Hampton Inn to become Bud Light Hotel during Super Bowl
The Bud Light name and logo will replace Hampton's all over the hotel, from the outside signage and canopies to the in-room soap, shampoo and pens.
Meeting & Event Planning
Articles
Gen Con convention betting on attendance surge
Organizers of the four-day gaming conference think this year’s event will draw 35,000 visitors to Indianapolis, thanks in large part to a bigger convention center.
Former Nordstrom space could find Super Bowl use
The massive space in Circle Centre mall vacated by high-end retailer Nordstrom could be used to host corporate events surrounding the big game.
New Indianapolis tourism chief calls for bigger marketing budget
In an interview with Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Anthony Schoettle, Leonard Hoops, the incoming CEO of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, says Indianapolis warrants its own brand.
Local homeowners trying to cash in on Super Bowl
The approach of the 2012 Super Bowl has prompted some Indianapolis-area property owners to start looking for a chance to lease their homes and condos for the big game.
LEADING QUESTIONS: Conrad’s top chef rustles up advice
Do you need a culinary degree to be an executive chef? How do you serve hundreds at a time? What's the difference between cooking for Hoosiers and Floridians? Michelle Matiya boils it down.
ICVA expects to fall short of 2011 room-night goal
The convention association set out to book 725,000 hotel room nights this year for future meetings but so far is trending below the goal. An aggressive drive last year exhausted many of its prospects, new ICVA CEO Leonard Hoops said.
Better Wi-Fi sought for stadium, convention center
The Capital Improvement Board of Marion County is accepting proposals to improve Wi-Fi service at both Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. The systems are expected to be operational in time for the Super Bowl in February.
Gun bill advances without exemption for Indy venues
The Capital Improvement Board, which runs the Indiana Convention Center and the city’s professional sports venues, had hoped to get an exemption to Senate Bill 292, which pre-empts local governments from creating their own rules about where people can carry guns.
Insurer seeks to avoid claims from wedding accident
A Michigan insurance company is seeking to avoid paying for any claims made by Mavris Arts & Event Center in Indianapolis involving a high-profile fatal wedding-shuttle accident last summer.
New convention chief impressed with Indianapolis’ vision
An executive headhunter had been dogging Leonard Hoops for years about various career opportunities around the country. He always dismissed the leads—until recently, when he was told about the CEO vacancy at the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
UPDATE: City lures new convention chief
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association has hired Leonard Hoops, executive vice president for the San Francisco Travel Association, to replace Don Welsh as its new president and CEO.
Super Bowl Host Committee lays out winter weather plans
Jim Schellinger, chairman and CEO of CSO Architects, has been appointed to handle weather preparedness for the Super Bowl to be hosted in Indianapolis in February.
Competition seeks ideas for Monument Circle
A competition that could influence the future look and use of Monument Circle was unveiled Wednesday morning by a partnership that includes the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.
Dealer Expo trade show kicks off expanded Convention Center
The massive powersports convention is one of the biggest annual events hosted by the city and is the first to use the expanded Indiana Convention Center since a $275 addition was completed.
Will city be ready for Super Bowl blitz?
The compact nature of downtown Indianapolis—long seen as a major draw for conventions and other events—is creating challenges for organizers of next year’s Super Bowl.
NFL labor situation a hot topic in Dallas
A lockout is predicted by many, but whether labor strife ultimately affects the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis remains to be seen.
Marketing firm VMS plans growth, new jobs
Event-planning powerhouse VMS Inc. plans to invest more than $1.5 million to expand its Indianapolis life sciences marketing operation and create as many as 102 jobs over the next four years, state officials said Friday morning.
City refocuses on targets, ramps up goals for tourism
Tourism honchos outline aggressive goals for 2011, including increasing hotel room nights for conventions from 650,000 to 725,000, and targeting leisure travelers from Chicago and the United Kingdom.
Smaller meetings key to convention center expansion
Large conventions typically get the most attention, but it’s the smaller meetings that will be critical to ensuring the expanded Indiana Convention Center is adequately occupied.