Peer-to-peer housing debate hits area communities
Indianapolis-area communities stayed out of the home-sharing-platform debates—until Zionsville ordered a couple to stop offering an apartment above their garage to out-of-town guests.
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Hospitality industry braces for new overtime rules
While the new law applies to all employers, it could hit the hospitality sector harder than most. The hotel industry is one that relies heavily on modestly paid middle managers, who are exempt from overtime, to pick up the slack—and extra hours—when called upon.
Hamilton County sees flurry of hotel projects
Nearly 10 projects are in various stages of development, including three in Westfield. Once the announced hotels are open, Hamilton County’s room count could increase 35 percent.
Zionsville officials deny couple’s Airbnb request
Two Zionsville residents who have used Airbnb to rent an apartment above their garage to short-term visitors can no longer do so. The town’s zoning board saw no wiggle room in existing rules.
Zionsville stirs up debate over lodging service Airbnb
A local couple wants permission to list a garage apartment through the lodging platform. Some residents think Airbnb could attract tourism dollars, while others worry about safety and the area’s character.
Restroom neutrality becomes hospitality sales tool
Only 1 percent of the events booked over the last year at the Indiana Convention Center asked for gender-neutral bathrooms, but hospitality experts say it’s a big and growing issue.
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.
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.
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.
Downtown hotel plan incorporates black church
The city’s oldest African-American church is poised to become a hotel as part of a larger, $30 million project that could add more than 200 rooms to downtown’s lodging inventory.
DINING: New Hyatt diner stresses locally sourced ingredients
Fat Rooster Diner takes over the space formerly occupied by One South, retaining its predecessor’s popular pasta station but overhauling the rest of the menu.
Drury Hotels tower might stretch 17 stories
St. Louis-based Drury said the new hotel would have 350 rooms spread between IBJ’s four-story building and a tower it plans to build on the surface parking lot next door.
Fuson: NBA All-Star Game economic impact bigger than anticipated
City and Indiana Pacers officials will decide after they get bid requirements later this summer whether to pursue the NBA All-Star Game for Indianapolis.
Developer plans $25M hotel, conference center in Plainfield
A local hotel developer plans to build the 175-room Embassy Suites near the town’s Interstate 70 interchange and Indianapolis International Airport.
Visit Indy sets annual record for hotel room bookings
Hotel rooms booked by Visit Indy rose to a record in 2015. But the number of bookings from out-of-state organizations plummeted by more than 100,000, possibly because of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act controversy.
Hyatt Regency’s lobby, eateries to get $1.3M makeover
The new owners of the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis decided its lower levels needed an overhaul and sharpened culinary focus.
Marriott buying rival hotel chain Starwood for $12.2 billion
The deal would add 50 percent more rooms to Marriott's portfolio and give it more unique, design-focused hotels that appeal to younger travelers.
From humble start, developer expands to 30 hotels
Since arriving in Indianapolis in 1989—to buy a Days Inn on the city’s south side—Bharat Patel has grown his portfolio to nearly 30 properties stretching from California to New Jersey.
Retailers, restaurants struggle to find staff in north ‘burbs
Advertisements for traditionally low-wage jobs in hospitality and retail decorate major thoroughfares in the northern suburbs, offering management positions and higher pay as incentives.