Downtown properties scramble to ramp up for NCAA influx
Five of the city’s most prominent hotels, accounting for more than 2,800 rooms, will house the 68 teams in the three-week NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament that tips off March 18.
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NCAA tournament could give city ‘moment’ on par with Pan Am Games, Super Bowl
Hosting the entire 68-team NCAA men’s basketball tournament is likely to be a landmark event for Indianapolis and another boon for the city’s hospitality efforts, industry observers say.
NCAA’s March Madness will be test Indy was ‘made for’
The herculean effort over the next 2-1/2 months will involve city and state officials, tourism and civic leaders, and likely thousands of volunteers.
NCAA books big chunk of downtown hotels for March Madness
Nearly all of downtown’s nearly 7,600 hotel rooms could be used for the tournament, as well as additional hotels in other parts of the city as well.
Work under way on at least three major downtown construction projects
The Tribute and Aloft hotels—both of which were announced before the pandemic began—are among the few downtown lodging projects that are continuing to make progress.
City turns to hotels to help house homeless through pandemic winter
The usual plan, which involves packing people closely on as many cots and mats as Wheeler Mission’s shelters can hold, isn’t an option under social distancing guidelines.
Photos: Bottleworks Hotel opening Tuesday
The 139-room hotel will be among the first components of the $300 million Bottleworks District to open. Additional tenants—including retailers, restaurants and entertainment-focused businesses—will begin opening early next year.
Future of business travel unclear as virus upends work life
Work travel represented 21% of the $8.9 trillion spent on global travel and tourism in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. How much of that business will return after the pandemic is uncertain.
Drury drops plans to recast former Caribbean Cove property, will sell land
The now-vacant land quietly went up for sale in July. It’s now under contract along with Drury Hotels’ Pear Tree Inn at 9320 N. Michigan Road
Hotels’ vacancy woes cause debt headaches
With travel and convention business continuing to stagnate and COVID-19 cases on a steep rise, many properties find themselves scrambling for long-term loan solutions and pleading for help from lenders.
Bottleworks Hotel nearly complete, to open in December
Work on the ritzy Mass Ave hotel has continued throughout the pandemic, despite delays to other projects around the city. The Bottleworks campus food hall is slated to open in January.
Lobbying group says two-thirds of Indiana’s hotels facing closure
The American Hotel & Lodging Association report is meant to underscore what the lobbying group says is a critical need for additional stimulus ahead of Congress breaking for its October recess.
Hotels, restaurants face new conundrum: How to offer service without a smile
Six months into the pandemic, conveying warmth is the new hot topic among hoteliers and restaurateurs. Some are coming up with new ways.
City sports officials offer to create basketball bubble for interested schools
Indiana Sports Corp. released a 16-page proposal Friday that calls for turning the convention center’s exhibition halls and meeting rooms into basketball courts and locker rooms. There would be expansive safety measures and daily virus testing.
City-County Council approves financing plan for convention center expansion
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night voted unanimously to issue up to $155 million in bonds to pay for an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center at Pan Am Plaza.
Photo gallery: The $58.5 million Hotel Carmichael opens in Carmel
The 110,000-square-foot hotel is situated between the Monon Trail and Veterans Way in Carmel, just south of City Center Drive.
Council panel advances financing proposal for Indiana Convention Center expansion
The full City-County Council is expected to vote on the proposals next month. After that, the financing will need to be approved by both the Metropolitan Development Commission and the Indianapolis Bond Bank.
Ratio principal Bill Browne talks Pan Am Plaza project
Ratio is architect for the $550 million project by Kite Realty Group Trust that includes a Signia Hilton, an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and—eventually—a second, 600-room Hilton-branded hotel.
Forecast says U.S. hotel occupancy might not recover until 2023
Leisure demand rises, but hotels are sorely missing business travel and group events like conferences and weddings.
Kite Realty Group bets big on hotel, even as other projects wither
A third of planned downtown hotel rooms announced before the pandemic are now on hold.