Spouse And Guest Hospitality Program

Spouses and guests are encouraged and invited to attend the APEC 2005 Conference. Aside from the APEC activities, the Austin area offers an enormous range of cultural, sightseeing and shopping activities.

In addition to the Spouse and Guest specific activities, spouses and guests are welcome at all APEC social and dining events. Please be sure to register for a badge in order to participate.

In particular, spouses and guests are welcome at the Exhibitor Receptions (badge required), Exhibit Hall Luncheons (ticket required), the Conference Social Event (ticket required), Rap Sessions (badge required), the MicroMouse Contest and the Technical Tour (free but reservation required).

To make your visit rewarding and enjoyable, APEC has put together a Spouse and Guest Hospitality Program for registered spouses and guests including:

• A Hospitality Room that will be open each morning,
• A complimentary, welcoming continental breakfast,
• Optional tours on Monday and Tuesday

You can find information about travel, accomodations and dining at APEC and in the area around the hotel in the APEC 2005 Web pages.

Hospitality Room

APEC 2005 has arranged Room 404 of the Hilton Hotel as a daily meeting place for the spouses and guests of APEC attendees. The room will be open and coffee served Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

Welcoming Breakfast

Monday, March 7th, 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Room 404

To help you start off what will be an exciting week, APEC is serving a continental breakfast for spouses and guests on Monday morning. This is a great time to meet old friends and make new ones. This event is complimentary to registered spouses and guests but you must have your name badge to be admitted.

Optional Tours

Monday, March 7th
Texas Legends and Lore

This tour begins with the Story of Texas, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. It is a most magnificent museum honoring the memory of one of Texas' legendary politicians, Bob Bullock, as well as paying tribute to the deep love he had for his home state!

The museum exemplifies the bigger than life persona of Texas and Texans. There are a variety of fun and whimsical displays that depict Texas valor, vision, pride, perseverance, swagger and showmanship! We will experience the Texas Spirit Theatre, which is a multimedia event entitled "The Star of Destiny" which focuses on Texas stories of perseverance. Historic events such as the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 come to life with amazing special effects. Seats shake as visitors witness a gusher exploding from an East Texas oil derrick and the takeoff of a Saturn V rocket as seen from Mission Control at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston.

What is a bigger Texas legend than the late President Lyndon Baines Johnson? The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum on the University of Texas Campus houses Johnson's desire to "show the facts, not just the joy and triumphs, but the sorrow and failures too". This incredible facility is one of eleven Presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Displays include the landmark Civil Rights Programs, the war in Vietnam and many other historical events which took place during the Johnson administration.

Lunch, included in the cost of the tour, will be typically Texan!

The cost per person is $64.

Please meet in the Spouse and Guest Hospitality Room (Room 404) at 9:00 AM. The bus will start loading at 9:30 AM and will depart as soon as possible. The buses are expected to return to the Austin Hilton about 4:00 PM.

When you arrive, APEC suggests that you check with the Conference Registration Center for the latest information on the specific pick-up time and location.

Tuesday, March 8th
Take A Walk on the Wild Side

This tour shows us the Capital City from a Duck's Eye view! Riding in an amphibious vehicle from the Austin Duck Tours, we will begin with a tour of downtown Austin as our professional guide weaves the stories of Austin's past and present with clever anecdotes. We will see the State Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, the Bob Bullock Museum, the historic Congress Avenue and the ever-popular and music-rich Sixth Street before "splashing" into nearby Lake Austin. From downtown, it's a straight drive and dive into Lake Austin for a Duck's Eye view of Austin's city skyline and a fun spin around the waters of this beautiful downtown lake which is surrounded by beautiful homes along the banks of the Colorado River! These off road amphibious cargo carrier vehicles reach a top speed of 40 miles an hour on land and about 6 knots in the water! Once used by the military to carry heavy equipment, these vehicles are now used for fun and entertainment.

Back on dry land, we'll be planting the seeds for fun! At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center a docent-guided tour offers a customized view of the many magnificent features of this national treasure of display gardens and stunning architecture where wildflowers are the focus. Surrounded by fields of blooming color we will be transported into a wildflower wonderland found only in Austin, Texas.

To fuel up for continued adventure, for lunch we'll stop at Guero's Taco Bar for fajitas and queso. The cost of this lunch is included in the cost of the tour. Our final "only in Austin" stop will be shopping on South Congress Avenue. New York's SoHo has nothing on Austin's "SoCo". Whether you're window shopping or taking home that special souvenir, you'll go wild over the unique and eclectic shops along the Avenue. In this easy-to-walk, five block fantasia you'll find a sampling of antiques, vintage clothing, western outfitters, imaginative toys, restaurants and cafes and a bevy of other incredible wares! The view up the Avenue towards the Capitol and downtown is Austin like you've never seen it!

The cost is $80.00 per person.

Please meet in the Spouse and Guest Hospitality Room (Room 404) at 9:00 AM. The bus will start loading at 9:30 AM and will depart as soon as possible. The buses are expected to return to the Austin Hilton about 4:00 PM.

When you arrive, APEC suggests that you check with the Conference Registration Center for the latest information on the specific pick-up time and location.

Other Tours

Austin, nearby San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country have such a variety of places of interest that we were unable to choose tours or attractions that would appeal to all. For example, historic and scenic San Antonio is only about a 90 minute drive from Austin. Even closer, about 35 minutes from Austin and on the way to San Antonio, are the seemingly endless outlet malls (over 200 stores!) of San Marcos, Texas. APEC is sure that you will find far more that catches your interest than you will have time or energy to explore.

Please check with the Hilton Hotel concierge for information on available sightseeing tours, cultural events and shopping.