Cancellation & Refund Policy

1. Scope
   Except where specified in writing, this policy applies to all 2025 Go Global Awards registrations issued by the International Trade Council (ITC). It addresses cancellation requests arising from illness, acts of God (including but not limited to natural disasters, government travel restrictions, pandemics, civil unrest), visa refusals (under certain conditions), or other unforeseen circumstances beyond an attendee’s control.

2. Non-Refundable Registration
   All registration fees for the Go Global Awards are non-refundable. These fees cover costs that ITC commits to well in advance of the event—venue deposits, catering, audiovisual services, printed materials, and program development. Consequently, ITC cannot offer cash refunds for any reason, except as specified in Section 7 (Visa‐Guarantee Exception).

3. Credit Toward Future ITC Activities & Membership
   Although direct refunds are not available, registrants who must cancel due to illness, acts of God, or comparable unforeseen events may elect to receive a credit equal to their paid registration fee. Such credit can be applied in one of two ways:

• • Future ITC Activities
    • Credits may be used toward any ITC-hosted conference, seminar, workshop, or virtual event scheduled within the next three calendar years (2026–2028).
    • Credits are non-transferable and may only be used by the original registrant.

• • ITC Membership Dues
    • Credits may be applied against ITC membership dues over a period of up to three consecutive years.
    • Any unused portion of credit remaining after that three-year window will expire without value.

To request a credit, registrants must notify ITC in writing (see Section 6) at least 14 days before the scheduled event date. Credits will be issued within 30 days of receipt of the cancellation request and can be redeemed according to instructions provided by ITC staff.

4. Reason for No Cash Refunds
   ITC organizes the Go Global Awards many months in advance and commits to vendor contracts, venue deposits, and logistical arrangements well before the event. Once these commitments are made, cancellations—even for legitimate reasons—result in unrecoverable costs. Offering credit rather than cash refunds ensures that ITC can continue delivering high-quality programming while still accommodating registrants who face genuine hardship.

5. Travel Insurance Recommendation
   Because ITC cannot refund registration fees under the circumstances outlined above, attendees are strongly advised to purchase travel insurance (including trip cancellation/interruption coverage) at the time of registration. Travel insurance can reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses arising from:

• • Sudden illness or injury
  • Emergency evacuations
  • Trip cancellations triggered by acts of God (e.g., severe weather, natural disasters)
  • Unforeseen travel restrictions or visa refusals

For guidance on reputable travel insurance providers, please consider Insured Nomads’ overview: https://insurednomads.com/travel-insurance-overview/

This is offered for illustration only; you may select any insurer whose coverage meets your individual needs.

6. How to Submit a Cancellation & Credit Request
   
   To request credit in lieu of a refund, send the following information to [email protected], no later than 21 days before the event:

1. • Full name and original registration confirmation number
   • Reason for cancellation (brief explanation)
   • Supporting documentation (if available)—for example, a medical note or official travel advisory (optional but helpful)
   • Desired use of credit (future ITC activity or membership dues)

Once your request is received, ITC will confirm eligibility. If approved, a credit code (valid for three calendar years from the original event date) will be issued.

7. Visa-Guarantee Exception
   An exception to the non-refundable policy applies only if all of the following conditions are met:

• • Written Refund Guarantee Provided by ITC
    • The registrant must have received a signed, written “Visa-Guarantee Letter” from ITC—explicitly stating that, should the registrant’s visa application be refused, ITC will issue a refund of the registration fee.
  • Visa Refusal by a Diplomatic Mission (subject to 7.1.)
    • The registrant’s visa application must be formally refused by the relevant embassy or consulate. A denial letter or official refusal notification from the issuing authority is required.
  • All Terms and Conditions of the Guarantee Met
    • Any conditions specified in the Visa-Guarantee Letter (e.g., submitting the visa application by a certain date, providing complete documentation to ITC within a specified timeframe) must be satisfied in full.
    • Requests for refund under this exception must be submitted in writing to [email protected] within 30 days of the visa refusal date, accompanied by the official refusal documentation and proof that all Visa-Guarantee terms were met.

If all criteria are satisfied, ITC will issue a full cash refund of the original registration fee within 45 days of verifying the documentation. No credits or exchanges are required under this exception.

8. Additional Exceptions
   No other exceptions to this policy will be granted. Registrants who fail to notify ITC by the 21-day deadline, or who do not hold an ITC-issued Visa-Guarantee Letter, are ineligible for either a refund or credit.

9. Policy Updates
   ITC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on the Go Global Awards website (www.goglobalawards.org) and will apply to all registrations submitted after the amendment date.

10. Contact Information
    For questions regarding this policy or to submit a cancellation/refund request, please contact:

International Trade Council
Attn: Go Global Awards Registration Office
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (202) 869-0988