AVAI CHINA

About the fair

China is one of the world's largest producers and markets for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, with premium HVAC sales rising markedly in recent years. Guangdong is home to many of China's leading HVAC companies, and Guangzhou's Haizhu North Road — known as 'HVAC Road' — is currently China's largest meeting place for HVAC equipment suppliers and contractors. The Asia-Pacific International Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Cold Chain Technology Expo (AVAI China) benefits from a promising market and proximity to this manufacturing base, with Grandeur Exhibition Group — China's second-largest exhibition company — as organizer. A key industry event in China, it has won many repeat exhibitors and achieved an average rebooking rate of 78%.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.