The five-day trade show will take place in Orange County June 1-5, and more than 6,000 delegates from 70 countries are expected to attend.
The annual trade show brings together international travel buyers and media with travel professionals representing destinations, hotels and attractions to conduct business otherwise generated through exhaustive international trips. More than $4.7 billion in future travel to the United States is contracted on the show floor and over 500 travel journalists provide exposure for the host city and state each year.
“Visit California is thrilled to showcase all of California in partnership with our destination partners from around the state,” Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta said. “As always, we are dreaming big and aim to create a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will keep our guests California dreaming long after they’ve returned home.”
IPW attendees can expect a number of surprises each day of the show, produced by Visit California and its destination partners.
The pre- and post-show activation “California Plaza,” is a first for IPW. The immersive, interactive brand experience will showcase the entirety of the state through a variety of gathering spaces — open mornings and evenings for all IPW attendees to visit and enjoy complimentary refreshments, activities and entertainment. Check out a full schedule of events here.
California destinations providing activations and experiences include:
In addition to the California Plaza, the robust IPW pre- and post-FAM program will roll out the red carpet for international trade and media partners from around the world. In partnership with California destination partners, Visit California will host more than 300 buyers and media on 13 once-in-a-lifetime trips that will span the entire state, sparking inspiration for new itineraries, story ideas and buzz for the rich diversity of brag-worthy travel moments awaiting global visitors.
But the show is not just about excitement and entertainment, it’s about doing business and driving visitation to the state.
Tourism in California is booming: 2018 was the ninth straight year of growth for California tourism, with new highs in travel spending ($140.6 billion), tax revenue ($11.8 billion) and jobs (1.2 million).
Amid these record successes, high-value international travelers are playing bigger roles than ever, staying longer and spending more to the tune of 18.1 million in-person trips and $28 billion in spending in 2018. The role that IPW plays in the state’s ability to create awareness is of the utmost importance in keeping California a top-of-mind travel destination worldwide.
To learn more about the tourism mega-event coming to Anaheim this June, visit ipw.visitanaheim.org.
To learn more about Visit California’s international visitation and programming, visit industry.visitcalifornia.com.
About Visit California
Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, spending by travelers totaled $140.6 billion in 2018 in California, generating 1.2 million jobs in the state and $11.8 billion in state and local tax revenue. For more information about Visit California, go to www.visitcalifornia.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to www.media.visitcalifornia.com.