Will pandemic’s tourism slump return after NCAA Tournament ends?
Hospitality leaders say no, although it will be some time before occupancy rates are back to normal.
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Downtown hotel occupancy tops in nation with March Madness influx
With thousands of visitors in town for the NCAA basketball tournament and other athletic events, occupancy rates at downtown Indianapolis hotels were the highest in the nation for the past two weekends, breaking the pandemic tourism setback that settled in a year ago.
3 downtown hotels to ‘un-bubble’ as NCAA consolidates teams to 1 property
The move will allow fans and other visitors to use the Hyatt Regency, Westin and JW Marriott hotels for the first time in 10 days, after the three properties were fully booked by the NCAA for tournament needs.
Update: Dozens of teams already in town as last-minute tourney prep falls into place
Teams must undergo a quarantine and testing period when they arrive in Indianapolis—and no one from the schools was allowed to make the trip without seven consecutive days of negative tests.
Event manager makes career shift after pandemic job loss
Former JW Marriott employee Lisette Woloszyk watched things go from bad to worse in March, as cancellations for the city’s hotels racked up alongside COVID-19 cases.
Photo gallery: The bracket goes up on the JW Marriott
The tradition started in 2012, when what was essentially a giant decal of the Lombardi Trophy—the prize for winning the Super Bowl—went up on the front or eastern face of the 33-story hotel.
Town of Speedway again exploring legal options for delayed Wilshaw hotel
Town officials have grown “frustrated by a lack of transparency and communication from Loftus Robinson despite our multiple requests,” as well as the firm’s effort to continue batting away responsibility for the project.
Downtown properties scramble to ramp up for NCAA influx
Five of the city’s most prominent hotels, accounting for more than 2,800 rooms, will house the 68 teams in the three-week NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament that tips off March 18.
NCAA tournament could give city ‘moment’ on par with Pan Am Games, Super Bowl
Hosting the entire 68-team NCAA men’s basketball tournament is likely to be a landmark event for Indianapolis and another boon for the city’s hospitality efforts, industry observers say.
NCAA’s March Madness will be test Indy was ‘made for’
The herculean effort over the next 2-1/2 months will involve city and state officials, tourism and civic leaders, and likely thousands of volunteers.
NCAA books big chunk of downtown hotels for March Madness
Nearly all of downtown’s nearly 7,600 hotel rooms could be used for the tournament, as well as additional hotels in other parts of the city as well.
Work under way on at least three major downtown construction projects
The Tribute and Aloft hotels—both of which were announced before the pandemic began—are among the few downtown lodging projects that are continuing to make progress.
City turns to hotels to help house homeless through pandemic winter
The usual plan, which involves packing people closely on as many cots and mats as Wheeler Mission’s shelters can hold, isn’t an option under social distancing guidelines.
Photos: Bottleworks Hotel opening Tuesday
The 139-room hotel will be among the first components of the $300 million Bottleworks District to open. Additional tenants—including retailers, restaurants and entertainment-focused businesses—will begin opening early next year.
Future of business travel unclear as virus upends work life
Work travel represented 21% of the $8.9 trillion spent on global travel and tourism in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. How much of that business will return after the pandemic is uncertain.
Drury drops plans to recast former Caribbean Cove property, will sell land
The now-vacant land quietly went up for sale in July. It’s now under contract along with Drury Hotels’ Pear Tree Inn at 9320 N. Michigan Road
Hotels’ vacancy woes cause debt headaches
With travel and convention business continuing to stagnate and COVID-19 cases on a steep rise, many properties find themselves scrambling for long-term loan solutions and pleading for help from lenders.
Bottleworks Hotel nearly complete, to open in December
Work on the ritzy Mass Ave hotel has continued throughout the pandemic, despite delays to other projects around the city. The Bottleworks campus food hall is slated to open in January.
Lobbying group says two-thirds of Indiana’s hotels facing closure
The American Hotel & Lodging Association report is meant to underscore what the lobbying group says is a critical need for additional stimulus ahead of Congress breaking for its October recess.
Hotels, restaurants face new conundrum: How to offer service without a smile
Six months into the pandemic, conveying warmth is the new hot topic among hoteliers and restaurateurs. Some are coming up with new ways.