City’s convention agency changing to more ‘hip’ name
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association is changing its name to Visit Indy and dramatically altering its logo to appeal to leisure travelers as well as meeting and convention planners.
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Downtown Indianapolis gearing up for big visitor weekend
The Gen Con Indy gaming convention and the MotoGP race are among several events the city is hosting that could produce an economic impact of $150 million, according to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
Stage company rejects Indiana State Fair settlement deal
The owner of the stage that collapsed at Indiana's State Fair last year and killed seven people rejected a settlement plan Wednesday that would have protected the state from further legal action and paid victims an additional $7.2 million.
IMA chooses new CEO from Kentucky art museum
Charles L. Venable, 52, the director and CEO of the Speed Art Museum in Louisville since 2007, was chosen to replace Maxwell Anderson, who left the IMA in January to become director of the Dallas Museum of Art.
Museum of Contemporary Art names executive director
The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art has removed the "interim" tag from the title of its executive director.
Playoffs?! CIB predicts Colts won’t host postseason game
The city entity that owns Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts play their home games, budgeted $1 million less in admission-tax revenue for 2013 for one reason: The board does not expect the Colts to host any playoff games.
CIB plans $5M repair to Capitol Commons plaza
The project is part of a $63.9 million operating budget board members approved for 2013, which is lower than the current year’s budget because it doesn’t include Super Bowl costs or special payments to the Indiana Pacers.
Hamilton County hotels report stronger occupancy
Helped in part by the Super Bowl, the county’s occupancy rate increased 8.4 percent, to 63 percent, compared with the first six months of 2011, according to a report by Tennessee-based Smith Travel Research.
ICVA eyes funds from sale by CIB of downtown’s Ober building
The Capital Improvement Board wants to plug a $2 million funding hole that will open up next year for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association with the expiration of a $5.9 million grant from the owner of the JW Marriott hotel downtown.
Indiana fair remembers stage collapse 1 year later
The Indiana State Fair came to a standstill Monday night to honor the victims of a deadly stage collapse one year ago that prompted sweeping overhauls of the fair's emergency plan and new regulations for temporary stages.
Tourism agency names ISO exec as interim director
The Indiana Office of Tourism Development has named Mark Newman as interim executive director, replacing Amy Vaughan, who had led the tourism agency since 2005.
Indy Zoo gets $2M gift for planned orangutan center
The Indianapolis Zoo said Thursday it that it received a $2 million gift toward its planned orangutan center from the family foundation of hotel developer Dean White.
Few regulations for Indianapolis food trucks to keep
Owners, restaurateurs are hoping to avoid new ordinances.
Super Bowl bid might spur new downtown hotel
Downtown is short of the four- and five-star hotel rooms preferred by National Football League sponsors and partners for a 2018 Super Bowl host, but local tourism officials are hesitant to add more hotel space just to secure a second Super Bowl.
Fair victim settlement shields Indiana from company
Indiana lawmakers presented their decision to offer an additional $6 million to victims of a deadly stage collapse at last year's state fair as a way to help those who weren't adequately compensated by its first settlement. But buried in the legislation was a clause protecting the state from having to pay even more.
State fair opens with attendance increase
Indiana State Fair attendance is officially up so far this year thanks to a pair of opening-weekend concerts. Those concerts, however, took place in downtown Indianapolis, so crowds at the state fairgrounds actually may be down a little.
Fair handles first thunderstorm under new procedures
Indiana State Fair officials say they're happy with the first real test of their new, 425-page emergency plan implemented after a stage collapse amid high winds killed seven people and injured dozens of others a year ago.
Indianapolis hotels see sharp increases in room revenue
The Indianapolis hotel market is poised to record a 10.8-percent increase in revenue per available room in 2012, according to projections from PKF Consulting. The city's hosting of the Super Bowl gave the market a huge, early lift.
Chicago tourism push increases pressure on Indianapolis
Chicago tourism officials earlier this year unleashed a major advertising campaign that threatens to encroach on one of Indianapolis’ primary leisure travel segments. The Second City for the first time ever is marketing itself to other cities in the Midwest, such as St. Louis and Cincinnati, that are key targets for Indianapolis.
Anderson using Colts training camp in year-round tourism effort
With a new Indianapolis Colts coach and quarterback on the field, Anderson officials expect to see an increase in training camp attendance this season that will help boost tourism in Madison County all year.