| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 08/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 53 |
| Copyright: Other |
Pow wow international
Event attracts record number of delegates
Report by ALANMOORE
A RECORD number of delegates will be attending this year’s International Pow Wow, the trade show for the US travel industry.The show is being held from May 13-17 in Dallas, where biggest is always best.
The final visitor count is expected to top 6,000 – up 10% on the previous year’s event in Miami – with more than 3,320 participants representing US suppliers and around 1,200 tour operator buyers from 74 countries.
The delegation of UK buyers is also the largest to attend Pow Wow, with 163 currently registered compared to 142 last year.
Event organiser The Travel Industry Association of America, the umbrella marketing organisation for the US travel and tourism industry, said it expects more than $3bn worth of business to be done during the three main working days of the show.
TIA, which opened its first London office earlier this year, will be unveiling further details of planned initiatives for the UK market.
These take in themed print advertising campaigns, educational programmes and new Web site developments, including a virtual marketplace for buyers wanting to do year-round business with US suppliers (see story, page 34).
Attending Pow Wow for the first time will be representatives from US Federal agencies, including state departments, immigration and customs, to explain to delegates its visa waiver programme and other procedures and regulations for visitors.
They will be available at a special booth during the weekend of May 13-14 prior to the start of the week’s business sessions, as well as on Monday May 15.
TIA UK media relations manager Cheryl Hargrove said: “It is possible that the visa waiver programme will become permanent by the time Pow Wow actually opens, which will mean visitors from the UK and other countries will be able to visit the US visa free for up to 90 days and will not have to complete a visa-waiver form on arrival.
“This will help to make travel to and from the US as seamless as possible.”
Major hosts for Pow Wow 2000 include the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fort Worth, the state of Texas, American Express, TIA, American Airlines and various hotel groups.
Dallas: the host city is set to showcase its products