Registration opens in late May, with the first week reserved for members only. Make sure you sign up promptly – METMs tend to sell out fast. If you miss out, join the waiting list, because places often open up later.

We want to make METM23 accessible for everyone. Here’s what we have in place so far:

• Opt-in attendee list with photos on the website, so you can familiarize yourself with people before you arrive
• Name badges for all attendees. First-time attendees identified with green lanyards and council members with red ones
• Ushers at the registration desk to help you get to the right room at the right time
• Ample time to change rooms between sessions
• Use of Sala Didattica Federico Boccalari as a quiet space
• Auditorium boxes on the first floor where you can sit quietly and listen to the presentations from a distance

If you need anything else, please contact Hayley Smith before the conference to let us know how we can help.

• Mantua is flat, but several streets and squares are cobbled.
• I Saloni di Ca’ Uberti (Friday welcome reception) has steps at the main entrance. Take the step-free side-street access and lift to the first floor.
• All floors at the conference centre are accessible by lift.
• Conference room 3 (Sala Volpi Ghirardini) has steep courtyard steps. Avoid the steps by using the main-building lift to the basement.
• Friday welcome reception and Saturday lunch are standing events. Seats are available if needed.
• Saturday closing dinner (Ristorante Rigoletto): see "At the conference" section below.
• All pre-conference workshops are at the main venue.
• The main venue has four toilets on the second floor and six in the basement.

If you need to know anything else, please contact Hayley Smith before the conference to let us know how we can help.

We’re keen to make METM23 as green as possible. This means no printed programme, swag, bag, raffle tickets, plastic cups or bottles. At the conference, please

• Use the conference app or print out the programme before you travel
• Bring a reusable water bottle – you can fill up at the coffee breaks
• Bring a bag, notepad and pen (unless you’re a digital note-taker)
• Get your raffle ticket on the day by clicking the button at the bottom of My METM¹
• Find travel buddies on the METM23 Facebook group (see email registration confirmation for link)

Yes, you can cancel your registration at any time by writing to our treasurer, Heather Hamilton. If you cancel before 30 September, we’ll give you a full refund minus a €40 handling fee. Cancellations after this date will not qualify for a refund unless you discover you have Covid before you travel.

Yes! Go to My METM¹ to update your details (dietary requirements, allergies, badge text) and other options (off-METM meal tables, city tour, yoga). Change anything you like until Tuesday, 4 October, when we’ll freeze all items to finalize arrangements.

Change anything you like until nearer the time, when we’ll freeze some items to finalize arrangements – we’ll give you some warning.

Check the entry requirements for Italy before you travel. Consider wearing a mask when travelling to METM23 to lower the risk of transmitting Covid when we're all together. (Read this report from METM22.) If you want to wear a face covering or keep your distance from others during the conference, please do so.

If you develop Covid or Covid symptoms just before METM23, do not travel. We will give you a full refund – see cancellations FAQ above. If you start having symptoms during the conference, stay away from the venue and inform Heather Hamilton.

The most common power socket in Italy is type L. You may also find type F. Note that type C plugs will fit into both type L and type F sockets. Read more.

• In Android: Open the METM23 pages in Chrome; tap the three-dot menu icon; select Add to Home screen
• In iOS: Launch Safari; connect to the METM23 pages; tap the Share button; tap Add to Home Screen

Please pay by cash on the day (exact change if possible). As a reminder: we book the tables and you split the bill with your fellow diners.

The desk will be open from 13:00 on Thursday. See programme for detailed times.

To arrange shared meals, travel or accommodation with fellow attendees, try posting requests in our private Facebook group (METM23 in Mantua).

As an alternative to our off-METM tables, meet up with other meal buddies by the registration desk:

• Thursday evening: meet at 19:20
• Friday lunch: meet at 12:45

If you have a question before you travel, please write to Hayley Smith.

Check out this pinned map for the venue and other key METM23 locations.

Ristorante Rigoletto is a 20-minute walk from the town centre. A free shuttle bus (TE) runs from various stops in town to the Campo Canoa car park close to the restaurant every 12 minutes until 21:00. Bus lines 4C, 4S, 4T, 6 and 12 also serve Campo Canoa. Since there is no late-night public transport, you may wish to book a taxi back afterwards (see taxi FAQ).

Yes, Mamu Café will be open 07:00-15:00 and 18:00-24:00 on the conference days.

#METM23
Our Twitter handle is @METMeetings. Do tag us!

Network name: TBC
Password: TBC

Vegan options are available at coffee breaks, the welcome reception on Friday, and lunch and dinner on Saturday. Mantua has no vegan-only restaurants, but vegan dishes are offered at several venues around the town.

Radiotaxi Mantova: +39 0376 368844 or +39 335 5959285 , Giannino Malpetti: +39 342 15 04 101 , Mirco Bertoldi: +39 388 699 8170 , Cesare Pellai: +39 335 687 2844 , Rinaldo Legati: +39 347 229 0443 , Giannina Turola: +39 342 797 4862 , Rosario Piro

• Red lanyard: council member
• Green lanyard: first-time attendee
• White ribbon: ushers and local team

Please call by the registration desk or speak to a council member if there’s anything we can help you with. Council members will be wearing red lanyards.