A jam-packed press conference at the 53rd edition of IPW in Orlando indicated strong interest in travelling to San Antonio, Texas, next year's host of America's leading international inbound travel trade show.
About 4,800 buyers, media and exhibitors attended the Orlando show, a big jump from 2021's pandemic-impacted Las Vegas edition. But organizers are hoping even more will travel to San Antonio, one of America's fastest-growing and most dynamic cities. The event is set for May 20-24, 2023.
"Join us and experience why San Antonio is a top leisure destination," said Marc Anderson, CEO of Visit San Antonio. "You'll get a real and true snapshot of America's vibrant past and exciting future."
San Antonio was the first civilian settlement in Texas, founded in 1718. More than a century later, in 1836, the Spanish mission known as The Alamo was the site of an infamous battle for Texan independence from Mexico.
The iconic Alamo will be the setting of the closing night party at the 54th IPW, while an opening event will focus on the Riverwalk area, which Anderson described as the "heartbeat of our city" and the "most visited destination in Texas."
There are many reasons why San Antonio, the seventh-largest city in the U.S., has become a major destination for both domestic and international visitors. Not least is the fact that the five Spanish colonial missions in the city have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the only one in Texas.
But San Antonio is just as much about the new as the old. A strong high-tech sector is fuelling rapid population growth and the tourism industry is firing on all cylinders, with more than 50 restaurants and nine hotels opened during the pandemic.
The city is home to one of just three locations of the Culinary Institute of America, and food and drink are local passions, with 'food trails' focused on tacos, Texas barbecue and the tequila-infused cocktail known as the margarita.
"It's an unprecedented time of change and growth for our city," said Anderson, which he calls "the model city for the new face of America." He added: "In every direction, San Antonio is bustling."
In an effective demonstration of San Antonio's old/new personality, Anderson held a conversation on stage with a holographic depiction of Alamo hero Davey Crockett. Known as "the king of the wild frontier," the digital version of the folk hero said he's looking forward to welcoming the world to San Antonio.
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