Booth Material Shipping & Handling

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Shipping Booth Material

• Locate your booth on the target move-in map to determine when your carrier must be checked in at the marshalling yard.
  • If your freight needs to arrive before or after your target move-in date, you must request a change to your target move-in date before September 23 to avoid off-target fees. 
• Review the exhibitor schedule for specific dates and times for setting up.
  • Note the clean floor policy, it will affect the setup schedule for booths 400 sq. ft. and larger.
  • Note if you are tagged as a Last In, First Out booth, this will limit when you can set up and tear down for your booth.
• Determine when and where your booth materials will be sent. (Direct or Advance)
  • Send non-perishable freight to advance warehouse to guarantee delivery to booth by target move-in date/time—at no additional cost for up to 30 days (any materials stored beyond 30 days will incur additional costs).
    
    

    Locations	Dates	Material
    Advance Warehouse	Sept. 10 - Oct. 9	Booth materials only
    Direct to Show-Site	Oct. 13 - Oct. 19	Booth materials
    Direct to Show-Site	Oct. 14 - Oct. 19	Perishable products/floral
    Direct to Show-Site	Oct. 13 - Oct. 19	Vehicles, Machinery or any large displays should contact GES in advance to plan for these items to be received

• Ship via your own carrier or one of IFPA's preferred vendors.

• Bringing materials in a privately owned vehicle? You must check in at the Marshalling Yard first. A dock foreman will give you a pass and direct you where to unload.

• When shipping large displays, such as vehicles, machinery or other large items that may require special labor or equipment to unload in your booth, please fill out any appropriate forms in advance and contact the Expo Team or GES. These items need advance planning and may need to arrive early in the week before the aisles are blocked by other freight. 

• Label your booth materials SEPARATE from refrigerated and perishable products. All shipments must have a Bill of Lading or delivery slip showing the number of pieces, weight and type of freight. Certified weight tickets must accompany all shipments. (rates listed below). 

  • Place the appropriate advance warehouse or direct to show site shipping labels directly on crates, boxes, etc. and then shrink wrap as needed 

  • Note there is a special label for hanging signs so those get prioritized.

• Provide your on-site booth contact with all shipment tracking information, the driver’s cell phone number, and the GES marshalling yard information.  

On-site Material Handling

GES is responsible for the unloading of your freight from the docks, transporting it to your booth, storing and returning your empty crates and cartons, and reloading your shipment at the close of the show (called Drayage).

This service is not included in the cost of your booth space. Avoid unexpected costs at the show site by reviewing Material Handling details and pre-order this service. Shipping/Logistics costs are separate and are not included in Material Handling rates.

• Exhibitors with 100-200 sq. ft. of space that rent a booth package  get the first 200 lbs. of freight at no charge

• Exhibitors may hand-carry their own materials into the convention center; hand carts and 2-wheeled dollies are allowed during setup days/times. See the show site work rules for more information. If you are using a vehicle to unload your materials, do not leave it unattended at any time; use convention parking.
• Show Site Storage (for non-perishable items) is available. Reserve in advance to ensure it is available. Materials will not be accepted for storage unless the exhibitor has an exact count of the units to be placed into storage. Accessible storage is not secured, and items are stored at exhibitor's risk.

International Shipments

• Ship early! Security and customs can cause delays, and it is imperative that you meet the shipping deadlines. We recommend you begin working with a shipping provider by August 1, 2024 to allow enough time for any customs procedures.
• FEIN number requirements: If you use a customs broker other than our customs freight forwarder, you may be asked for the federal employer identification number (FEIN) for the "ultimate consignee". Your customs broker should be able to provide this number. If you have any issues, contact show management. 
• Labeling and packing: U.S. Customs requires that all goods be marked with country of origin (COO). Clearly label every item with your company name, the name of the show, and your booth number. Be sure that your packing materials are adequate for both transportation and the sensitivity of your goods. Use the labels provided to ensure delivery to the proper location. 
• Documentation: Prepare a commercial invoice in English with complete descriptions and model/serial numbers. Include a packing list with the dimensions, gross and net weights of each package shipped. 

Shipping Items Out After the Show 

• Determine return shipment needs in advance. Remember to pack outbound packing supplies including tape, wrap, boxes, etc. for use at the end of the show. 
• Submit a pre-printed outbound material handling request to GES before the show and on-site you will receive pre-printed shipping labels and a pre-printed bill of lading on-site. You can also fill out the outbound material handing request at the GES service desk on-site to receive your bill of lading. 
  
  What's a Bill of Lading? The bill of lading lets GES know how many pieces you are shipping out, where the shipment is going and to which carrier GES is allowed to release your shipment. It also gives GES instructions on what to do with your shipment if your carrier does not arrive. If you do not turn it in, your shipment will be delayed or held at the warehouse.
• At the end of the show, your empty crates (also known as empties) will be returned to you before the next morning. We cannot guarantee what time you will receive your crates. We encourage you to relax in our Exhibitor Lounge on the show floor while you wait. 
• Label all outbound freight accordingly. Shipments without outbound labels will be returned to the GES warehouse at the exhibitor's expense. Shipping labels can be printed at the service desk. Double check that your shipping labels and your outbound material handling form addresses match exactly.
• When your freight is completely packed and ready to be shipped out, remember to fill in the bill of lading with the number of pieces and sign the bottom. Then turn in the bill of lading to the service desk. GES will then dispatch your carrier to pick up your freight. DO NOT leave your bill of lading with your shipment or your carrier may be left waiting.
• If your designated carrier fails to show up or refuses the shipment, the freight will be "re-consigned", which means that GES will choose a shipment method consistent with the exhibitor's requirements.  

Marshalling Yard Information

A Marshalling Yard is established to ease congestion in the vicinity of the facility and to better utilize the available dock space at the convention center.

All show site deliveries (including personally owned vehicles) must check in at the marshalling yard before being directed to the docks. Please give the address below, along with a copy of the marshalling yard information, to your carrier.

Address:
362 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30313 USA

Shipments should arrive on:
October 13-17 from 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
October 18 from 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM

For the show close, the marshalling yard will be open: 
October 19 from 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
October 20 from 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
October 21 from 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM
 
If you have any questions concerning the delivery of your shipment to the marshalling yard, please contact the National Servicenter.