Visit Indy smashes 12-year-old hotel-booking record
Fueled by exposure from the 2012 Super Bowl and a USA Today article touting the city’s convention prowess, Visit Indy booked nearly 200,000 more hotel rooms in 2014 than it did in 2013.
Tourism & Hospitality
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Indy lands return of massive NRA show for 2019, 2023
The National Rifle Association’s annual convention was Indianapolis’ biggest convention last year, and local hospitality leaders expect it to be even bigger in future years.
Perceptions, plans outlined for this year’s Final Four
NCAA Final Four host committee officials said Tuesday that Fan Fest would open April 3; youth clinics and a 5K walk to help support Coaches vs. Cancer will be held April 4; 3,200 children would dribble around town April 5; and the annual March Madness Music Festival will be held April 3-5.
Fountain Square landlord keeps duckpin bowling alive
The game has become a must-have-reservations attraction in the historic Fountain Square neighborhood and one of Indy's most original activities for corporate team-building, date night or a fun time out with friends.
Key lawmaker introduces bill to allow live dealers at racinos
Two of the state’s largest casinos and horse track betting facilities, Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, stand to benefit most if the proposed legislation becomes law.
Owners of popular Greek restaurant turning 1920s warehouse into event center
Taki and Jeanette Sawi of Santorini Greek Kitchen, in Fountain Square, are branching out to open a large banquet facility in a nearly century-old warehouse on the southwestern edge of downtown just across the White River and not far from Lucas Oil Stadium.
Eiteljorg Museum sets attendance record
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis drew 161,000 visitors in 2014, topping its former record of 141,000 in 2011.
Caesars unit says it filed Chapter 11 in bid to trim debt
A cash-strapped division of casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. that owns two Indiana casinos is hoping a court agrees to its plan to get out from under $18.4 billion of debt.
City interested in hosting college football title game
Indiana Sports Corp. officials who attended the first College Football Playoff Championship Game said they’d love to host the game at Lucas Oil Stadium under the right conditions.
Indianapolis Zoo has record year at turnstiles
The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center opened in May and brought in huge summer crowds, including 232,564 visitors in July alone.
Trailblazing hotelier eyes Indy for new lodging concept
Jack DeBoer, a Kansas-based businessman known as the creator of the extended-stay hotel, is bringing his hotel/apartment hybrid to Indianapolis.
Hotels to offer free Wi-Fi but tighten cancellation policies
The big chains, those mega-hotels that cater to business travelers during the week, are finally following suit of the budget, side-of-the-road properties and offering free Internet.
As new hotel plans emerge, existing operators fret
During the second half of 2014, developers announced that four new hotels would open over the next two to three years—a time the city’s convention schedule is looking light.
Southwest to add nonstop service to LA, Boston
Southwest will depart Indianapolis International Airport for Los Angeles once daily, and there will be two flights every day to Boston, the airline announced Wednesday.
Museum of Art admission jumping from free to $18
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, which hasn’t charged an admission fee since 2007, will begin charging adults $18 for entry to the museum and gardens starting in April, the IMA announced Friday.
State adds torch relay to bicentennial celebration
Indiana will host a torch relay across the state as part of its 200th birthday celebration in 2016.
Visit Indy negotiating to keep huge auto show until 2021
Three years ago, a long-term deal to keep the PRI Show in Indianapolis would have been almost unimaginable. The event with a $45.6 million annual economic impact now could be a fixture.
Indianapolis monument needs more repair work
Scaffolding is going to remain up months longer than first thought to complete repairs to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis.
Sports complex developer confirms financing woes
A developer that planned to open a $22 million hotel and indoor sports complex in Greenwood has officially suspended those plans after failing to find funding.
Indy hospitality chief: “We’re at tipping point on taxes.”
In September 2013, veteran lobbyist Patrick Tamm became president of the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association, replacing longtime industry advocate John Livengood. Tamm’s hire came eight months after IRLA was formed by merging the Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association and the Indiana Restaurant Association, both of which Livengood served as president since 1998.