IPW 2027 runs 2–6 May at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans. Who can attend, exhibitor prices, appointment dates, official housing and future host cities.
Cover image: Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans, host city for IPW 2027 — photo by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
IPW 2027 runs from 2 to 6 May 2027 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, with the pre-scheduled business appointments that drive the show taking place from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 May. Organised by the U.S. Travel Association, IPW is a business-to-business marketplace where US destinations, hotels, attractions, transport companies and other travel suppliers meet international and domestic travel buyers and media.
It is for international and domestic travel buyers, the US suppliers selling inbound travel to them, and travel media. The organiser confirmed the 2027 venue and dates on its FAQ page, and has already named the next three hosts: Detroit in 2028, Denver in 2029 and Anaheim in 2030.
Who exhibits and who attends IPW?
IPW 2026, held in Greater Fort Lauderdale, drew nearly 5,000 attendees from more than 60 countries, including more than 1,400 international and domestic buyers and media professionals, according to the organiser's recap. It counted more than 550 journalists and influencers on site, and U.S. Travel projects the show will generate $26.1 billion in future travel to the United States over the next three years. The organiser did not publish an exhibitor count for 2026.
Exhibitors are US destinations, attractions, accommodation and transport providers and other travel suppliers. The 2027 price list has separate categories for U.S. exhibitors, distribution exhibitors, receptive tour operators and marketing and technology providers. On the buying side the organiser lists hosted international travel buyers and hosted international media, alongside domestic buyers and media. Although IPW focuses on increasing international travel to the United States, the organiser says it also connects attendees with domestic travel organisations.
The organiser also says that 86% of exhibitors and 87% of buyers say IPW gives them a competitive advantage over those who do not attend.
How to attend IPW 2027: registration, buyers and exhibitors
Exhibitors. Booth sales and exhibitor registration opened on 24 September 2026. Linear and island booth space for U.S. exhibitors costs $60 per square foot for Engage members, $90 for Inform members and $100 for non-members; receptive tour operators pay $60 as members. Express booths cost $5,700 or $6,300. On top of that, each exhibitor registration costs $1,400, $1,800 or $2,000 at the early rate, which ends on 20 November 2026, and $1,600 to $2,200 from 21 November. Each booth has one complimentary Key Contact and up to four badges per 10 by 10 foot space. The organiser's pages disagree on the refund deadline: the 2027 pricing page refunds cancellations made by 20 November 2026 at 75% on booth space and add-ons and in full on registrations, then 50% until 16 February 2027, while its key-dates list puts the 75% deadline at 4 December 2026. From 17 February 2027 nothing is refunded. Exhibitors wanting regional placement on the floor must commit to a booth by 4 December 2026, and booth assignments go out on 3 February 2027.
Buyers and media. International buyers and media attend in hosted categories. When we checked on 25 October 2026, the organiser had not announced that buyer and media registration was open: its FAQ says it "will open mid-October", its Attend page still says late September 2026, and the homepage announces only exhibitor registration. Its public site lists no buyer or media fees or hosting terms, so contact the registration team (intlreg@ustravel.org for international categories) before you plan travel. Registration includes lunch on all three marketplace days.
Is it open to the public? No. IPW is a trade-only marketplace. Every attendee registers in a professional category, and there are no consumer days or tickets.
Networking at IPW: appointments, Media Marketplace and events
The appointment diary is the core of IPW. Attendees use an appointment-matching system to request and manage one-to-one meetings before the show, and for 2027 online scheduling opens on Tuesday 16 February. The organiser advertises 44 face-to-face appointments, and it says conversations started at IPW turn into bookings two to three years down the road, so treat the show as a pipeline builder rather than a place to close this season's deals.
The 2027 schedule opens with exhibitor move-in and destination experiences over the weekend of 1 and 2 May. Monday 3 May brings the press brunch, the Travel Writers Awards and press tours, and the Opening Event. Tuesday starts with the buyer briefing, then appointments and the Media Marketplace, where exhibitors book tables to meet journalists, followed by a reception. Wednesday adds media and buyer breakfasts, press conferences, A Taste of New Orleans and, new for 2027, IPW Beyond the Booth, an afternoon for taking client conversations out into the city. Thursday closes with appointments, press conferences, the buyer drawing and the show floor closing.
Getting to IPW in New Orleans and where to stay
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is served by the Regional Transit Authority's Airport Express, which makes nine daily trips to and from the airport and stops on the third floor of the terminal. Jefferson Transit's E1 airport bus also runs into New Orleans and connects with RTA services; only the Regional Ride day pass is valid on both systems. Use the RTA trip planner to find the stop nearest the convention centre.
The organiser's travel page describes New Orleans as walkable, with rideshare, buses and streetcars linking hotels, the convention centre and the main attractions. International attendees should check visa and entry rules early; the travel page links to the State Department's visa guidance and appointment service.
Book hotels only through the official IPW Housing Bureau, run by Maritz. U.S. Travel warns that other companies soliciting IPW hotel reservations are not approved and that their bookings may be illegitimate or non-refundable. It also says it has authorised no one to sell attendee lists.
For shows built around meetings and incentives buying, see our guides to IMEX America and IMEX Frankfurt, and our travel trade shows calendar for every show by month.
Frequently asked questions
When is IPW 2027?
IPW 2027 runs from 2 to 6 May 2027 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The weekend covers exhibitor move-in, badge pick-up and destination experiences, the Opening Event is on Monday 3 May, and pre-scheduled appointments run from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 May. The 2026 edition was held in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Is IPW open to the public?
No. IPW is a business-to-business marketplace run by the U.S. Travel Association for US travel suppliers, international and domestic travel buyers, travel trade professionals and media. Everyone registers in a trade category, such as U.S. exhibitor, hosted international travel buyer or hosted international media, and there are no public days or consumer tickets.
How much does it cost to attend IPW?
U.S. Travel does not publish buyer or media fees on its public site. For U.S. exhibitors, linear and island booth space costs $60, $90 or $100 per square foot depending on membership level, and each exhibitor registration costs $1,400 to $2,000 at the early rate, which ends on 20 November 2026, rising to $1,600 to $2,200. Registration includes lunch on all three marketplace days.
How do IPW appointments work?
Buyers, media and exhibitors request and manage one-to-one meetings in IPW's online appointment system before the show; for 2027, online scheduling opens on Tuesday 16 February 2027. The organiser advertises 44 face-to-face appointments over the three marketplace days, Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 May, with a separate Media Marketplace for exhibitors meeting journalists.
Where will IPW be held after 2027?
The U.S. Travel Association has confirmed three more host cities: Detroit, Michigan, from 10 to 14 June 2028; Denver, Colorado, from 19 to 23 May 2029; and Anaheim, California, from 1 to 5 June 2030. IPW moves every year; recent hosts were Las Vegas (2021), Orlando (2022), San Antonio (2023), Los Angeles (2024), Chicago (2025) and Greater Fort Lauderdale (2026).
Sources
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW frequently asked questions
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW 2027 homepage
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW future dates
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW 2026 recap
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW 2027 schedule and key dates
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW 2027 pricing
- U.S. Travel Association, Attend IPW
- U.S. Travel Association, IPW 2027 online registration
- U.S. Travel Association, Travel to IPW
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, Popular destinations: getting to the airport
