Hamilton County sees jump in visitor spending
Visitors spent nearly $681 million in the county in 2015, with most of the dollars used for food and beverages. That’s a 12 percent boost over 2014, nearly double the increase for the overall metro area.
Tourism & Hospitality
Articles
Late flurry of hotel room bookings gives Visit Indy strong finish for 2016
In the last two weeks of the year, Visit Indy signed deals to bring 41 conventions to Indianapolis in the next five years. Those deals helped push the group close to a new annual record for advance bookings of hotel rooms.
Advanced bookings down for Indy hotels
The number of hotel rooms Visit Indy booked into future years took a tumble in 2016 to the lowest level since 2013. But local tourism and hotel officials aren’t overly concerned.
After health scare, Carolene Mays-Medley returns to trenches
The executive director at White River State Park is fighting her way back from a ruptured brain aneurysm, a condition that leaves many of its victims disabled, or worse.
State’s film agency finds new location, director
The office in charge of supporting and promoting Indiana’s film, TV and commercial-making industries now is under the umbrella of the state’s tourism development efforts.
Northern Indiana Indian tribe plans to open casino in 2018
The casino is expected to draw business from Indiana's existing casinos, which have already been seeing business shrink because of competition from surrounding states.
City inks one-year deal to keep Gen Con through 2021
The short-term extension allows the city to keep one of its largest conventions, with an estimated economic impact of $70 million, for at least another year.
City-County Council approves regulations for pedal pubs
Pedal pubs will be licensed by the city and will have to carry liability insurance, among other requirements.
Gen Con organizers seek shorter-term extension with city
After initially seeking a five-year extension that would keep the massive gaming convention in Indianapolis through 2025, Gen Con officials have changed their request.
Bloomington tourism ads play off liberal bent
Visit Bloomington has overhauled its marketing campaign and doubled its ad budget this year—pegging the home of Indiana University as the “blue dot in a red state.”
Star Plaza Theatre in northwest Indiana to remain open
The owners of a 3,400-seat theater in northwest Indiana that has featured top entertainers such as Bob Dylan, Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock have changed plans and won't demolish the facility.
Barn event venues crop up across central Indiana
Operators are pouring hundreds—in some cases millions—of dollars into renovations of existing barns or built-from-scratch centers that combine the rustic with the elegant, all to feed the still-growing trend of barns as places for weddings and other events.
Restaurant group planning changes to ‘Devour’ events
The Indianapolis Downtown Restaurant & Hospitality Association is making big adjustments to its “Devour” events starting next year, the organization announced Monday.
UPDATE: Indiana State Museum announces $17.8M renovation project
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites plans to pump more than $10 million into the Indianapolis museum in White River State Park and more than $7 million into 11 historic sites it manages around the state.
Evermore music event organizer says festival insolvent
The organizer for the Evermore Music Festival is telling vendors and bands that his business is insolvent and does not have enough money to fully pay them for their work on the inaugural event, which fell far short of attendance projections.
Indiana Landmarks mounts campaign to restore historic clock
Historic preservation not-for-profit Indiana Landmarks is leading a fundraising campaign to restore the 80-year-old “Ayres clock” mounted on the corner of Circle Centre mall at Washington and Meridian streets.
Cash-strapped Indiana zoo could lose nearly half its animals
The national association that accredits zoos and aquariums has given Mesker Park Zoo one year to fix maintenance concerns. Mesker Park is only one of four accredited zoos in Indiana.
Hancock County, 4-H leaders at odds over $18M fairgrounds
County officials and the local 4-H group disagree over who should control a proposed $18 million project for a new county fairgrounds.
High-rise hotel pitched for surface lot across from fieldhouse
A New Orleans company wants to build a 15-story hotel and a seven-level parking garage on downtown property where two previous attempts from other developers have failed.
Hospitality experts disagree on West Elm’s chances for hotel success
Bjorn Hanson, of New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, expressed doubt at the home-furnishing retailer’s plan to open at least five hotels, including one in Indianapolis.