Indiana unemployment rate improves to 11.2% in June
Private sector employment increased as employees returned to work in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors, as well as in educational and health services.
Tourism & Hospitality
Articles
North-side hotels capitalize on Grand Park, leisure travelers
Hotels across the metro area are starting to slowly rebound from this spring’s shutdown, but north-suburban properties are making up ground faster than anyone else.
JW reopens with new safety protocols, updated rooms
Guests who stay at the hotel will see a variety of changes, including plexiglass barriers at check-in counters and an increase to the amount of time allocated for room cleanings.
Convention Center gets back in the game by hosting basketball tournament
The Nike Tournament of Champions, a 300-team girls basketball event, is expected to bring 9,000 people to Indianapolis through Sunday, injecting an estimated $8.9 million into the local economy.
Sports Corp. takes over statewide tourism-support association
Team Indiana is meant to give its members—about three dozen tourism and sports organizations across Indiana—better access to resources that will get the attention of sports governing bodies that decide where to play events.
Three major downtown hotels set July reopening dates
The three hotels were among several throughout the city to temporarily suspend operations during the pandemic.
Indianapolis Indians forced to call off season for first time in 120 years
The triple-A Minor League Baseball team is sure to take a financial hit from the decision, but franchise President Randy Lewandowski said the Indians are “in a good financial position to weather this storm.”
Federal judge blocks state panhandling law from taking effect
A federal judge has issued a ruling against a new state law that would have effectively banned panhandling in downtown Indianapolis starting Wednesday, calling it unconstitutional.
Visit Indy spending $50K on digital ads to entice visitors
The tourism group’s new “You Have Earned It” campaign focuses on Indiana residents and relies heavily on Facebook and Google advertising platforms.
Pandemic spurring rise in RV sales in northern Indiana
Families are turning to road trips this summer in place of air travel and cruise ships.
FFA cancels national convention in Indy as downtown reels from tourism drought
The agriculture-education group cited lingering concerns over the coronavirus pandemic for scuttling the four-day event, which last year brought more than 68,000 people downtown.
Indy-area museums, attractions will restart in phases—often with members-only events first
Though the city will allow museums and cultural institutions to operate at 50% occupancy starting June 19, many are planning to wait a few days or test the waters with a select group of members.
State could miss $330M in tax revenue from depleted hospitality industry
States and municipalities throughout the country are expected to miss out on about $16.8 billion in taxes this year because of the pandemic’s impact on the hospitality industry, a new study says.
Care-free days at theme parks giving way to virus safeguards
From Walt Disney World in Florida to Holiday World in Indiana, amusement parks are taking all kinds of steps to reassure the public and government leaders that they’re safe to visit amid the coronavirus crisis.
Children’s Museum, Newfields, Zoo, Eiteljorg announce reopening plans
Several of the city’s largest cultural attractions are rolling out plans to reopen after long closures during the pandemic.
Hotels betting on more staycations to survive pandemic
With business and air travel barely breathing, hotel companies are betting on the leisure traveler as a short-term strategy for survival.
Chicago loses massive trade show to coronavirus pandemic
More than 129,000 people had signed up to attend the International Manufacturing Technology Show, making it the largest convention scheduled for the city this year.
As business trickles back, hotels compete on cleanliness
Hotels see cleaning standards as a way to soothe jittery guests—and possibly win back business from rivals like home-sharing companies like Airbnb.
Despite pandemic, Indiana’s RV industry sees demand surge
The coronavirus pandemic has made many consumers cautious of air travel, cruise ships and hotels, and they now see RVs as a safer mode of travel and better vacation alternative.
Q&A: Elaine Bedel on raising money for women-led research
Development Corp., is helping raise money for a women-focused cancer research initiative. The campaign, which will run through June, is in its second year.