The INFORMS Practice Conference, set for May 4-6 at the Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz., will focus on applying OR strategies in mission-critical business applications. The early registration rate of $785 for members, $895 for nonmembers is available through April 5 (rates increase by $100 after April 5). Companies can also take advantage of a "team discount" rate of $690 (by April 5) when they send three or more attendees to the meeting. All social and meal functions (breakfast, lunch and two evening receptions) are included in the registration fees.

The conference is designed around the theme of "Creating Value in the Extended Enterprise," with an emphasis on applications and best practices. The 60 speakers on the program represent more than 20 leading companies (Intel, General Motors, HP, Merrill Lynch, Dell, SAP, General Mills, Shell, Manugistics and others), as well as top business and engineering schools.

This year, the program will offer specialized tracks on supply chain management, risk analysis, new trends/emerging ideas, revenue management and the resource industry. In addition, the popular tutorial tracks on OR methodologies and software innovations will be continued.

Each of the 11 methodology tutorials will be presented twice and cover areas such as data mining, auction mechanism, capital budgeting decisions, constraint programming, simulation and stochastic optimization. Exhibiting companies, including Frontline Systems, GoldSim Technology, ILOG, LINDO Systems, Maximal Software and others, will provide software tutorials.

Peter Princi, manager of logistics and order fulfillment for the Americas at ExxonMobil, and Gerald Brown, professor of OR at the Naval Postgraduate School, will make keynote presentations. Princi will provide an inside look at how OR helped merge Exxon and Mobil's lubricant business logistics. Brown will pose the question, "Has IT made OR obsolete?" in what promises to be a provocative talk.

The 2003 Franz Edelman Competition, sponsored by CPMS-The Practice Section of INFORMS, will be fully integrated into the conference so that attendees can select Edelman presentations as part of their track choices. On Monday, May 5, six finalists will showcase high-impact examples of OR in practice. The winning presentation will be reprised the next day as a plenary. Among the organizations represented in this year's competition are Hewlett-Packard, Texas Children's Hospital, Canadian Pacific Railroad, Emery Forwarding, Bank Hapoalim, United Service Air Network and others.

Several optional pre-conference programs have been added this year. CPMS is planning a dinner and keynote speaker on Saturday evening, May 3. Several companies, such as ILOG and Maximal Software, will offer workshops on Sunday, May 4. The conference itself kicks off with a reception on Sunday evening. Check the conference Web page (www.informs.org/Conf/Practice03) for more information on these special events.

The conference location, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, opened in October 2002 and was profiled in TIME magazine as one of the country's best new "themed" hotels. A collaborative venture between Sheraton and the Pima and Maricopa Tribes, the hotel complex features two, 18-hole golf courses, an equestrian center, riverside swimming pools, a lavish spa and 40 acres where wild horses roam free. It's been called the perfect blend of resort luxury with Native American artistry and majestic Southwest scenery. INFORMS' low room rate is $149 single/double (call toll-free 866-837-4156 or 602-225-0100 to make reservations).

For continuing updates and to register, go to www.informs.org/Conf/Practice03; call 800-343-0062 or 401-722-2595; or send an e-mail to meetings@informs.org.

Something New! Specialized Tracks Supply Chain Management Risk Analysis New Trends/Emerging Ideas Revenue Management The Resource Industry Methodology Tutorials Software Innovations