Obviously, the key reason to attend the American travel industry’s premier marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the US is to drum up some business and generate some travel. To that end, was IPW a success for me?
I think so.
I’m not sure I’m any good at networking, but IPW certainly proved fertile ground for rubbing elbows, wagging chins and swapping business cards. I made lots of connections and was able to speak about a few dream story ideas I’ve had on my mind for some time with the people who can help turn them into realities. Likewise, I got to chat with folks who clued in about to possibilities and opportunities previously beyond my purview.
So yeah, I’ll be heading back to the USA in writerly fashion sometime again soon-ish. Mission accomplished.
I’ve got to admit though, I was careening round quite the learning curve while there. And, as I alluded to in my previous IPW post, I was more than a little overwhelming by the sheer scale of the event. Of course, now that I’ve had my IPW cherry popped, I’d love to have another go and build on what I learned.
Besides, I loved so much of it – even attending the big press conferences like the one hosted by New Orleans CVB replete with gumbo, beignets and coffee, and a Dixieland band.
To file under shoulda/woulda/coulda: I wish I already had started podcasting before I headed over to IPW. The interviews I could have conducted and audio I could have captured (such as that Dixieland band at the NOLA conference) would have been amazing. Next time?
Stay tuned for more posts about my IPW 2017 experience. Got to ipw.com for more details about IPW and information about its upcoming 50th anniversary.
