Every segment of industry has tradeshows, conferences, expos, and the like. The travel industry has many. This coming week in Chicago I’ll be attending IPW, the USA’s largest travel trade show.

The US Travel Association launched their annual show under the moniker “International Pow Wow.” Sensitivity to culturally inappropriate terms wasn’t a thing back then, and for many years US Travel took pride in drawing delegates from around the world to “pow wow,” or otherwise showcase America as a prime travel destination.

In 2013 the show was rebranded simply as “IPW.” The initials no longer carry meaning (except to old timers like me). The show has a terrific education track for those in the business, but the show’s ultimate function is selling U.S. travel products to travel agents, tour operators, and buyers from around the globe. Vendors from states, cities, counties, destinations, transportation operations, and associated supporters gather in colorful islands of information to make connections, affirm relationships, and share what’s new and noteworthy in their pocket of the U.S.A.

Travel buyers aren’t the only delegates attending. Media from around the world flock to IPW for travel deals and content leads. I’ve attended IPW as a media delegate since 2008 and have watched IPW rebrand wisely in its effort to keep up with travel and social trends. I always come home bursting with ideas for trips and how to position my stories.Of all the cities hosting IPW, my favorite so far is New Orleans (2016).

Watch for more content from me about IPW in the days ahead. As a journalist, I’ll be watching and reporting on the mood of international delegates as they witness Americans exercising their rights to free speech.

I promise pictures and reels on all of my feeds.