Cheyenne, WY, (April 15, 2019) – South Dakota will host the 25th annual International Roundup (IRU), an international tourism tradeshow event, set to take place in Spearfish this month, 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,” Mistie Caldwell, Executive Director, Visit Spearfish said. “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 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,” Mathias Jung, CEO, RMI said. “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,

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attractions, and accommodations will have the opportunity to feature their products and showcase their community to a global audience.

The event 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.

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  About International Roundup

  International Roundup (IRU) is an exclusive annual tourism tradeshow event designed for suppliers and buyers focused on tourism in the Great American West region. The event consists of two days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments where every regional organization and every international tour operator/buyer are guaranteed to meet. This unique B2B event gives suppliers looking to increase international visitation the opportunity to conduct business with international buyers who are looking to add regional product to their list of offerings to their clients. The business negotiations that take place at the IRU event contribute to the generation of more than $130 million in future travel to the five-state region of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. For more information about IRU, visit InternationalRoundup.com.

  About the Great American West

  The Great American West is the brand for the international marketing efforts of the state tourism offices of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Collectively, the cooperative markets to both travel trade (tour operators, travel agents) and consumers through advertising and public relations efforts. Individually, each state office works with their industry partners to raise awareness of their states and the region as a whole through the promotion of products and travel destinations. The Great American West contracts with Rocky Mountain International to help coordinate their united efforts in seven international markets, including The United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Benelux and Nordics. For more information about GAW, visit GreatAmericanWest.co.

  About Rocky Mountain International

  Rocky Mountain International specializes in tourism marketing and business development for the American West. Our mission is to increase incremental visitation, spending and market share of the region to fuel the economies of our stakeholders. Through our work, we will significantly contribute to job creation, tax revenues and increased quality of life in the communities we live. RMI headquarters are in Cheyenne, Wyoming with overseas operations in London, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan and Sydney. For more information about RMI, visit RMIMarketing.com.