You seem to have covered most of the good stuff in the other sections, but I've got a couple of questions....

See if the answers to your questions are here:

1. Am I going to have a good time?

No promises, but if you don't, it is possible that you aren't human.

2. How good is the education at the conference?

It is going to be brilliant. The speakers are passionate, love their topics, have loads of experience in these areas, and just can't wait to get over there and present.

3. When do I have to register?

The absolute latest you can register is 27th September. After this time, the hotel closes bookings and it is unlikely there will be rooms available. We recommend booking as soon as possible, as there are only 21 spots IN TOTAL (including partners)!

4. I do not have a Health Science degree, can I attend?

Because of the level of education provided, a Health Science degree, eg Physio, Chiro, Osteopathy, Sports Physician, Exercise Physiologist etc is the minimum to be able to attend the conference. Partners and friends without a degree are welcome to attend. Someone in your group must be attending the conference though.

5. Is it guaranteed that there will be snow?

The only thing we guarantee is that there will definitely be NO leprechauns anywhere in the village. We have picked February because of the large amount of snowfall in the month on average, so there is a pretty good chance of plenty of snow. Last time we had loads of snow, it snowed every day....

6. Can I hire ski gear in Niseko?

Yes. There are ski hire places in Niseko, and we will provide details following your booking to allow you to organise this.

7. What sort of room will I be staying in?

A studio room, unless you decide to pay for an upgrade (optional extra) to an apartment. These have great facilities, and are truly luxury rooms. Have a look at The Freshwater website for an idea of the inclusions.  

8. Why are we staying in Grand Hirafu village?

Grand Hirafu is the largest village in Niseko, with the biggest ski area and amount of lifts. Not only that, there is lots of choice of restaurants, bars, supermarkets and most other things. Last time we stayed in Annupuri, which was nice, but a bit limited in some of the eating and skiing options, so this time, we went for the main village.

9. I can't speak Japanese, how will I order Sake?

We will help you out with that. Russell spent 12 months in Japan and speaks a reasonable amount of Japanese and some English, and doesn't mind Sake himself, so will help you order. Most places in Niseko have staff that speak English too if Russell isn't around.

10. Do I need a Japanese visa? 

If you are Australian, you do not need a visa for a short stay. If you are not Australian, have a chat to Rika at Travel Managers Australia (www.travelmanagers.com.au)

11. Do I have to pay a deposit?

Yes. The only way to confirm your place is with a $1000 AUD non-refundable deposit paid to Travel Managers Australia. We recommend you take out Travel Insurance immediately upon booking in case of any unforeseen occurrences.

12. Can the Travel package price vary? 

Yes. The travel package price is based upon an exchange rate of 76 JPY to 1 AUD. If the exchange rate improves eg more JPY to the AUD, the price will decrease, and vice versa. The only way to ensure your rate does not change is to pay the entire amount. This is not compulsory, but the balance of your travel payment may vary accordingly.

13. Will the conference price vary?

No. This is a set price, and we think it is awesome value.

14. What is the cancellation policy?

Because of the venue cancellation policy, the $1000 AUD deposit paid to Travel Managers Australia is non-refundable, and the Conference fee is also non-refundable. 

15. Is this trip tax deductible?

A good one for your accountant. A couple of questions may clarify this.

a. Is the education related to your current employment?

b. What is the purpose of your trip? Is it to attend the conference?

Here are a couple of links that may help

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/33125.htm&page=2&H2

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/00179664.htm&page=10&H10

http://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?docid=txd/td200818/nat/ato/00001

16. How many education-related hours will there be?

There will be 6 hours of loggable education per day made up of practical, theory and discussion.

If the purpose of your trip is to attend the conference, the travel there and back may also be education related, and this will come to approx 48 hours. So overall, during the period of travel, the total loggable hours for education is approximately 100 hours.

17. Should I ski or snowboard?

Let's face it, they're both great, do whatever feels right to you. Snowboards really shine in deep powder, they float down like you are surfing on a cloud. Ski's can be great in powder, and really shine on the groomed slopes.

18. I would like to attend, but live outside Australia. Can I still book onto this conference?

You sure can. If you are flying in from countries outside Australia, a package is available includes all of the normal inclusions - accommodation, transfers etc, eveything except flights. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for information on this package. Once you have booked with us, all you would need to do is organise flights through your travel agent.

19. Can I organise my own flights and accommodation?

No. This is a group trip and conference, and it is not possible to attend the conference without booking through Travel Managers Australia.

20. What is the Sapporo Snow Festival?

Check it out here.

21. Why should I attend?

Because this is going to be a fantastic trip, definitely one to be in on.