Quick Hits: Indianapolis offers more convention space, but as many people visit Baltimore
The Baltimore metro area, a larger market than the Indianapolis area, offers attractions and events related to its waterfront location.
ICVA
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Landing another Super Bowl might not be such a long shot after all
Talk of bringing another Super Bowl to Indianapolis began soon after week-long festivities kicked off for the 2012 game, but city leaders will have to find a way to generate more revenue for the NFL and its 32 team owners for Indianapolis to muscle its way into a regular Super Bowl rotation.
Indy airport helping city make strong first impressions
The Indianapolis International Airport Authority and Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee know impressions begin when people arrive in the city and continue to be formed when they depart.
City boosts 2011 convention sales 13 percent
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association booked nearly 735,000 hotel room nights in 2011 for conventions and meetings.
Indy tourism officials launch Super Bowl ad campaign
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association has launched a 25-day, $100,000 ad campaign to lure visitors to the city in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. The campaign targets the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville markets.
Chicago mimicking Indy sports strategy
Tourism leaders in Chicago are launching an initiative some observers think is a direct shot at Indianapolis. In October, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau formed its own sports commission and fed it $300,000 in startup cash.
City tourism generated $3.6B in 2010, study says
An Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association study shows the amount of tourism dollars last year increased by $120 million from 2009. The city also attracted more visitors in 2010.
Gen Con commits to city for five more years
The annual Gen Con convention, which had a previous commitment to Indianapolis through 2015, is extending its agreement through 2020. The latest Gen Con event drew a record 36,733 visitors.
Quick Hits: San Antonio convention trade is stronger than Indianapolis’
With 2.1 million people, the San Antonio metro area is 23 percent larger than the Indianapolis area, yet its tourism and convention business is significantly bigger.
Kiwanis chooses Indianapolis for 100th convention
The Indianapolis-based organization will hold its annual convention in the city in 2015, marking its 100th anniversary. About 10,000 members are expected to attend.
CIB contributes $500,000 toward tourism effort
The gift will enable the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association to continue an annual marketing campaign aimed at attracting Midwestern visitors to the city.
Prime business events making a comeback in Indianapolis
Room rates are on the rise after a three-year lull.
Class in Hoosier hospitality launched for Super Bowl
The class is being launched Oct. 3 with the goal of getting tens of thousands of front-line hospitality workers—from hoteliers, caterers and restaurant servers to cab drivers and airport employees—prepared for the barrage of Super Bowl visitors coming in February.
Gen Con convention betting on attendance surge
Organizers of the four-day gaming conference think this year’s event will draw 35,000 visitors to Indianapolis, thanks in large part to a bigger convention center.
Tech district could boost Indianapolis’ convention business
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association plans to attract more life sciences conferences.
New Indianapolis tourism chief calls for bigger marketing budget
In an interview with Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Anthony Schoettle, Leonard Hoops, the incoming CEO of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, says Indianapolis warrants its own brand.
ICVA expects to fall short of 2011 room-night goal
The convention association set out to book 725,000 hotel room nights this year for future meetings but so far is trending below the goal. An aggressive drive last year exhausted many of its prospects, new ICVA CEO Leonard Hoops said.
Better Wi-Fi sought for stadium, convention center
The Capital Improvement Board of Marion County is accepting proposals to improve Wi-Fi service at both Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. The systems are expected to be operational in time for the Super Bowl in February.
CIB reports quarterly revenue increase
The Capital Improvement Board saw revenue of $22.5 million in the first three months of the year, a jump of 28 percent compared with the same three months in 2010. More taxes generated by hotel stays and restaurant visits helped drive the increase.
Can Indianapolis recover convention chief stability?
Leonard Hoops is the third CEO of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association in three years—not ideal in an industry where it often takes three to five years to consummate a deal and as long as a decade to plan and build infrastructure