Will city be ready for Super Bowl blitz?
The compact nature of downtown Indianapolis—long seen as a major draw for conventions and other events—is creating challenges for organizers of next year’s Super Bowl.
Tourism & Hospitality
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NFL labor situation a hot topic in Dallas
A lockout is predicted by many, but whether labor strife ultimately affects the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis remains to be seen.
Super Bowl committee fields weather questions in Dallas
Members of Indianapolis’ 2012 Super Bowl host committee spent most of Tuesday and the early part of Wednesday in Dallas answering questions about central Indiana weather and downtown amenities.
Marketing firm VMS plans growth, new jobs
Event-planning powerhouse VMS Inc. plans to invest more than $1.5 million to expand its Indianapolis life sciences marketing operation and create as many as 102 jobs over the next four years, state officials said Friday morning.
Dry Indiana tourist town fights alcohol permit
A Gas America store has applied for a permit to sell warm beer and wine in the largely Amish, northeastern Indiana town of Shipshewana.
City refocuses on targets, ramps up goals for tourism
Tourism honchos outline aggressive goals for 2011, including increasing hotel room nights for conventions from 650,000 to 725,000, and targeting leisure travelers from Chicago and the United Kingdom.
Bill would make Indiana schools start after Labor Day
Republican Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel said it makes sense to start school after Labor Day because families would have more summer vacation time together.
Smaller meetings key to convention center expansion
Large conventions typically get the most attention, but it’s the smaller meetings that will be critical to ensuring the expanded Indiana Convention Center is adequately occupied.
Titanic buoys state museum attendance
“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” attracted 88,465 paying visitors during its 103-day run and boosted overall museum attendance by 45 percent.
Peace gardens slated for downtown
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail being built through the heart of downtown will include sculptural gardens dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, an extension of the $2 million Glick Peace Walk.
Bill would lift ban on booze at Indiana State Fair
Republican Rep. Robert Cherry of Greenfield says alcohol sales could provide needed revenue to the State Fair and allow the event to showcase Indiana wine and beer.
ICVA executives sharing leadership duties
Three hospitality industry executives are holding down the fort as the ICVA board searches for a new leader to replace outgoing CEO Don Welsh. Directors are on no timetable to name a replacement.
Convention Center expansion is high-stakes gamble
With the $275 million Indiana Convention Center expansion built and set to open Jan. 20, one major question remains: Will enough conventions, trade shows and corporate meetings come here to make the big-dollar investment pay off?
Top museum honor goes to Conner Prairie
The living-history attraction is the second Indianapolis institution to win the prestigious National Medal for Museum Service.
Super Bowl organizers not concerned about lockout
Host committee chairman Mark Miles said he believes the city would get another Super Bowl even if an NFL labor stoppage canceled the game.
UPDATE: Convention leaders prepare for business without Welsh
Don Welsh was seen as a revolutionary force as CEO of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. Now he may be one of its biggest competitors as he takes the top job in Chicago.
ICVA chief leaving Indianapolis for Chicago
Don Welsh, the top executive at the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association since 2008, is leaving the city to take the job as CEO of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, the ICVA announced Monday night.
Local hotel bookings fell in 2010, projected to rise in 2011
Weak economy blamed for 5-percent decline. With Indiana Convention Center expansion set to be complete this month, booking should be on the rise.
ICVA nearing hotel room-reservation target for 2010
As of mid-December, the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association had hit about 93 percent of its 2010 goal of booking 650,000 room nights for future conventions. The group is stepping up its efforts to meet the demands of the new JW Marriott hotel and convention center expansion.
CIB seeking bids for stadium, convention security
Request for proposals calls for providing 24-hour security at both Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, as well as providing armed guards for special events. The CIB plans to award contracts in mid-March.