IPW 2027 heads to New Orleans in early May — the US inbound marketplace. Note that published dates conflict, so confirm with US Travel before booking.
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 is scheduled for New Orleans in early May 2027. Run by the US Travel Association, it is the principal marketplace for selling the United States to international buyers. Published dates currently conflict — some sources list 2–6 May and others 3–7 May — and the organiser's own future-dates page lists 2028 onward without confirming 2027. Confirm directly with US Travel before booking.
What IPW is for
IPW inverts the usual trade-show geometry. Rather than the world selling to America, American destinations, hotels, attractions and receptive operators sell the United States to international tour operators, wholesalers and media flown in for the week.
It runs on a dense pre-scheduled appointment system. Delegates work through dozens of short meetings across three days, and the value sits entirely in that diary.
Why the host city rotates
IPW moves each year — Detroit in 2028, Denver in 2029, Anaheim in 2030 are already confirmed. The host gets a concentrated showcase to the international trade, which is a significant prize for a destination marketing organisation.
New Orleans is an unusually strong host in that respect: a destination with a distinct cultural identity that sells itself easily to international buyers looking for something beyond the standard US gateway cities.
Who should attend
- International tour operators and wholesalers building or refreshing US programmes.
- US destinations, attractions and hotels seeking international volume.
- Receptive operators, who are the connective tissue of the US inbound trade.
- Travel media covering the US market.
Practical notes
- Verify the dates with the organiser — this is the one show on our calendar where credible sources disagree.
- Buyer attendance is qualified and applications close well ahead.
- New Orleans in early May is warm and humid, ahead of the summer peak.
- The appointment schedule is demanding; build in recovery time rather than planning evening commitments every night.
Why the appointment format is unusually intense
IPW compresses an enormous number of short meetings into three days — delegates commonly complete dozens. Meetings run to a strict clock, and there is little room to overrun a good conversation.
That rewards preparation of a specific kind: know exactly what you want from each counterpart before you sit down, lead with it, and follow up properly afterwards. The show is a introduction and qualification mechanism; the actual contracting happens in the weeks after.
The role of receptive operators
US inbound runs largely through receptive tour operators, who contract hotels and attractions domestically and package for overseas wholesalers. For an international buyer, finding the right receptive partner is often more valuable than meeting any individual hotel, because that relationship determines what you can actually sell and at what margin.
IPW is the most efficient place to assess several receptives side by side, which is a large part of why international buyers keep returning.
Frequently asked questions
When is IPW 2027?
IPW 2027 is expected in New Orleans in early May 2027, but published dates conflict between 2-6 May and 3-7 May. The organiser's future-dates page confirms 2028 onward without listing 2027, so verify directly with the US Travel Association.
What is IPW?
IPW is the US Travel Association's international marketplace, where American destinations and suppliers sell the United States to international tour operators, wholesalers and media through pre-scheduled appointments.
Where will IPW be held in future years?
Detroit in 2028 (10-14 June), Denver in 2029 (19-23 May) and Anaheim in 2030 (1-5 June).
Part of our 2026–2027 travel trade show calendar — 124 shows, marts and roadshows worldwide.
