The International Centre for Anti-consumption Research (ICAR)
The International Centre of Anti-Consumption (ICAR) is located at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). ICAR was founded and is led by Mike S. W. Lee. ICAR comprises a network of marketing academics, practitioners, and social scientists from various universities all around the globe.
The University of Almería
The University of Almería (UAL) is located on the Mediterranean sea in Almería, southeast Spain. It is a research-oriented university with 38 degree programs, 12,000 students and over 600 graduate students. Founded in 1993, it is home to several international centers of excellence including but not limited to agriculture, climate change, solar energy, human migration, communication and society, etc.
Almería and sourroundings
Almería is a coastal city located in the South-eastern corner of Spain. Warm temperature, dry climate and bright sky are some of the features that had made the city earn the title of “the Sunniest European City”. With a population of about 200,000 inhabitants, the city of Almería holds a great deal of charm and is steeped in history. While the archaeological remains testify population that already had more than 2000 years ago, the city was formally founded 1,000 years ago as Arab port of Córdoba’s Caliphate. From that period the city still conserves several monuments, most notably the Alcazaba, the second largest Muslim fortress in the region of Andalucia. Besides its Arab heritage, the city also offers interesting monuments like the Christian Cathedral-Fortress, the Cable Inglés (mineral loader), the railway station, the central market, the civil war shelters or different museums (i.e., archeological, cinema, guitar or photography).
Almeria is also closely linked to the film industry. Among its major streets, several cinematographic works they were filmed and its monuments have been locations for films like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Conan the Barbarian, Lawrence of Arabia, and Patton. More recently, Exodus and Game of Thrones (sixth season) have chosen Almería as a film set. Regarding gastronomy, Almería is well-known for its tapas, small portions of food, which are served when you order a drink. Under this format, visitors can enjoy a wide array of possibilities, from traditional Mediterranean dishes to fusion and new cuisine. However, a trip to Almeria includes much more; the municipality has incredible beaches, green spaces, and a natural park which will make your trip to the city an enjoyable experience.
Regarding the surroundings of the city, few regions in Spain can offer the large variety of activities offered in Almería, as a result of its varied geography. Within a few kilometers, visitors can move from a rugged and mountainous landscape to a paradisiacal one, with sun-drenched beaches, some of them among the best in Spain. Even more, in Almería you may also find the Tabernas desert, which is unique in Europe.
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Travel and accommodation
Transport
Almería has got a train station, a bus station and an airport. In addition it has got a highway network that links the city with the rest of the country. Almería airport is small and has few connections (the most important one is the connection with Madrid, which lasts one hour and has several flights every day), but is placed only 15 minutes by car from the city center. A taxi will cost you around 15-20€. In addition there is a bus line that links the airport with the city (line 30). Another option consists in flying to Málaga airport (which offers flights from/to more destinations) and then taking the bus (there is a direct connection with the airport) to Almería. Using the train or the bus can be a good option if you come to Almería from Madrid, but you should be prepared for a long journey (6.30-7.00 hours).
Once you are in Almería, it is possible to go to the University by bus (lines 11, 12, 18). A single trip costs 1,05 €. You can also take a taxi.
Accomodation
Please note that the conference is located at the University of Almería, which is not close to the city centre. However, our recommendation would be to book a hotel near to the city centre, since there is a regular communication by bus.
Recommended hotels: