National Rifle Association convention debuts in Indy
Businesses are scrambling to decide how to cater to the massive confab.
Visitor Spending
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Tourism officials kept mum on NRA convention for years
Visit Indy officials finalized a deal in 2010 to bring the National Rifle Association’s annual convention here in 2014. They say the NRA asked them not to publicize the event. The group disagrees.
Harsh weather at New York’s Super Bowl could hurt Indy’s 2018 bid chances
The game Feb. 2 and the week-long run-up to it will be fresh in the minds of the 32 NFL owners when they gather for their annual meeting in Atlanta in May to hear 2018 Super Bowl bid presentations from Indianapolis, Minneapolis and New Orleans.
Big Ten football championship sells out, packs downtown hotels
The battle on Saturday between Ohio State and Michigan State, plus ESPN broadcasts and special events downtown, are expected to have a $15 million economic impact on Indy. That’s a vast improvement over the 2012 championship.
Westfield gearing up for big hospitality play
Westfield’s massive Grand Park Sports Campus doesn’t open until March, but city leaders already are focused on making sure the 1 million-plus visitors they expect next year want to come back.
St. Elmo to host major shrimp-cocktail eating competition
St. Elmo Steak House will welcome the world’s top competitive eaters, including Joey Chestnut, to the contest, which will be part of the Georgia Street festivities prior to the Big Ten football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis named finalist for 2018 Super Bowl
Indy joins Minneapolis and New Orleans as the three NFL cities invited to bid on the big game. The 2012 Super Bowl had a $176 million direct economic impact on the city, a study said.
‘Dynamic duo’ boosts Hamilton County tourism
In eight years with the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Brenda Myers has morphed her organization into a developer, grant giver and landlord. The strategy appears to be working.
Local boat, RV show changes format to widen audience
For the first time in its 26-year history, the Indianapolis Fall Boat and RV Show will include an auction open to the public. Event organizers think it will draw bidders from far and wide.
Construction on orangutan center halfway done
The zoo says construction is expected to be complete by December. The center is being funded by a $30 million capital campaign.
Local enrollment for culinary schools rising
The surprising growth corresponds with the recent expansion of the Indiana Convention Center, and an explosion in the popularity of The Food Network and chef-centric programming. But don’t expect to make a mint.
DAY: The hidden value of hospitality and tourism
Tourism and hospitality are often described as the invisible industry—the industry “hidden in plain sight.”
Demand for hotels, tickets spike as NCAA regional looms
Downtown hoteliers are expecting a sellout this weekend, and ticket brokers are reporting a spike in ticket prices even though Indiana University is playing elsewhere.
Indianapolis loses bid to host 2016 Olympic swim trials in stadium
Indianapolis has been eliminated as a candidate to host the 2016 U.S. Olympic swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium. USA Swimming told local leaders that the venue would be “challenging for creating an intimate swimming setting.”
Ticket brokers, city to take lumps as IU sent east
Ticket brokers took a gut punch Sunday when NCAA officials announced that Indiana University would not be playing in the Midwest Regional of the men's basketball tournament. Local tourism officials say the economic impact could drop $1.5 million.
Speedway businesses eye gains from IMS upgrade
Nearby businesses hope upgrades to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from a proposed state taxing district would pave the way for additional offerings at the venue, including night racing.
Big Easy Super Bowl attraction crowds fall short of Indy’s
Attendance this year for the Super Bowl-related NFL Experience and downtown village in New Orleans fell far short of what was achieved in Indianapolis last year.
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.
City’s tourism agency reports strong 2012
Indianapolis’ hosting of the Super Bowl last February seems to be paying off for Visit Indy, which says the exposure the city received from the game is translating into more visitor interest.
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.