Chicago welcomes thousands to IPW 2025

IPW 2025, held in Chicago this year, got off to a roaring start with an opening night welcome party that could not fail to impress.

Organizers of America’s largest international travel trade marketplace welcomed thousands of delegates to Chicago’s famous Field Museum of Natural History for the Sunday night celebration.

The sprawling main concourse of the museum was the setting for an event that located a main performance stage, dance platforms and food stations amidst static displays like a wooly mammoth and a giant dinosaur skeleton. Doors on the side and back of the concourse led to other party spaces, including an outdoor pavilion for sampling the cooler evening air with bites and drinks on Chicago’s lakefront.

Before the opening night celebration, Canadians attending IPW came to the 360 Chicago attraction to attend an invite-only party held by VOX Global communications of Toronto. Guests took in the eye-popping view from the glass-walled reception while renewing connections. Earlier in the day, many IPW delegates learned about Chicago on a wide range of exploratory tours.

These events set up the first working day of the IPW, which is taking place at the McCormick Place Convention Center – the largest convention centre in America.

More than 5,000 delegates will be participating in IPW, most of whom represent tourism enterprises from across the nation. They will be meeting about 1,800 tourism product buyers from 64 nations including Canada, as well as about 500 international media members.

The U.S. is looking forward to some significant tourism developments in the near future. These include the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the 100^th anniversary of Route 66 also in 2026, and the 250^th celebration of America’s constitutional birthday, also in 2026. IPW will operate until June 18.