ORLANDO — IPW offers the U.S. the chance to showcase itself to the world. And for many U.S. states, cities and other destinations, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight new and coming attractions.

At IPW 2022 in Orlando, tourism boards took the floor to share details about all the new and newsworthy developments in their part of the U.S.

The highlights came on the heels of calls from U.S. Travel Association President and CEO, Roger Dow, to the White House, to eliminate the pre-departure testing requirements for international travellers arriving in the U.S., as reported from IPW earlier this week.

Here’s a roundup of the latest updates from many of those tourism boards, all taking part in this 53rd annual IPW.

NEW YORK CITY

NYC & Company says New York is adding 12,000 new hotel rooms in the next three years, with new properties including Aman New York and the city’s second Ritz-Carlton debuting this summer alongside The Wall Street Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel New York, Hotel Indigo Lower East Side and Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea, all already opened.

More than 20 new Broadway shows are set to debut, and several museums too, including The American LGBTQ+ Museum, and the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. Plus, all three of NYC’s major airports are seeing upgrades.

In addition to highlights of what’s new in New York City, NYC & Company initiatives include recently-launched multicultural content hubs on NYCGO.com, a new Halal Travel Guide and the upcoming 30th anniversary of NYC Restaurant Week.

MIAMI

There are so many newcomers to Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s cultural scene, starting with the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. The 2022 F1 race in Miami took place in May as part of a 10-year deal.

The new Sherlock Holmes exhibit at Miami’s Frost Science Museum is poised to be one of the most engaging new events for families. And a new exhibit ‘Marisol and Warhol Take New York’ is featured at the Pérez Art Museum Miami through September.

Also noteworthy this year, one of South Florida’s biggest music and drag shows, the Wynwood Pride music festival, will take over the RC Cola Plant, June 10 – 12.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

The U.S. Virgin Islands no longer require passengers to complete the USVI Travel Screening Portal, in the latest good news from the U.S. Virgin Islands Dept. of Tourism.

Two new properties will be arriving in St. Thomas this fall: the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, and the Seaborn at Frenchman’s Reef, Autograph Collection.

At the centre of culture, Carnival continues in the U.S. Virgin Islands with the 68th Celebration of St. John Carnival returning June 2 – July 4. And new to the Virgin Islands, the USVI DOT recently announced a three-year partnership with Uber Soca Cruise, widely known in the Caribbean as the largest soca fete on the sea.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Destination D.C. says visitors are flocking to Black Lives Matter Plaza, located along a two-block area of 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C. On June 1, 2020, peaceful demonstrators were met with violence and tear gas by federal forces, while four days later the Black Lives Matter mural was unveiled across the plaza where protesters had gathered, commissioned by Mayor Bowser and completed by the DC Public Works Department with the assistance of the MuralsDC program. Today it remains a public gathering place that is open to foot traffic and one of the city’s many new sights to see.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

New to the West Hollywood hotel scene, according to the latest roundup from the West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, is the West Hollywood EDITION by Marriott International complete with a rooftop pool, basement club, full-service spa and restaurant led by Michelin-Starred Chef John Fraser.

West Hollywood, California

Also debuting on the iconic Sunset Strip is 1 Hotel West Hollywood, celebrating the natural California lifestyle with an earthy design and sweeping views. The new Pendry West Hollywood features 149 guest rooms in the heart of Sunset Boulevard and is home to Merois and Ospero from Chef Wolfgang Puck.

And L.A. is getting another Soho House members-only club called Little House, which will open in West Hollywood with great rooftop views of the Hollywood Hills.

UTAH

Utah has the highest concentration of certified International Dark Sky Parks and Communities, and the finest dark skies in the world. It’s one of many points of pride for the Utah Office of Tourism.

Visitors to Utah can explore this beautiful stat by day and then make plans for experiencing natural wonders after the sun sets, with views of more stars than they ever thought possible.

Arches National Park, Utah

Utah is also understandably proud of its ‘Mighty 5’ national parks, including Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capital Reef National Park and Zion National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park and Capital Reef offer full moon hikes and the Astronomy Festival Annual Heritage Starfest, respectively. Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments offer ranger-led stargazing programs spring through fall.

To get to the beautiful state of Utah, Air Canada just returned with 3 times weekly flights from Toronto to Salt Lake on Airbus A220, or access southern Utah from Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS

Resorts World Las Vegas opened recently with 4,500 rooms, the first resort built on the famous Strip in a decade. Resorts World’s stellar lineup of residencies include Katy Perry, Usher, Carrie Underwood and DJs Tiesto and Zedd.

Other hotel updates courtesy of the Las Vegas CVA include the 1,500-room Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, located on the site of the former Hard Rock Hotel, a short walk to the Strip.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Meanwhile the new 777-room Circa Resort & Casino is the first newly-built hotel in Downtown Las Vegas in more than 40 years. The property’s year-round ‘aqua theatre’, known as Stadium Swim, is hugely popular.

And the new Las Vegas Convention Center Loop (LVCC Loop), from Elon Musk, Tesla and The Boring Company, provides fast and convenient transportation for convention and trade show attendees across the LVCC. Passenger ride in all-electric Teslas.

BOSTON

The new View Boston observatory, which encompasses the top three floors of the Prudential Tower, will feature immersive experiential exhibits and a bistro on the 50th floor, an indoor/outdoor cocktail lounge with a 360-degree outdoor viewing deck on the 51st floor, and a double high indoor viewing space on the 52nd floor. The destination was created as an ideal first stop for visitors to get their bearings as they begin their Boston experience.

SAN ANTONIO

As always this IPW gave delegates a glimpse at next year’s IPW, scheduled to take place May 20 – 24 in San Antonio, TX. It’s the city’s first time hosting and the show promises to showcase the beautiful city famous for the Alamo and the San Antonio River Walk.

A new food festival, Tasting Texas, will take place this fall. The city is also chock full of public art, museums, culture and culinary offerings. Morgan’s Wonderland, billed as the first ultra-accessible family fun park, is in San Antonio, plus many visitors enjoy time in Texas Hill Country’s vineyards and wineries. Click here for more details about IPW 2023 in San Antonio.