Las Vegas will once again host the largest travel tradeshow in North America in 2020. International Pow Wow (IPW) is the travel industry’s international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S.
As host city, Las Vegas will showcase the billions of dollars of investment in new resorts, restaurants, attractions, retail, entertainment and everything else that makes it the premier travel destination.
“IPW is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Las Vegas to the world, and there is always something new to experience,” said Lawrence Weekly, Clark County Commissioner and chairman, LVCVA board of directors. “Since the show was last here just two years ago, we’ve seen new resorts open like the SLS Las Vegas, The Cromwell and The Delano, new attractions like the High Roller Observation Wheel, the LINQ Entertainment District and SlotZilla Zipline in Downtown Las Vegas just to name a few. In addition, there are major projects under construction including the 20,000-seat arena from MGM and AEG and Resorts World Las Vegas. There is always something new to see and do in Las Vegas and that’s what makes us so dynamic and energetic.”
As the host city for IPW, Las Vegas receives tremendous exposure with travel buyers from across the globe. Las Vegas is a key destination for international visitors which represent nearly 20-percent of the more than 41 million travelers to Southern Nevada in 2014. International visitors stay longer and spend more than domestic travelers generating billions in non-gaming economic revenue.
Las Vegas last hosted IPW in 2013 with 6,000 delegates from the U.S. and 70 other countries, 1,300 exhibitor booths, 1,300 international and domestic buyers and nearly 500 media. U.S. Travel estimated the event would generate more than $3.5 billion in future travel to the U.S., with an estimated $350 million of that coming to Las Vegas.
U.S. Travel Association recently announced future host cities through 2024. After Las Vegas, IPW heads to Chicago in 2021, Orlando in 2022, San Antonio will host for the first time in 2023 and Los Angeles is tapped for 2024.
IPW 2020 will be the fifth time Las Vegas has served as host city. Las Vegas hosted IPW in 1982, 1989, 2008 and 2013.
The travel and tourism industry is the lifeblood of Las Vegas’ economy, supporting 366,000 jobs and generating more than $50 billion in local economic impact. Las Vegas hosted a record 41.1 million visitors in 2014.
