IPW's most fashionable event, the annual Shop America Reception, will be held on Monday, June 20, 6 to 7:30 PM at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk in New Orleans. Presented in partnership with Louisiana Tax Free Shopping, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, East West Marketing and Shop America Alliance, the colorful festivities will kick off in front of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center with a Second Line stroll to the reception accompanied by The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk Jazz Band at 5:40 PM.

“Shopping & Jazz” is the theme of the reception. More than 400 IPW international delegates, including many from China, who all love to shop, are expected at this event. The first 200 international tour operators and travel media will receive complimentary gift cards for shopping at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk.

“We are excited to co-host the annual Shop America IPW Reception at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk and showcase this exceptional center, along with the tremendous benefit of Louisiana Tax Free Shopping,” said Rosemary McCormick, President, Shop America Alliance. “Per the National Travel & Tourism Office, Shopping is the #1 activity of all international travelers to the USA. The Shop America reception is a highly anticipated favorite for IPW delegates who are expected to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars while in New Orleans, June 18-23.”

Daniel Shen, President of East West Marketing and Lion Tours, said: “Chinese visitors are the world's highest spending shoppers. This year at IPW we will have more than 100 Chinese tour operator delegates who look forward to the Shop America Reception at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk. Louisiana Tax Free Shopping is a very important incentive encouraging them to spend even more.”

Shop America Alliance is the travel trade organization representing hundreds of the premier shopping tourism destinations, retailers, shopping centers and outlets in North America. Founded in 1998, Shop America Alliance produces the annual ONE Travel Conference and SASI-ONE Awards, publishes Shop America Magazine and The Cultural Traveler guide and markets more than 100 shopping tours and cultural heritage experiences in 40 cities. For more information, visit shopamericatours.com, theculturaltraveler.com and ONEtravelconference.com or call 707-224-3795.