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With registration numbers exceeding 5,000 at this year’s IPW, the annual US tourism marketplace has issued a final farewell to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Press Today’s Ted Davis, who is attending the show.

IPW says that some key markets are exceeding pre-pandemic levels at the international tourism trade show and conference, now taking place in San Antonio, Texas.

Amongst the more than 5,000 participants are over 1,400 international participants, including tourism product buyers who are meeting US tourism product reps in a tightly scripted schedule of meetings. Also, included in the delegate count are a strong contingent of journalists from around the world.

On Sunday, many of them participated in comprehensive, themed tours of San Antonio, including visits to iconic locations like the Alamo and Missions National Historic Park. That park has been designated as the only UNESCO world heritage site in Texas. San Antonio is also one of just two UNESCO creative cities of gastronomy in the USA.

They also heard welcoming words from the likes of Geoff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association; Chris Thompson, president of Brand USA; Jenna Saucedo-Herrara, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; and Mark Anderson, president of Visit San Antonio. He emphasized the fact that his city was playing host to the first IPW to meet or even exceed pre-pandemic attendance numbers.

IPW staged a colourful, kinetic welcoming party at the La Villita park in the centre of the city, at which thousands of delegates participated. Today (May 22), IPW attendees started three hard working days of scheduled meetings at the travel marketplace, held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Go to www.ipw.com for more.

In the Photo

IPW participants kick off the giant trade show and conference at the Viva San Antonio opening night party