Industry Officials Packing Bags for Pow Wow

Area tourism honchos are gearing up for the 27th annual Pow Wow, the U.S. travel industry’s largest trade show, gabfest and deal-making extravaganza. Local participants won’t have far to go. This year’s event is scheduled for June 8-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Organizers of Pow Wow bill it as sort of a one-stop shopping event for the world’s top tour operators and wholesalers. U.S. travel suppliers--from theme park owners like Walt Disney Co. to major airlines, hotels and car rental chains--set up booths to peddle their wares to international tour operators who package them for resale to the public. More than 1,500 wholesalers from 70 countries are expected to drop $2.6 billion at this year’s Pow Wow.

Most of the horse trading is done in a flurry of prearranged appointments lasting a few minutes each. Pow Wow veterans such as Ann Martin of Disneyland claim it’s an unforgettable experience, even though she may not be able to remember her own name after meeting with hundreds of clients over the three-day period.

“It’s exciting,” said Martin, manager of wholesale sales for Disneyland. “It’s also a lot of work.”

There will be ample opportunity for fun and games, however. Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other entertainment bigwigs will be hosting splashy luncheons and dinners for convention-goers throughout the week--not to mention coveted private parties and after-hours events that are the truly hot tickets at Pow Wow.

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Marla Dickerson covers tourism for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5670 and at marla.dickerson@latimes.com.