Each year, IPW brings the global travel industry together in one place—and this year, Fort Lauderdale takes center stage. From May 17–21, Greater Fort Lauderdale will host thousands of buyers, suppliers and media from around the world, facilitating more than 100,000 prescheduled appointments that generate billions in future travel spending and fuel long-term growth for destinations across the United States. It’s a week that shapes years of international business, and the momentum won’t stop there. New Orleans will carry the tradition forward when it hosts IPW in 2027. For Kim Priez, senior vice president of tourism at New Orleans & Company, IPW event is a cornerstone of global sales strategy, and missing it comes at a cost.
What would you say to a global partner deciding whether IPW is worth their time?
IPW gives international partners direct access to U.S. destinations and tourism products in one concentrated setting. For buyers and media interested in selling and promoting America, IPW is the premier marketplace.
How does IPW impact your pipeline for the years ahead?
Attending IPW is the foundation of our international customer strategy. The connections made at IPW directly translate into bookings, partnerships and tourism growth. For New Orleans, especially as we prepare to host in 2027, IPW will help us establish and strengthen relationships critical to our success.
What would it take to replicate the same number of meetings or connections outside of IPW?
It would require multiple events across different regions, resulting in significant travel costs and months of coordination. IPW compresses all of that into a highly productive week.
What does IPW deliver that no other event in the travel space can replicate?
IPW brings high-quality international buyers, media and partners to the U.S. These one-on-one, prescheduled appointments allow for meaningful relationship building and real business to be conducted.
Why is IPW a must-attend moment in your annual calendar, and what’s at stake if you miss it?
Missing IPW means missing face-to-face connections and direct access to top global partners. These meetings build relationships that drive multiyear business growth.
What would be significantly harder — or less efficient — about your sales strategy without IPW?
Without IPW, relationship building with international travel buyers would require three to four times the resources across multiple channels to achieve similar results.
For more information about IPW, visit here.
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