Ohio set to market its tourist attractions to Indianapolis
Indiana was the No. 1 state outside of Ohio ordering 2017 Ohio Travel Guides, and Indianapolis was the most-searched major city other than Detroit and Pittsburgh on Ohio.org.
Tourism & Hospitality
Articles
Airbnb unveils new category of rentals rated by inspectors
Shaking things up at a time its growth has been slowin, the lodging-sharing service is dispatching inspectors to rate thousands of the properties it lists in an effort to reassure travelers they’re booking nice places to stay.
Community theater group losing Clay Terrace performance venue
The group has been putting on plays at a space in Carmel’s Clay Terrace shopping center for more than eight years, thanks in large part to the largesse of the landlord. Now it needs to find a new home.
Hectic city schedule makes hosting football national championship trickier
Indianapolis officials say they’re up for the challenge of hosting the eighth annual College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2022, even as they’re planning six other big sporting events that take place within a 13-month stretch.
Artifacts from downtown monument moved due to flooded basement
A leak that sent water into the basement of a historic monument in downtown Indianapolis has prompted curators to move a collection of artifacts documenting Indiana's role in the Civil War.
Visit Indy reports sixth straight year of rising visitor spending
The number of tourism and hospitality jobs in Indianapolis also grew—from 77,800 in 2015 to 80,600 in 2016, according to the report.
Ordinance would tie hotel licenses to police and fire runs
City officials are considering an ordinance to crack down on hotels and motels they say are a magnet for crime, pose a danger to area residents, and drain city police and fire resources.
Fishers organizing new event to replace Freedom Festival
The city of Fishers on Tuesday announced a new event to replace the Freedom Festival—a 29-year-old summer celebration that was called off last year over financial issues.
Conner Prairie tops attendance, membership marks
Conner Prairie set multiple attendance records in 2017, the interactive history museum in Fishers announced Wednesday evening at its annual meeting.
Bill limiting short-term rental regulation advanced by House
The bill would guarantee homeowners the ability to rent out their primary residence on websites such as Airbnb.
Madame Walker Theatre to get $15M renovation, operational help
An initiative involving Indiana University and the Lilly Endowment is set to provide a $15 million renovation to the historic Madame Walker Theatre Center while ensuring the historic landmark’s viability into the future.
Carmel works to balance short-term rental rights, concerns
The Indianapolis suburb has adopted rules on short-term home rental services like Airbnb as state lawmakers are again considering whether to ban such local regulations.
Simon widow donates massive estate to Songbook Foundation
The widow of Mel Simon is donating her entire 107-acre estate in Carmel to the Great American Songbook Foundation—a gift valued at more than $30 million that the foundation plans to use to help it establish a major museum in central Indiana.
City eyes another big hotel downtown
City and hospitality officials have started laying the groundwork to accommodate demand for rooms booked for conventions and other big events by Visit Indy.
Long-time south-side bakery closing doors
A nearly-30-year-old business known for custom-made cakes for weddings, graduations, birthdays and other special events is liquidating its equipment and closing its shop near the University of Indianapolis.
Brown County hotel charged guest $350 after she posted negative review
The former owner of the Abbey Inn & Suites is being sued for charging a woman $350 for posting a negative online review that noted cleanliness issues.
Noblesville ends lease agreement with Indiana Transportation Museum
The Noblesville Parks and Recreation Board voted Wednesday to not renew its lease with the museum, ending a strained relationship after years of feuding.
Two Indiana casinos to get new owners in deals worth $3.3B
If the deals are approved, Penn National will take over Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, and Boyd Gaming will take over Belterra Casino in Switzerland County.
Grand Park Events Center food operator cited for health code violations
The company recently chosen by the city of Westfield to run concession stands at Grand Park has racked up more than 30 food-inspection violations—including multiple infractions for mouse droppings—during its short tenure operating the restaurants in the Grand Park Events Center.
Pacers president says city will ‘break new ground’ hosting NBA All-Star Game
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Lucas Oil Stadium was “briefly considered” as the site of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. But a desire to have the game in a more intimate facility led the league and team officials to choose the 18,165-seat Bankers Life Fieldhouse to host the game.