means that you are free to use the information discussed by anyone at the conference but you are not allowed to attribute comments to them or their organisation.  Please note that no recordings (either audio or visual) may be made during any part of the conference.  Any delegate found not to have followed this request may be asked to leave the conference and may be excluded from future ALMA events.