This week kicked off the largest annual travel trade show held in the United States. 
Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association welcomed thousands of visitors who traveled from 73 countries to attend IPW 2016, International Pow Wow, hosted this year in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Over 6,400 international buyers and national suppliers, plus 500 journalists from the United States and abroad, met to discuss travel and trade opportunities. This single IPW www.ipw.com event is expected to generate $4.7 billion in future US travel revenue, and bring more than 8.8 million international visitors to the United States.
Due to Ramadan, no Saudi delegates attended this year’s IPW, “but not for lack of trying,” said Jimmy Eichelgruen, International Advisory Chair, Saudi Arabia & Bahrain, also the director of sales for Delta Airlines in Africa, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent.
“The MENA tour operators are missing a real opportunity,” said Eichelgruen. “They sell the same old stuff, student and medical tourism; but if they came to IPW, they would see how many wonderful options are available to them in the US tourist industry. At IPW there are a huge variety of packages and travel prospects offered by the many exhibitors. “They could even learn about business courses and attend leadership seminars offered here for themselves and their clients,” Eichelgruen added.
Hiba Abu Saud, representing the Amman-based Jerusalem Express Travel, is one of the few MENA travel agents attending IPW this year. Contrary to popular belief, she said, “US visas are getting easier to obtain.
“Despite what is happening around us,” she told Arab News, “we’re having more difficulties obtaining European visas for our clients than American visas.”
“Honeymooners, families on vacation, single women — all get visas relatively easily,” she said, adding the one obvious hardship would be for single men.
As a professional woman wearing a hijab at IPW, this correspondent asked if she faced any discrimination while here in the United States “No, not at all, with my IPW meetings here several of the sellers are asking me about the requirements they need to know when working with Arab clients; they’re even asking details about halal food.
“Saudis, Emiratis, and Kuwaitis are getting 10-year visas,” she said, “and Jordanians are getting five-year visas.” One of Abu Saud’s big challenges is helping her clients understand that flights to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur are not shorter than those to the United States. “In reality, it is the same distance in flying time — 11 hours.”
Popular vacation spots for her clients are: New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, and Chicago. Sightseeing and shopping remain the biggest draws.

Abu Saud said it is also much cheaper to travel in the United States than in Europe; she also is trying to encourage MENA travelers to experience US culture and nature.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization, www.thebrandusa.com is trying to help travel agents like Abu Saud. It is planning an expansion of its signature large-scale, multi-itinerary feminization tours — called MegaFams — to allow international travel agents to experience a wider range of travel within the United States.
“Our MegaFam program, a first for the US travel industry, is one of the most effective ways to promote travel across the United States,” Brand USA CEO Chris Thompson told IPW travel reporters. “Each tour itinerary features a combination of travel experiences showcasing how everything from urban excitement to the great outdoors is all within your reach.”
Next year, IPW will hold its 49th annual trade show in Washington, DC.

Source: Arab News