Due to a renovation planned at the Miami Beach Convention Center, a major travel industry tradeshow changed its plans and slated New Orleans for 2016.
Plans to host the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, formerly known as the International Pow Wow, were halted once the convention center approved a $500 million overhaul to begin in December 2015 and last up to 36 months.
Calculated business from the show total around $1.7 billion in international tourism spending to host cities, according to Rockport Analytics. Miami last hosted the event in 2009, and IPW announced in 2012 the plans to again descend upon the city.
Officials from Miami may have mixed feelings over the loss, as the renovation has also been a long time coming.
”We look forward to welcoming IPW back to Greater Miami and showcasing a new, state-of-the-art Miami Beach Convention Center and the many assets and attractions of our ever-evolving destination,” said Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME.
New Orleans previously hosted the event in 1993 and 1979.
