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 Value-Added Tax
 VAT in Melbourne is a 10-percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), which applies to any transactions that take place within Australia.
 Music Rights
Exhibitors do not need to pay royalties, but getting show management’s approval to play music in your booth is strongly recommended.
 Garbage
Forms for daily cleaning services are included in the exhibitor manual.
Disposal fees for build-and-burn exhibits are included in the fabrication costs. Exhibit houses will reuse whatever they can and recycle those materials that they cannot.
The exhibit builder is responsible for disposing of any show-related waste produced during I&D.
 Smoking
Smoking is illegal in Melbourne’s convention centers.
 Voltage
Exhibit halls in Melbourne use 220-240 V.
Step-down transformers and adaptors are needed for electrical equipment to function properly.
If you do not use a local I&D firm, purchase electrical adaptors before you arrive at the show site.
 Cell Phones
Australia has
an extensive 3G network. Switch to
an international roaming plan before leaving for Melbourne to ensure your phone will function properly.
If your phone is not locked to a particular provider, you can purchase a SIM card with talk minutes as needed at the airport.
 Emergency Phone Numbers
Police/Fire/Medical: 000
U.S. Embassy: 9526-5900
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 Safety
Be sure to send your exhibit design to show management for approval. Multistory exhibits, and those exceeding 13 feet, will need approval from a structural engineer.
All fabrics must be fire rated, so bring copies of your fabric certifications.
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General Facts and Tips
 The flight to Australia from the United States is roughly 14 hours. Minimize jetlag by boarding the airplane tired and sleeping as much as you can during the flight.
The logistics of travel are relatively easy in Melbourne. Getting hotel rooms, for instance, is far easier than in Europe, and doesn’t require the same months-long advanced booking.
Americans tend to assume that exhibiting in Australia is just like exhibiting back home because Australians speak English. But construction materials differ, and it is necessary to receive samples of items such as carpets and laminates in advance to ensure that they are up to the standards you are expecting.
A visa is required to enter Australia.
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Installation and Dismantle
There are no labor unions at Australian exhibit halls. Labor is generally sourced through a local exhibit house.
An eight-hour workday is typical for I&D laborers, with a lunch break and coffee/tea breaks.
Electrical order forms can be found in the exhibitor manual. Missing deadlines can result in 25- to 30-percent surcharges.
You can rent an electrical distribution board from the venue, and your construction firm can bring its own wiring and cables.
Drayage is not charged in Australia.
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Hospitality
In-booth hospitality is common, but often amounts to little more than offering beverages in your exhibit. The usual foods served at booths in Australia are cookies, candies, and snack foods. Beverages include water, juice, and soft drinks.
Australia has strict alcohol regulations, and servers must be certified. Alcohol service needs to cleared through the venue and show organizers, and there are restrictions on the time of day it can be served on the show floor.
All food and drink must be ordered through the venue.
If you want to offer product samples, clear it with the venue.
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 Shipping
Expect shipping from the United States via ocean freight to take three weeks. Airfreight from the United States takes about two weeks. Be sure to plan accordingly.
Due to the expense of shipping such a long distance, it may be more cost effective to construct a one-time-use exhibit locally, rather than shipping an exhibit from the United States.
All shipping containers are fumigated
at the port to kill any wood-borne insects. Items within shipping crates should be wrapped to keep them from absorbing the fumes and taking on the noxious odor of the fumigation spray.
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Booth Attire
U.S. trade show attire is generally acceptable, as Australians tend to wear causal business clothing.
When considering hairstyles, piercings, and tattoos, think about what is acceptable in your industry more than what is acceptable in Australia. As in the states, some trade shows will be more formal or informal depending on the industries that they serve.
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Greetings
Greetings tend to be informal, so a simple “Hello” and a handshake
is acceptable.
Avoid the use of slang and colloquialisms such as, “G’day, mate.”
Australians can be fairly informal, so expect to move to a first-name basis quickly.
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Venues and Resources
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre:
www.mcec.com.au
Melbourne Showgrounds:
www.melbourneshowgrounds.com
Royal Exhibition
Building (Melbourne):
www.museum.vic.gov.au/reb
Exhibition & Event
Association of Australasia:
www.eeaa.com.au
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 Language
English is Australia’s official language; however, the Aussie version has its own set of unique words and phrases.
All booth signage and collateral should be printed in English.
There is no need for translators unless you are exhibiting at a Pan Asian show; then, you might want to consider getting Mandarin translators for your booth.
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SOURCES:
Robert Campbell, vice president, Uniplan GmbH & Co. KG, Basel, Switzerland; Christopher Dorn, president, Idea International Inc., Tokyo; Jeffrey S. Hannah, president and CEO, Nuance International Inc., Lawrenceville, GA; Frank Liu, deputy general manager, Uniplan GmbH & Co. KG, Beijing; Lorraine Lorenzini, director of international account management, Freeman, Dallas; Matthew Pearce, president, Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia, Chatswood, NSW, Australia; Gino Pellegrini, president and design director, Inter-Global Exhibitions Group, Denver; Jeannine K. Swan, owner and president, Global Exhibit Management, Fort Worth, TX; Jori Wilmoth, manager of international services, Derse Inc., Milwaukee
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