Thursday, December 5, 2024
Birmingham will host the International Inbound Travel Association 2027 Summit, driving economic growth and expanding global tourism opportunities for the city.
The Board of Directors of the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) has chosen Birmingham to host its 2027 Summit, set for February 7-10. Birmingham was among five destinations competing for the prestigious event.
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official Destination Marketing Organization for the city’s attractions and hotels, played a key role in securing the Summit. It partnered with Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel to submit the successful bid. Bids for the event are evaluated based on several factors, including the level of support from the city and state, destination appeal, available meeting space, and hotel pricing.
The IITA Summit serves as a key event for hundreds of travel organizations to meet, collaborate, and design U.S. travel itineraries and services for international visitors.
As international travel to the U.S. continues to recover post-pandemic, it remains a significant contributor to the U.S. economy, generating over $235 billion in travel exports from nearly 80 million international visitors. Inbound tourism is essential for the U.S. economy, with a major portion of this economic impact driven by inbound tour operators who market U.S. travel products to international tour operators and travel producers.
Beyond its annual Summit, IITA also provides valuable education and training to foster growth in international tourism. As part of Birmingham’s role as Summit host, the city will introduce IITA’s Inbound Insider Steps to Success training program for local travel suppliers before the 2027 Summit. This training, initially offered to local tourism professionals in 2022 as part of the Alabama Tourism Department’s statewide initiative, will help prepare Birmingham’s travel industry to engage effectively with international markets.
