YouTube stars, multiple genres help boost locally created PopCon
The inaugural outing of Indy PopCon, in 2014, generated about 9,000 turnstile spins. Last year’s event had 24,000.
Tourism & Hospitality
Articles
Study: Mounds Greenway would bring $13M in annual benefits
An environmental group that’s fought a proposed central Indiana reservoir says a study it commissioned shows its rival idea would bring tourism, environmental, transportation and public health benefits.
Major renovation for downtown Marriott to run ‘tens of millions’
The revamp of the 622-room Marriott is meant to bring the hotel up to the same standards as the JW Marriott a block to the west. The latter’s owners have agreed to buy the former for $165 million.
UPDATE: City’s second-largest hotel to be sold for $165M
White Lodging Services Corp. and REI Investments have a contract to acquire the 622-room Indianapolis Marriott Downtown hotel, the owner said Thursday.
CNO changes course with Monumental Marathon sponsorship deal
Monumental Marathon Executive Director Blake Boldon called the three-year title sponsorship deal with CNO Financial Group “a game-changing sponsorship.”
South Bend targets central Indiana for more visitors
Visit South Bend Mishawaka has paid the Indianapolis-based digital marketing firm The Basement $125,000 for a summer advertising campaign.
Indianapolis Museum of Art to reduce debt load by $17 million
The Indianapolis Museum of Art plans to pay off more than $17 million in debt at the end of the year, reducing its overall debt load to less than $100 million for the first time since 2004.
Local firm modernizes centuries-old yurt structures
Yurts have been a form of shelter for more than 2,000 years. But Indianapolis-based Yurts of America today builds them with materials that didn’t even exist back then.
Ex-TV producer lining up sponsors for huge downtown music fest
Nick White has reserved American Legion Mall for the Sept. 30-Oct. 2 weekend to launch the Evermore Music Festival. He still needs sponsors. And 35 acts.
National FFA Organization names new chief executive
Mark Poeschl, of Brookville, Ohio, will take over leadership of the Indianapolis-based National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation on Aug. 1, succeeding Dwight Armstrong, who is retiring after leading the organizations for seven years.
U.S. Conference of Mayors plans June meeting in Indianapolis
Each of the presidential candidates and newly elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan have been invited to speak at the event.
Hotel rates go sky high, rooms sold out for miles for Indy 500
The Knights Inn at the airport had a couple of rooms left at $899 per night Wednesday, according to Expedia. And a room could be had at the Red Roof Inn in Anderson for $446.
IU Art Museum to use $15M Eskenazi gift for major renovation
The Indiana University Art Museum in Bloomington has received a $15 million naming gift from Indianapolis-based philanthropists Sidney and Lois Eskenazi, in addition to an art collection of nearly 100 works.
Expanded alcohol sales coming to state fair
Beer and wine will be sold at evening concerts and at non-student events, including the rodeo, monster truck and horse racing competitions.
Speedway spends $92 million on seating, screens, elevators
This month, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway completed one of the three largest renovations in its 107-year history.
Indiana Comic Con draws record crowd, plans to return next year
Attendance for the third annual Indiana Comic Con was up more than 4,000 and the event’s economic impact increased by $1 million, according to local tourism officials.
100th running of 500 pressures IMS to deliver sublime experience
Hulman and Co. CEO Mark Miles says he and his staff feel “a great sense of responsibility” associated with this year’s race.
Indy officials confident city measures up to NCAA’s new standards
Local officials say Indianapolis should continue to host NCAA events despite rules adopted by the association on Wednesday to assure LGBT rights and protections.
Indiana State Museum to unveil bicentennial artifact exhibit
The Indiana State Museum on Saturday will begin displaying a collection of 200 artifacts that have been either made or used by famous residents in honor of the state's bicentennial.
152-room hotel pitched for south side of downtown
The owner of Tow Yard Brewing hopes to build the eight-story hotel, which would feature 6,000 square feet of retail and four levels of parking, next to the downtown microbrewery.