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Exhibiting in Melbourne, Australia, the Land Down Under, is another opportunity to expand and grow market share for U.S. companies. Being prepared and doing proper research into exhibit regulations and culture will give your company a competitive edge. Before planning your exhibit or event in Australia, use the following tips to make your show successful.

•    A visa is required to enter Australia. Instead of a stamp in your passport, the visa is electronic and the application can be completed online.

Every exhibit and event manager wants to increase their budget to achieve marketing goals and objectives. Many American companies are missing an opportunity to increase the annual budget by reclaiming Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods Services Tax (GST) taxes that are paid on overseas events. VAT is a transaction tax on goods and services charged around the world. The tax may be listed as VAT, GST, MWST or consumption tax and can be refunded from Western Europe, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea.

“Safety First” is a catchphrase that’s been around for years and applies to many situations. Convention and exhibition centers worldwide strive to provide a safe environment for visitors during trade shows and conferences as well as to everyone in the hall during installation and dismantle. Exhibits are designed and built to adhere to safety regulations so booth staff and guests don’t have to worry about the booth catching fire or structural pieces falling.

International trade shows are full of acronyms, so what is the newest addition to the EU’s alphabet letters that will impact U.S. exhibitors? GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation that goes into effect May 25th 2018. The goal of GDPR is to protect personal data and prevent data leaks as well as unwanted marketing solicitation. American companies participating in European exhibitions are impacted by this legislation-fines for noncompliance can be as high as 4% of your company’s annual revenue.

Technology has been integrated into exhibits for many years – the newest addition is virtual reality. While there is no substitute for face-to-face marketing, adding virtual reality to your exhibit program can enhance the attendee experience and increase their knowledge about your product or service.