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Here are the tips from Leslie Zeck, director, meetings & conventions at the American Council of Engineering Companies, in her session: “A First Timer’s Guide to International Meeting Planning.”

1. Hire a professional conference organizer in the country of your meeting. “This is not the time to be proud of those three initials after your name,” she said, referring the certified meeting planner credential. “It’s not the time to know you have your checklist and your experience and you can do it. Convince whoever you need to convince to hire a PCO—it’s money well spent.”

2. Network with your colleagues who have held meetings internationally and attend a meeting in the travel and meetings sector that is being held overseas.

3. Hire a customs broker. “If you’ve held a few international meetings and haven’t had trouble in shipping and receiving, then you must be touched by an angel.”