Spearfish will welcome over 40 international travel planners at the 25th annual tourism trade show event International Roundup
Spearfish will welcome over 40 international travel planners at the 25th annual tourism trades how event. Credit: Rocky Mountain International

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — South Dakota will host the 25th annual International Roundup (IRU), an international tourism trade show event, set to take place in Spearfish, April 29–May 1. The event will bring in nearly 200 tourism professionals from across the globe who will conduct one-on-one business negotiations in just two days of meetings that help to contribute to an estimated $123.7 million in future travel to the five-state region of South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming ($22.4 million to South Dakota).

“We couldn’t be more honored to host the 2019 International Roundup and offer a warm Black Hills welcome to everyone who will be attending the event,” said Mistie Caldwell, executive director, Visit Spearfish. “This is an excellent opportunity for Spearfish and the entire Black Hills region to meet dozens of international travel professionals face-to-face and share what outstanding travel experiences we have in our corner of the world.”

The 2019 IRU event hosted by Visit Spearfish, Inc. in partnership with South Dakota Department of Tourism and Rocky Mountain International (RMI), is expected to provide a long-term economic boost for the region. The exclusive event will include over 3,600 pre-scheduled appointments connecting over 40 international tour operators from Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, with over 100 regional destinations, attractions and accommodations (24 from South Dakota).

“It’s been nearly 20 years since IRU has been held in Spearfish,” said Mathias Jung, CEO of RMI. “We look forward to bringing the northern Black Hills of South Dakota to the forefront of the global travel industry at another sold-out event.”

The international tour operators who sell all-inclusive travel itineraries and packages to the five-state region branded as “The Great American West,” are invited to attend the event to enhance their product base and knowledge of the area. Many of the operators who attend are small-to-medium-sized companies who specialize in tailor-made fly and drive itineraries for individual clients. This event allows tour operators to provide unique experiences in this region of the U.S., customized to fit the needs and wants for their clients, while at the same time providing regional participants an economical way of conducting business in the international tourism market that would otherwise be generated only through substantial individual investment and an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips.

During their time in the Spearfish area, international tour operators will have a chance to experience local tourism product on several guided tours. The tours are one of the most effective and efficient ways to enable tour operators to better sell the destination to their clients, while local destinations, attractions and accommodations will have the opportunity to feature their products and showcase their community to a global audience.

International Roundup kicks off with a welcome reception at the Black Hills State University Joy Center followed by several site visits to include:

  • High Plains Western Heritage Center
  • DC Booth National Historic Fish Hatchery
  • Spearfish Canyon
  • Homestake Visitor’s Center & Opera House in Lead
  • Historic Downtown Deadwood & Visitor Center in Deadwood

The 2019 IRU will take place at the Spearfish Holiday Inn Convention Center, 305 N. 27th St., Spearfish, SD. To learn more about International Roundup, visit InternationalRoundup.com.