Discover America Canada Looks To The Future
Annual U.S. tourism show IPW will be held in Las Vegas this fall and will buck a trend that’s developed over the past year by having delegates actually gather at the event.
Susan Webb of Discover America Canada told the group’s annual general meeting — done virtually this year — that plans call for people to attend the show — which promotes the United States to the world and is a mainstay of the international tourism circuit — “in person.”
Other major tourism shows over the past year have been done virtually as coronavirus and accompanying government restrictions make international travel difficult.
IPW will be held Sept. 18-22.
Webb said IPW “will take into consideration all the protocols to keep people safe.”
Show organizers are promising such safety measures as one-way aisles on the show floor, socially distanced exhibit booths, sanitizing stations and the required wearing of face coverings.
An opening event is planned.
Show organizers are aware getting to Las Vegas may be a challenge for many if the pandemic continues to put a damper on travel and so plan to virtually reach those people unable to actually make it to Las Vegas.
Webb said it’s unclear how many Canadians will attend this year’s version of the annual show but said those who do will find the rates are “very reasonable … We’re hoping we’ll get a great Canadian delegation if we’re all allowed to travel.”
More information can be found at www.IPW.com.
Webb acknowledged the past year has been “challenging” for the travel industry but cited recent welcome developments, such as the rollout of vaccines.
The pandemic’s impact on travel is underscored by Discover America Canada’s 2020 AGM being the last time members got together in person.
Meanwhile, those watching the meeting were told by motivational speaker Drew Dudley that he’s confident that many will be crossing the Canada-U.S. border once it’s reopened to travel.
“There is a long lineup of us out there who can’t wait to cross that border,” he said.
