The U.S. Travel Association’s signature annual showcase, IPW23 is now over for another year with a stellar return to form. IPW continues to reunite and rebuild the global travel industry, thanks to an in-person platform that facilitates business and networking.
From 20–24 May, 5,000 travel trade, media, suppliers and wholesalers from around the world gathered for IPW23 in San Antonio, Texas to discover what’s new in the US.
After a slightly subdued and smaller conference last year, as many international travel trade and media were unable to attend the Orlando event due to border restrictions, IPW23 was the comeback Brand USA and the U.S. Travel Association were waiting for.
Of the 5,000-plus delegates from around the world, this year also marked the largest contingent of the Australian travel industry to attend IPW so far.
All about IPW23
After a Visit USA Australian and New Zealand Welcome Reception at Howl at the Moon on 20 May with around 170 in attendance, the next day, international media attended the Press Brunch at the Witte Museum where San Antonio was on display with pop-up food and drink stalls, cultural displays and striking performances.
The travel media then embarked on half-day Press Tours that showcased the unique historical, cultural and Tex-Mex culinary attributes of America’s seventh-largest city.
The next day kicked off the conference in earnest with the Brand USA press conference where President & CEO Chris Thompson expressed his optimism for the travel sector. Then it was time for the Media Marketplace and trade floor to start networking.
The following days included press conferences highlighting key destination marketing organisations, such as Destination DC, Visit Philadelphia, Visit California and Los Angeles Tourism – the IPW24 host city, and back-to-back appointments in the main exhibition hall.
U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Geoff Freeman also shared an update on the current state of US travel and how the organisation is addressing travellers’ pain points in the ongoing sector recovery.
What happens in Texas…
Interspersed among the official engagements were the informal parties where the real networking happens and long-lasting connections are formed.
Standout parties included Travel South’s musical showcase, Disney Destinations’ magical experience, NY State’s top spread and I Love NYC’s hip-hop tunes to commemorate 50 years of the music genre, IGLTA Pride and the classic Great American West Buckle Club event.
The host city (a renowned party city like New Orleans) also put on a fantastic show with the Viva San Antonio opening event, Festival Del Rio Parade and the closing event, Let’s Texas at the Alamo, which really saw this vibrant location light up and come alive with a drone and fireworks display over the historic site.
With IPW23 wrapping in traditional style with four-day post-fams for international media and trade heading off throughout Texas, it’s a yee-haw from Karryon and a giddy-up for IPW 24 in Los Angeles.
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For more info, head to ipw.com
