Busy times at IPW

IPW - short for "International (Tourism) Powwow" - the largest travel & trade show in the U.S., officially started on Sunday with the German Delegation's breakfast followed by Press Brunch in the Newseum (pic above) – a museum, which promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment on seven levels of interactive exhibits.

The Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser (pic), a charismatic woman, only 44 years old, welcomed guests (like us on pic) and after brunch we joined one of the mandatory press tours: "Breweries and Distilleries", which was fun, though a little slow in parts.

We got to know two distilleries (rum and wodka/gin/whiskey) and two breweries in the up&coming Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and enjoyed abundant tastings, though not too much food inbetween. Pics below show Cotton & Reed rum distillery as well as Blue Jacket Brewery:

Back to the hotel at 4:30 pm, we just had enough time to freshen up for the Opening Party in the National Air & Space Museum. Security checks slowed down the admission to the venue and it was a bit confusing to have three venues to visit: the museum itself, with buffets and bars set up, a marked-off area on the Mall with a stage where Aloe Blacc and other musicians performed and a strip on 4th Street, behind the stage, with bars set up (they aren't allowed to pour alcohol on the Mall...). Considering the 6,300 attendees (500 among them worldwide media), it's always amazing how organizers handle it.

We took a bus around 9:15 pm back to the hotel to get readyy for today's "Media Marketplace", a full day of appointments with U.S. suppliers in one big ballroom. Pretty hectic and often not completely sufficient 10-minute-appointments. Media reception took place at 4 pm with some bites to eat and some drinks to drink, before busses departed for the California party (one of many parties this evening) at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (pic above). More food and drinks before the concert of the X Ambassadors (pic) on the stage of the building started - and this was great music, as well as the food and wine California brought over.