• Important notice regarding fraudulent websites

    Be aware of fraudulent websites, companies and individuals that link to the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress to offer registrations, hotel bookings and other services. ERS does not accept any responsibility for bookings made via unofficial websites/agencies or any money lost as a result. This website is the official and only ERS Congress website.

Terms and conditions

Below are the general terms and conditions for the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021.

Congress registration

The registration deadlines are as follows:

Registration period Open and close dates
Flash sale 10 May–1 June at 23:59 CEST
Early-bird 26 May–6 July at 23:59 CEST
Standard 7 July–8 September at 12:00 CEST

 

Registration will only be confirmed upon receipt of payment in full. If the registration form and / or the full payment have not been received before the deadline indicated, the registration will be cancelled OR the next category of registration fee will automatically be charged. For group registration, payment must be received within 10 days after receipt of the invoice.

To be registered under the ERS member fee, the delegate must have an active membership at the time of registration. No refunds will be made for delegates who acquire or renew their membership after the registration has been confirmed. Please verify that your membership is active prior to registering for the congress. For further information, please visit: https://www.ersnet.org/the-society/membership

All registration fees include VAT, admission to the scientific sessions and Industry sections on the virtual platform, and access to the Congress recordings until 30 December 2021.

Group registration is possible for groups of at least 10 participants until the deadline on 20 August, 2021 at 23:59 CEST. After this deadline, only individual registrations will be accepted. ERS will verify and approve each group registration before group leaders can settle the payment. Once approved, group leaders will receive a notification with the link to settle the open balance.

Registration name change

Individual registrations

All registrations are personal, in the name of the initial booking, and not transferable.

Group registrations

All registrations are personal, in the name of the initial booking, and not transferable.

Registration ineligibility

The ERS Constitution and By-Laws state that individuals who have had any relationship with the tobacco/alternative nicotine delivery products industry at any time after 1 January, 2000 are strictly prohibited from participating in ERS activities. Based on this, individuals who have worked with or represented the tobacco/alternative nicotine delivery products industry in any way since 1 January, 2000, are also not eligible for congress registration.

Registrations made in violation of the above will not be accepted.

Payment

Should participants/group leaders require a specific billing address on the invoice, they are kindly asked to add it during the registration process in the “invoicing” part. Once issued, and following legal regulations, it is no longer possible to modify the invoice. Therefore, participants/group leaders are requested to make sure the correct billing address is entered when registering.

Credit card payment

All payments for individual registrations must be settled by credit card (AMEX, Visa or MasterCard). Groups may also pay by credit card (AMEX, Visa or MasterCard).

We advise you to pay in euros. Should you pay in your local currency, an extra fee on the exchange rate will apply.

The credit card payment will be processed through the secured gateway Saferpay to which ERS has no access. When paying via Saferpay, the participant’s data will be processed by SIX Payment Services AG, Hardturmstrasse 201, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland (hereinafter referred to as “SIX”) as part of the payment process. Further information on data protection can be found on the SIX website at: www.six-payment-services.com

For each transaction made by credit card, a 2% administrative fee will be added on to the total amount invoiced and will need to be paid by the participant/group leader. This fee is non-refundable.

Bank transfer payment

Payment by bank transfer is only possible for group registrations and until 27 July, 2021 at 23:59 CEST. Bank charges must be borne by the ordering customer.

Registration confirmation

The registration confirmation along with the payment receipt will be sent by email to delegates upon completion of their registration and once the related full payment has been received.

For group registrations, confirmation of payment will be sent to group leaders once the related full payment has been received. Group members will receive their registration confirmation once their registration will be validated. For further information, please refer to the section “Submission of participants’ details for group registrations”.

Submission of participants’ details for group registrations

Group leaders must upload their group members’ details and assign all purchased registrations via their online group portal. This must be done by 4 August, 2021 at 23:59 CEST. After this deadline, all unassigned registrations will be lost.

New group registrations will be accepted from 5-20 August, 2021 at 23:59 CEST, however delegates’ details must be provided in full upon registration.

Once the purchased registrations have been assigned, group leaders are responsible to send the link to the validation platform – available in their online group portal – to the concerned participants. This step is mandatory to allow participants to access the Congress virtual platform and fully benefit from all services.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation of registrations, including group bookings, are non-refundable. This also applies if the wrong fee has been selected.

Modification of the programme

ERS reserves the right to modify the congress programme, which is published as an indication only.

Language

The official Congress language is English. No translation will be offered unless specified differently in the programme.

CME credits

CME credits will be awarded for pre-congress content, live sessions and session replays, based on the number of hours spent watching sessions. Up to a maximum of 50 credits can be accrued between pre-congress content, live sessions and session replays (1 CME credit per hour).  Only registered participants will receive CME credits. For more information, please visit the dedicated web page.

After completion of the congress evaluation survey, which is mandatory to receive CME credits, participants will be able to download CME certificates.

Connectivity or technical issues

The participant acknowledges that it is their responsibility to ensure a secure and stable internet connection, compatible operating system requirements and that their web browser is up to date in order to avoid connectivity or other technical issues when participating in the ERS congress. ERS will use its reasonable best efforts in providing access to the Congress through third party channels. In the event that the participant encounters connectivity issues due to a weak internet connection, incompatible operating system requirements or inappropriate web browser settings, the participant acknowledges that ERS is not liable. ERS will also not be liable in the event of an interruption of connection or connectivity issues due to a case of “Force Majeure” or attributable to a third party’s network operators.

Cancellation or postponement of the Congress

ERS reserves the right to retain the entire registration fee in the event that the ERS International Congress cannot be held or must be moved or changed due to the following reason(s), though not limited to:

  • An event of “Force Majeure” meaning an event beyond the reasonable control of ERS, which prevents ERS from complying with any of its obligations, including but not limited to:
    • Special actions taken by government of local authorities;
    • Unforeseen political and economic events, such as national emergency or any comparable events;
    • Strike, lockout, lockdown, threats to public safety (including terrorism, health hazards) or other comparable events;
    • Act of God (such as, but not limited to, fires, explosions, earthquakes, drought, tidal waves and floods);
    • War, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), invasion, act of foreign enemies, mobilisation, requisition, embargo, national mourning, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power, or civil war;
    • Contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel, or from any nuclear waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel, radio-active toxic explosive, or other hazardous properties of any explosive nuclear assembly or nuclear component of such assembly;
    • Riot, commotion, go slows or disorder closure of airports and train stations;
    • Acts or threats of terrorism;
    • Pandemic or epidemic situation and other major health risk (whether declared as such or not by potential or actual health risks (e.g. pandemic flu or other disease) for the participants to the event and their patients, to the extent that the risk of disease spread is considered as serious by a significant part of the scientific community or by a significant number of Health authorities worldwide or specifically at the place of the event. However, the lack of a formal warning by the health authorities or other governmental bodies shall not be interpreted as meaning the absence of health risk for the purpose of the present provision. By assessing the existence of a potential or actual health risk, the parties agree to fully take into consideration the special position of ERS as a medical organization and of its duty to avoid to the largest possible extent all and any risks of contamination for its patients.
    • Due to official orders, recommendations or at least economically unfeasible official requirements for which none of the parties is responsible, or due to the unreasonableness of the event implementation.
    • When 40% or more of the event participants must adhere to mandatory quarantine in home country/country where the event will be held or not permitted to travel due to ban from their respective hospitals/ institutions/ countries or immigration restriction by country where the event will be held.
  • Any other reason(s) beyond ERS control that prevent or substantially hinder the plan of holding the Congress.

Disclaimer

The participant acknowledges that they have no right to sue the organisers for damages should the Congress not be held or postponed for unexpected political or economic reasons, because of “Force Majeure” or any event described on the above-mentioned sections “connectivity or technical issues” and “cancellation or postponement of the Congress”, or should the non-appearance of speakers or other events necessitate programme changes. With his/her registration, the participant accepts this proviso. 

Letter of invitation

Participants requiring an official letter of invitation should contact the ERS Congress Registration team. Contact email: congress.registrations@ersnet.org

To receive a letter of invitation, participants must be fully registered for the Congress and payment in full must be submitted. The attention of the participants is drawn to the fact that the letter of invitation must be requested sufficiently in advance and that the letters of invitation will not be sent after 2 September, 2021 at 23:59 CEST. The letter of invitation does not financially obligate ERS in any way. All expenses incurred in relation to the ERS International Congress are the sole responsibility of the participant. Any costs for express mailing of documents must be covered by the participant.

Children

The minimum age for a participant is 18 years old. Children under the age of 18 will not be allowed access to any parts of the Congress virtual platform.

Data protection and sharing of contact details

Data provided during the booking process (contact and payment details)

All data provided during the booking process may be used (saved, stored, processed, transmitted, shared and deleted, but not modified) to allow the processing and execution of the participant’s booking(s). The legal basis is the performance of a contract or the steps taken at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract (art. 6 § 1 lit. b GDPR).

These data may be shared with our partners and suppliers to the extent necessary to process and execute the participant’s booking. These data may also be shared with a sister society (medical society) to ensure the organisation of the congress.

These data will be stored for the period of time necessary for the processing and the execution of the participant’s booking. After the congress, they will be archived for 10 years for legal storage purposes and/or to protect our interests in the event of a lawsuit.

ERS may also use these data to send to the participant information regarding activities at the congress or other communications related to the activities at the congress which may be of interest (newsletter). The participant can unsubscribe to such newsletter at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of each newsletter.

Data recorded during the congress

With consent of the participant, ERS may use its own recordings of the Congress for promotional purposes. Participant agrees that any images in which he or she may appear may be used in relation to the promotion of future ERS events and on the ERS website. If you do not wish to share any images of yourself, please make sure to keep your camera switched off at all times.

The participant acknowledges that the recording by him/her of all or part of the content of the congress or of the image of another participant is prohibited.

Sharing contact details with Industry

Participants are assured that data will not be automatically shared when interacting with Industry or attending Industry sessions. Industry may request contact details form Industry participants but sharing data is not obligatory when participating in any part of the ERS International Congress programme. If a participant wishes to share contact details in order to join private meetings organised by the Industry, to receive Industry content or request future contact from and Industry Partner the following details will be shared:

  • Name, title, institute, country, e-mail address

Third party software/providers

The participant accepts that the use of third-party providers is required in order to facilitate elements of the ERS Congress. In registering for the ERS Congress, the participant accepts the terms and conditions of third-party providers and agrees to abide by their terms of use. Where necessary, ERS will inform participants where third-party providers are being used and where external terms of use may apply. ERS will use its reasonable best efforts in providing access to the virtual platform of the Congress through third-party channels, such as Zoom, however the participant accepts that ERS is not liable for technical or connectivity issues that are the responsibility of the third-party provider.

Code of conduct

ERS is committed to providing a professional, friendly, and safe environment for all participants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, or other protected class. All participants (inclusive of delegates, staff, speakers, exhibitors and other guests) are expected to follow a code of conduct. Unacceptable behaviours may include but are not exclusive to: intimidation; harassment; abuse; discrimination; any speech or actions deemed demeaning or derogatory to participants; inappropriate use of images; real or implied threat of professional or financial harm; disruption to the event; unauthorised photography; unauthorised audio or visual recordings of slides and presentations; and unauthorised sharing of promotional/advertisement materials. ERS reserves the right to take action if this code is breached. This may result in immediate removal from the event or platform – without refund, and a ban from attending future events.

Fraudulent usage

It is strictly not permitted to amend, copy or edit any document issued by ERS. To do so will result in legal action taken by ERS.

A single registration permits the registered individual only to access this online event and its content. It should not be
made public or shared with a group. ERS reserves the right to deny/revoke access if any suspicious activity is
detected or reported.

Fulfilment and jurisdiction

Any litigation stemming from the above general terms and conditions and contract will be brought before the competent courts in Lausanne, Switzerland. These general terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of Switzerland.

Any further queries?

You can get in touch with specific ERS departments or Congress partners to find out more.

Contact us