Stewart’s NASCAR victory likely to boost local trade show
The International Motorsports Industry Show at the Indiana Convention Center should get a jolt of publicity from Tony Stewart, who is not only the 2011 NASCAR champ but the show's part-owner.
Tourism & Hospitality
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Former Colt opening downtown event venue
Former Indianapolis Colt Gary Padjen is turning a vacant 18,000-square-foot building near Lucas Oil Stadium into a venue he is hopeful will host everything from Super Bowl and other corporate parties to concerts and mixed martial arts bouts.
Oktoberfest organizers face bill for unpaid fairgrounds rent
Board members of the German-American Klub of Indianapolis could be personally on the hook for more than $20,000 in unpaid rent at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Downtown’s Nestle Inn under new ownership
Nearly 12 years after opening Nestle Inn Bed & Breakfast, Steve and Barb Tegarden decided to sell the business at 637 N. East St. to marketing and hospitality veteran Leesa Smith and her husband.
Ski-lodge-themed facility planned for Union Station
The NFL is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a posh 15,000-square-foot hospitality area inside Union Station’s Grand Hall for this year’s Super Bowl. The facility will be a perk for the league’s best corporate partners, former players and coaches, and other high-rollers.
Suburban-hotel mayhem whipsaws entrepreneur
Two of Sanjay Patel’s hotels landed in bankruptcy in November. Four others filed for Chapter 11 protection last year.
Agency endorses big cut to state horse racing’s $58M subsidy
The Indiana Inspector General recommends in a report that the annual subsidy paid to the state’s horse racing community be reduced by more than half, to $28 million.
State Fair moves 2012 concerts to Conseco Fieldhouse
The Indiana State Fair is moving next year's big concerts to a downtown Indianapolis arena in the wake of August's deadly outdoor stage collapse.
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.
IndyCar, NASCAR stars to face off in Indy
The go-kart race at Conseco Fieldhouse is part of the third annual International Motorsports Industry Show at the Indiana Convention Center.
Photographer sues French Lick resort over angels paintings
Pamela Mougin, a onetime Indianapolis photographer who now runs a studio in Colorado, filed suit this month against French Lick Resort & Casino for copyright infringement.
Terre Haute airport looks for Super Bowl business
Terre Haute International Airport officials distributed brochures and advertisements about the facility and its hangars during a business aircraft convention this month in Las Vegas.
Verizon Wireless Center getting new name
Outdoor amphitheater Verizon Wireless Center in Noblesville will be renamed Klipsch Music Center under a new sponsorship agreement between speaker manufacturer Klipsch Group Inc. and venue owner Live Nation Entertainment.
Changes to state fair unlikely in 2012 legislative session
Indiana lawmakers look ready to wait at least a year before changing any laws in response to the stage collapse that killed seven at this summer’s Indiana State Fair. And that’s if they change anything at all.
IMA losing chief right before big fundraising effort
Maxwell Anderson is leaving his post as CEO at the Indianapolis Museum of Art just as the institution is preparing to launch a capital campaign it hopes will make up for financial pain inflicted by the recession.
Carmel mayor’s next goal: Build posh, $32M hotel
The principal developer of Carmel’s City Center, Pedcor Cos., is working with city officials on plans for a four-star boutique hotel that likely would cost at least $32 million to build and may require an additional city subsidy.
Art museum CEO Anderson headed to Dallas
Achievements during Max Anderson's tenure included opening the 100 Acres art-and-nature park as well acquiring the Miller House and Garden in Columbus. However, he also had to grapple with fiscal challenges that led to more than $7 million in budget cuts.
Indiana casino expanding to fend off competition
Leaders of a southeastern Indiana casino are banking on a new $49 million convention center and hotel complex to help it compete with a casino being built in nearby Cincinnati.
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.
Fair stage-collapse reports may not arrive until April
A pair of high-level investigations into the fatal Indiana State Fair stage collapse may not be released in time to help prepare for next year's fair.