Las Vegas has set the scene this year for the U.S. Travel Association’s premier trade show IPW. The event, held June 8–12 in partnership with Brand USA, has drawn in more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations and nearly 6,400 international and domestic buyers from 70-plus countries. It’s been a great week, one where I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with friends and making new ones.
Left to right: Chris Thompson, president & CEO, Brand USA; Don Welsh, president & CEO, Choose Chicago; Rossi Ralenkotter, president & CEO, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority; Jayne Buck, vice-president of tourism, Visit Denver; Roger Dow, president & CEO, U.S. Travel Association; Rolando Aedo, senior vice-president of marketing & tourism, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Elliott Ferguson, president & CEO, Destination DC; and Jay Burress, president & CEO, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention BureauLeft to right: Tom Schroder, vice-president, corporate communications, Universal Orlando Resort; Alice Nosworthy, executive vice-president, sales & marketing, Universal Orlando; Bill Davis, president, Universal Orlando Resort; Larry Kurzweil, president & COO, Universal Studios; and Chick Russell, show producer, Universal Productions.Thomas See, vice-president, sales & marketing, Universal Studios Hollywood (left) and Ernest Wooden Jr., president & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (right) pose with Transformers.Former White House Social Secretary and current Choose Chicago Board Chairman Desiree RogersChoose Chicago President & CEO Don WelshLisa Furfine, associate publisher at Schneider Publishing Company and TEAMS Show Manager, and Optimus PrimeVisit Orlando President & CEO George Aguel and Megatron
