Top 10 Travel Trade Shows in the US

While the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the travel and tourism industry globally, things are back on track in 2023. People have started traveling again, and the rebound is expected to surpass pre-COVID levels of 2019.

But to make the best of this opportunity, travel businesses must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and consumer preferences. And what better than physical events like trade shows to update yourself with all the latest happenings in the travel industry?

Like travel, trade shows are back in trend after a slump during the pandemic, and many events are witnessing record participation. But with hundreds of travel trade shows organized in the US annually, how will you choose the best? We've created a list of the top 10 travel expos in the US to help you decide.

[READ: Are Live Trade Shows Worth It in 2023?]

1- Travel Adventure Show

The Travel Adventure Show is the place to be if your goal is to connect with hundreds and thousands of travelers. Travel enthusiasts attend this multi-city event to discover newer adventures and destinations, receive the latest travel information and advice, and connect with tour operators.

Highlights

• One of the oldest travel trade shows in the US, with the first event organized in 2004
• Travel Adventure Show 2023 was organized in 9 cities across the US
• The event attracted 150,000+ visitors and 1,000+ exhibitors

Upcoming Event Schedule

January-March, 2024

Location

New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco/Bay Area.

Learn More

https://travelshows.com/

2- IMEX America

The IMEX America is one of the largest trade shows in the US for conferences, meetings, incentives, business travel, and events industry. Whether you want to meet global travelers, network, or keep up with the latest trends in the tourism industry, IMEX America deserves your attention.

Highlights

• In 2022, the event attracted over 12,000 participants from 100+ countries
• 3,000+ exhibitors made 60,000+ appointments during the 3-day event
• 75% of the hosted buyers had budgets of over $1 million

Upcoming Event Schedule

17-19 October 2023

Location

Las Vegas

Learn More

https://www.imexamerica.com/

3- Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum

If you run a leisure travel agency and looking for a B2B event for the industry, you should visit Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum (LVTAF). The limited space event offers an extensive opportunity for travel sellers to connect with a large base of global business resources and vacation experiences.

Highlights

• LVTAF is attended by over 1,000 travel agents and suppliers
• Various networking events to help businesses connect with industry peers and partners
• The 3-4 day event includes plenty of educational sessions and roundtable panel discussions

Upcoming Event Schedule

24-27 March 2024

Location

Las Vegas

Learn More

https://www.travelagentforum.com/

4- Global Business Travel Association

The next on this list of trade shows for the travel industry is the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) expo. The event is the go-to destination for professionals from the travel and tourism industry to build business connections and learn from the best in the industry.

Highlights

• GBTA 2022 had over 1,000+ travel buyers, 250+ exhibitors, and 550 buyer companies from more than 60 countries
• The event had 300+ speakers and 90 educational sessions for the attendees
• GBTA 2023 will feature notable keynote speakers such as Chris Bashinelli, Cassandra Worthy, Paul Polman, Amy Webb, and many more

Upcoming Event Schedule

13-15 August 2023

Location

Dallas

Learn More

https://convention.gbta.org/

5- Global Travel Marketplace

The Global Travel Marketplace (GTM) is an appointment-only exhibition for connecting American travel advisors with global travel suppliers. The travel advisors are chosen by the event organizers based on qualification criteria and are fully hosted.

Highlights

• Only 100-125 travel advisors are invited to GTM events
• One of the qualification requirements for the attendees is to have the authority to make product and partner decisions
• Advisors can have over 50 meetings and participate in over 10 presentations over the 3-day event

Upcoming Event Schedule

1-3 June 2023

Location

Florida

Learn More

https://www.gtmflagship.com/

6- Future Travel Experience

If you're from the travel industry, especially from the air transport sector, you should register for the Future Travel Experience (FTE). Top brands from the aviation industry attend the event to showcase their latest services, products, and concepts created to boost revenue, reduce cost, and offer improved experiences to customers.

Highlights

• FTE is popularly known as the “CES (Consumer Electronics Show) of the aviation industry”
• More than 300 businesses directly or indirectly associated with the aviation industry attended FTE 2022
• The event had 100+ exhibitors and 120+ speakers

Upcoming Event Schedule

19-21 September 2023

Location

California

Learn More

https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/fte-global/

7- Digital Travel Summit

The Digital Travel Summit should be on your must-visit trade show list if you want to learn more about leveraging digital technologies for your business. Hundreds of industry professionals come together at the event to help travel businesses enhance their digital strategies and offer a more personalized experience to their customers.

[READ: 5 Digital Strategies to Promote Your Booth]

Highlights

• The event is attended by over 100 travel industry leaders
• Digital Travel Summit 2023 will feature keynote speakers like Derek Schoen, Steve Mayers, Diane Koczur, Andrea Cole, and many more
• Sessions on topics like influencer marketing, social media strategy, user experience, customer servicing, AI, and more

Upcoming Event Schedule

12-13 September 2023

Location

South Carolina

Learn More

https://digitaltravel.wbresearch.com/

8- CruiseWorld

The CruiseWorld trade show in the USA aims to bring professionals from the travel industry together to help them evolve and grow through general sessions, educational workshops, exhibitor showcases, and networking events. The event is attended by hundreds of global supplier partners and travel advisors.

Highlights

• Over 100 exhibitors have already registered for CruiseWorld 2023
• Pre-qualified travel advisors under the event’s STAR Program
• Peer-to-peer sessions are free to attend

Upcoming Event Schedule

1-3 November 2023

Location

Florida

Learn More

https://www.cruiseworldshow.com/

9- IPW

Organized by the US Travel Association, IPW is a popular inbound travel expo where exhibitors from the travel industry can connect with buyers from 70+ countries. In the past, the events have generated over $5 billion in revenue for the exhibitors.

Highlights

• IPW 2022 was attended by over 4,500 people from 60 countries
• The event is attended by over 1,000 travel organizations in the US and 500+ travel journalists
• Over 70,000+ appointments were scheduled over the 3-day event

Upcoming Event Schedule

3-7 May 2023

Location

California

Learn More

https://www.ipw.com/  

10- Skift Global Forum

The Skift Global Forum is a flagship conference on the global travel business. It is a great place to connect with professionals from the travel industry, learn from industry veterans, and discover new business opportunities.

Highlights

• The event attracts over 1,000 travel leaders
• Vast networking opportunities, exclusive talks, and interview sessions
• Speakers for Skift Global Forum 2023 include Ariel Cohen, Jason Calacanis, Fred Dixon, Patricia Yates, Christopher Nassetta, and more

Upcoming Event Schedule

26-28 September 2023

Location

New York City

Learn More

https://live.skift.com/skift-global-forum/

Must-Visit Travel Expos in the US

‍

How to Make an Impact at Travel Trade Shows?

Hundreds and thousands of exhibitors attend these popular travel trade shows. Encouraging people to visit your booth can be challenging on a crowded trade show floor. Here are some tips to help you stand apart-

• Reserve your booth in advance and prefer spaces close to the entrance, major aisleways, corners, or close to major attractions.
• Ensure the booth design aligns with your brand.
• A trade show activity like a custom trivia challenge can help attract and engage visitors.
• Prefer trade show games with live leaderboards to make them exciting and fun.
• Distribute unique trade show giveaways related to your brand or products/service.
• Ensure the booth staff understands the product/service, features, benefits, and USPs.

Exhibiting at a Travel Trade Show

These are the 10 top travel trade shows in the US. Here’s a detailed guide on 7 Steps to Choose the Right Trade Show For Your Business to help you with the selection. Choose an event and start your trade show planning at least 3-4 months in advance to ensure you have enough time to cover all the bases.

An interactive activity like a trade show trivia game is highly effective in bringing people to your booth. You can also consider customizing the booth game so that it also contributes to your event objectives. Contact us to learn more about trade show gamification and know how our custom games can help.

‍