BASILE: Odds are Branson visitors will be treated like family
Hokey? Sure. But other cities could learn something about customer service from how this Missouri country mecca.
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LOU’S VIEWS: Pigeon Forge on a roll with new ways to lure tourists
In the Smokies, you can tumble down a hill in a Zorb, cheer on feuding lumberjacks, or take pictures with waxen Hollywood stars. And, of course, there’s Dollywood.
REVIEW: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios revisited
With both the 2010 opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and 2012’s New Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World, families with theme-park inklings have even more reasons to visit — or revisit — Orlando.
Traveling Indiana? Here’s a look at what’s new and improved
Need some incentives to travel in-state for your next getaway? Looking for something new? Here’s a rundown of some of what’s been added — or improved — on Indiana’s destinations menu.
Mahern wants council members to disclose free game tix
The Indianapolis City-County Council is poised to approve a huge increase in ticket taxes on professional sports, and one council member wants to make sure those voting on the hike disclose the freebies they get for Pacers and Colts games.
Car-rental companies say higher tax will hurt locals, too
Indianapolis is poised to raise its tax on car rentals, drawing the ire of the auto-rental industry. Though local politicians routinely say such taxes hurt only visitors, more than half of car rentals are actually local, industry figures show.
TRAVEL: For best experience, go with no reservations
Like most of our trips, the only reservations we made were for the flights.
Churchill Downs targets Indy market with Derby trips
In May, Churchill Downs will roll out its Derby Experiences travel package in the Indianapolis and Chicago markets—using luxury buses to shuttle horse racing fans to and from May's Kentucky Derby for the first time.
Potential of higher car rental taxes drawing fire
People who come to Indianapolis for business, ball games or other reasons could pay more for their visits if local officials decide to raise taxes on car rentals and professional sports tickets early next year.
Tourism generated $4B for city last year, study says
A study released Thursday says the tourism industry in Indianapolis had an economic impact of nearly $4 billion in 2011, a 10-percent increase from the previous year.
Shortage of nonstop flights imperils convention biz
Indianapolis’ dwindling number of nonstop flights—especially to the West Coast—threatens to stunt the city’s convention business just as officials are marketing the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and downtown’s hotel market.
Report: Indy visitors pay high taxes for travel
Visitors pay among the highest travel taxes in the nation when they come to Indianapolis — 17 percent on hotel rates, 15 percent on rental cars and 9 percent on meals.
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.
TRAVEL: Learning about roots makes Sicilian sojourn worthwhile
The only information we had about my ancestral family on my father’s side was a baptismal certificate for my paternal grandmother. It said she was baptized in a town called Alia.
Super Celebration site turnout less than expected
Outlying communities say they saw steady ridership on free shuttles heading to and from downtown Indianapolis, but the sites received fewer Super Bowl visitors than expected.
Indianapolis cleans up after 1.1M Super Bowl guests
More than 1.1 million people visited Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis during its 10-day run, far outpacing expectations by host committee leaders.
Fans encountering smooth departures at airport
The most congested area of Indianapolis International Airport Monday morning may have been the Lids souvenir stand at the center of the food court.
Travel club startup patterned after Ambassadair trying to raise $5 million
A former employee of Ambassadair travel club is trying to raise $5.3 million to finance the first six months of a business created in its image.
Indy airport helping city make strong first impressions
The Indianapolis International Airport Authority and Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee know impressions begin when people arrive in the city and continue to be formed when they depart.
TRAVEL: Surprise! Carmel has turned into a place I’d like to visit
Over the past few months, we’ve fallen in love with a charming city just a few miles north of our Indianapolis home.