The U.S. Travel Association wrapped up its annual IPW conference in Chicago on Friday, marking an important moment for the country’s tourism industry. The event attracted 6,000 delegates from 70 countries, all focused on boosting international visitors to the United States in the coming three years.
“The total direct spending value of the travel industry in the United States is $1.3 trillion every year, and almost $200 million of that comes from international visitors,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “Yet over the last decade, America has lost ground in the global travel market,” said Freeman. “To reclaim our share, we must deliver a stronger, more seamless experience that meets the expectations of today’s international travelers.”
For three days, travel professionals from around the world gathered for more than 100,000 business meetings, building relationships with global buyers and promoting destinations across the United States. From famous landmarks to lesser-known spots, the full range of U.S. tourism offerings was on display.
IPW 2025’s key message centered on increasing lawful international visitation to the U.S., and new forecasts suggest it will yield significant economic benefits. According to research from U.S. Travel and Rockport Analytics, the 2025 event is expected to attract nearly 10.9 million new visitors to U.S. shores over the next three years. This influx is projected to generate $26.1 billion in spending, sustain 63,000 American jobs annually and produce $3.3 billion in tax revenue.
Chicago, serving as this year’s host city, made the most of its moment in the spotlight. Local tourism organization Choose Chicago curated a series of events and experiences across the Windy City, giving attendees a taste of the city’s culture, energy and hospitality.
“Congratulations to the U.S. Travel Association on a spectacular IPW 2025,” said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “It’s been an honor to partner with the U.S. Travel team to deliver a seamless, world-class event that showcases both Chicago and the U.S. We’re proud to have welcomed the world to our city that is Never Done and Never Outdone and look forward to building on IPW’s success to drive future visitation to Chicago.”
Looking ahead, next year’s IPW will take place in Spring 2026 in Florida’s Greater Fort Lauderdale area, with the highly anticipated event hosted by Visit Fort Lauderdale.
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