The most likely debarcation point for the 2024 Conversation is the Stazione di Lugano (Lugano railway station). If you would like a sense of the station, maybe not much has changed since this 2017 video. (The rail station 3km to the south is Lugano-Paradiso).
The Lugano Region (Ente Turistico del Luganese) suggests getting to Lugano via train, either from Milan (1 hour) or Zurich (2 hours).
Direct from Milan Malpensa Airport, Wikitravel describes three airport shuttle services direct to Lugano.
For the Lugano Railway Station, by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), there are maps (with the lake at the bottom of the page, south on the left side, and north on the right side).
The north side of the station has construction areas marked (for the Besso Underpass)
Taxi location plan show a taxis to the south.
Station Buffet (a bar) is at the north of the station.
Piccobello (a convenience store) is in the building to the south.
The Lugano Stazione bus station (on Google Maps) is directly outside the east side of the train station.
The bus route (on Google Maps) from Lugano Stazione bus station to the GuestHouse University could be 5 to 8 minutes (bus 6, 3 stops).
A 2024 video of "TPL Lugano Bus | 6: Stazione FFS → Cornaredo | Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 G Hybrid" is available on Youtube. (Wow, the streets are narrow and mountainous).
If you choose to take a bus, your must purchase a ticket before boarding, says Frommers.
From the station to the unviersity, a single ride ticket should be sufficeint.
After you check into your accommodations, you should receive a Ticino ticket where your local tranportation cost is covered.
Below is a sketch of the routing from My Maps.
Some conversation participants will be staying at (or near) the Lugano Guesthouse University. (This is by the Campus Universitario USI/SUPSI, operated by a local business that is not associated with the university). The Google Maps estimate from Lugano Railway Station is 19 minutes walking, 6 to 11 minutes by bus, and 4 minutes by taxi.
The City of Lugano describes ways of Moving around Lugano.
One travel agent says "a short-journey ticket (30 minutes) costs about 1.90 CHF", and "the minimum charge for taking a taxi (regardless of how far you are traveling) is around 15-20 CHF. This is the fixed fee for taxis (quite high compared to other cities)".
The main meeting room is Grottino Viganello, and the breakout room is at Spazio L'ove. Below is some wayfinding to lodging, grocery, and (fast) restaurants on My Maps.