DENVER, Colo. – The International Pow Wow (IPW) convention and trade center is in Denver for the first time since 1991.
IPW is touted as the “Super Bowl of the international travel business."
From May 19 to the 23, Denver will welcome 6,000 international tourism delegates from 70 countries to the IPW.
The convention and trade show is expected to generate more than 700,000 new international visitors and $1.7 billion in new tourism revenue for host cities within three years, according to VISIT DENVER officials.
“There is simply no single greater opportunity for us to showcase the Denver tourism brand on a global stage, and we plan to put our best foot forward,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “IPW brings the world to us and gives us direct access to an international audience we could not reach otherwise.”
During IPW, more than 1,200 suppliers of USA travel destinations, attractions, hotels and products will meet face to face with 1,300 international and domestic travel buyers in more than 100,000 prescheduled business appointments.
“Over the five days of business on the show floor, more than $4.7 billion of future travel to the United States is contracted and negotiated,” IPW general manager Malcolm Smith said.
Sunday’s events included a media brunch for 500 international travel journalists who will ultimately write about their experiences in the Mile High City and share stories with their corner of the world.
Scharf said, “We have 500 international journalists taking a look at our city, looking at what's changed since 1991 -- since they were here last -- and hopefully going home and writing about us throughout the world.”
“People here are so friendly, so kind, so open to helping you in whatever it is that you need,” Carmen Calzada said, as she shared her first impression of Denver.
Calzada is with the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean Traveling Network.
Mary Chong, with Canada’s Calculated Traveller Magazine said, “I've always wanted to come to Denver. It's always been on my list of places to go -- especially since I've explored some of Colorado.”
Other international travel journalists called the city “nice and compact,” and complimented the trendy shops around downtown Denver.
“We have this urban city at the base of the Rocky Mountains,” Scharf said on Sunday. “You get the best of both worlds, and that's what we're going to show them.”
For five days, all eyes will be on Denver with the goal of global exposure.