Visit Indy leadership supports pursuit of downtown casino
The growing push for an Indianapolis casino is getting an assist from Visit Indy, with the executive committee opting to publicly back the effort.
Visit Indy
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MLS commissioner attends Pacers game with Hogsett amid expansion talks
The game capped off a day of meetings between Garber and Hogsett, his deputies and some state officials, a source familiar with his plans told IBJ.
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With InterContinental and Aloft now open downtown, what’s next in the hotel pipeline?
More than $1 billion in hotels and associated projects is under construction or set to begin in the next 12 months. Another several hundred million dollars’ worth of investment is under consideration or in the planning stages.
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IBJ Podcast: What Indy tourism guru Chris Gahl learned from his father’s murder, surviving cancer
Under the care of a legend in the Indianapolis medical community, Gahl got a clean bill of health last year. But he’s still sorting through the repercussions of the loss of his father.
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IBJ Podcast: How Taylor Swift will give Indy a massive platform to promote itself
About 80% of ticket holders over the three concerts will come from outside Indiana, presenting an immense marketing opportunity for Visit Indy, the agency in charge of promoting Indianapolis for conventions and other tourism.
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Articles
Indy touts planned green spaces as convention attraction
Tourism promoters hope a Georgia Street revamp—along with the adjacent Signia by Hilton scheduled to open late next year and other green-space plans—will draw more convention and event business.
Downtown foot traffic, Indianapolis hotels saw boost during Pacers’ run to NBA Finals
The nine-week playoff run led to a significant financial boost for local hotels and an increase in visitor traffic to restaurants and attractions.
State of Tourism: Indianapolis secures pair of medical conventions, sets annual records
Ahead of its annual State of Tourism event, Visit Indy detailed the city’s record-breaking 2024 and announced new additions to the convention roster expected to bring thousands more visitors to the Circle City.
William McGowan, key figure in Indy’s convention and sports tourism strategy, dies at 89
McGowan led the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association from 1984 to 2002 and was instrumental in the city’s efforts to land the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1980 and 1991 Final Fours and the Indianapolis Colts.
Taylor Swift updates: End of final show in Indy; more photos; celebrities among Swift fans
IBJ is covering Taylor Swift’s three-day visit to Indianapolis and the 200,000-some fans expected to converge on the city to attend (or try to find tickets to attend) one of the concerts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Check back regularly for updates.
Swift fans say city’s efforts to impress have succeeded
Some 200,000 people were expected to be downtown for three Taylor Swift shows, and tourism officials have used music performances, activities and Swift-related decor to encourage them to return to the city.
Visit Indy sells software platform to Pennsylvania firm
The convention and tourism group says it expects to see considerable cost savings over time from the sale of Jupiter, its customer relationship management software platform.
Expect eclipse traffic on Monday, Indianapolis officials say
At least 100,000 people are expected to visit Indianapolis for Monday’s solar eclipse and they should expect traffic delays, officials said Thursday. Planners advise choosing a location to watch the eclipse and staying in that spot Monday.
Businesses seek to capitalize on eclipse fans
It’s only in the path of totality that observers will see the corona—the glowing ring of light that surrounds the blacked-out sun.
Local leaders tour Singapore for White River inspiration
A 26-person contingent comprising state and city officials, not-for-profit leaders and business executives traveled to the tiny city-state Nov. 14-17 to study how the nation has developed land along its waterfront.
Q&A: Indy Chamber’s new CEO Matt Mindrum
Matt Mindrum is a month into his new role and recently spoke with IBJ about his vision for the region’s growth, downtown vitality and his new insights into youth apprenticeships.
Alcoholics Anonymous to host 2035 convention in Indianapolis with 60,000 attendees
Alcoholics Anonymous holds its event every five years. Local tourism leaders pitched the sobriety group on Indianapolis in late 2022, with representatives visiting this August.
Meeting and Event Planning Guide: 2024 presents ‘a huge tourism opportunity’
“Not a month next year is going to go by where we don’t have something significant happening in our city from a tourism perspective, whether that’s a large annual conference that’s coming back, or something new,” said Chris Gahl, executive vice president of Visit Indy.
Swift victory: How Lucas Oil Stadium became a stop on history’s biggest tour
In some ways, the work to land three Taylor Swift concerts at Lucas Oil Stadium next year began 15 years ago when country star Kenny Chesney headlined the first concert in the building a month after it opened.
Local affiliates often play a big role when national conventions come to Indy
Groups as diverse as religious denominations, state lawmakers, humanities not-for-profits and others are now gearing up to make sure hundreds, even thousands, of members have productive and gratifying visits to Indianapolis over the next several months.
Indiana 250: Leonard Hoops
Leonard Hoops has served as president and CEO of Visit Indy since 2011 and leads a team of 55-plus industry professionals who are charged with growing central Indiana’s nearly $6 billion convention, tourism and event business.
Indy picked to host massive Seventh-Day Adventist conference
Indianapolis has been given another chance at hosting one of the major events it lost out on in the early days of the pandemic.
College Football Playoff title game generated $156M in spending
Commissioned by the local organizing committee, the study generally covered a four day period from Jan. 7 to 10. It found about 56,000 people visited Indianapolis for the game, spending an average of $281 per day.
Football title game, big events could bring tourism recovery for Indy in 2022
Indianapolis tourism officials say the city’s convention and events business should be almost fully recovered by the end of 2022—at least based on projections for attendance and economic impact.