IPW 2024

  ONE BIG THING: IPW BRINGS 5,700 DELEGATES TO LOS ANGELES

Last week, we convened 5,700 delegates in Los Angeles for U.S. Travel’s IPW, including 2,000 buyers and media from nearly 70 countries—a notable 20% increase in attendance from 2023.

•              By the numbers: The event featured more than 100,000 appointments, which will generate over $5.5 billion in travel to the U.S.

The U.S. Travel team had hundreds of conversations with attendees—and the sentiment was clear: The world is excited and ready to travel to and within the U.S.

However, total inbound visitation to the U.S. remained at just 84% recovered (at the end of 2023) of 2019 levels, so much work remains ahead to increase both arrivals and market share.

•              With thousands of international delegates in attendance and a decade of international sporting events on the horizon—including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics—improving the visitor experience was top of mind.

Our efforts over the past week included:

•              Members of the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) joined us to tour LAX Airport with CBP leadership and observe technologies that are improving the passenger experience.

•              At U.S. Travel’s press conference, Commission Co-Chair Kevin McAleenan and member Patty Cogswell joined Geoff Freeman where they discussed innovative opportunities—some of which have been observed during field visits across the country with TSA and CBP.

•              Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton also joined us at IPW—proof that our collective efforts to underscore the industry’s value among government leaders and the impact travel has in their communities is effective.

Thank you to our hosts Discover Los Angeles and Visit California. We are grateful for your partnership.