While Indianapolis remains inextricably linked to the Indy 500, the city’s metropolitan appeal spreads to its world-class museums, burgeoning dining scene, antique shopping and myriad parks, among other attractions.
The city is also in the midst of $3 billion in new tourism-related developments—all slated to come on-line by the time it hosts the Super Bowl in 2012.
"In the beginning of 2009, we totally repositioned the Indianapolis brand," says Ronnie Burt, senior vice president of sales and services for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
The tagline is now "Indianapolis—Raising the Game," which speaks to the competitiveness of the city, according to Burt.
The city saw a 5 percent increase in tourism from 2007 to 2008, and is expecting similar results for 2009. On the group front, there is much to report, with an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center in the works and added convention hotels coming on-line.
Despite the current economy, the $275 million expansion of the existing Indiana Convention Center is on target. When completed in February 2011, the facility will move from the 32nd largest to the 16th largest center in the U.S.
"It’s also important to note, the expansion of the convention center—from 300,000 to 566,000 square feet of exhibit space—will connect to the new Lucas Oil Stadium," Burt says. "We can do concerts in that venue and there is also exhibit space, for a total combined exhibit space of over 780,000 square feet."
The $675 million Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, opened in August 2008 with 183,000 square feet of exhibition space. Together, the two facilities will offer more than 1.2 million square feet of event and meeting space.
"This product is not happening anywhere else in the country," Burt says. "We have all the first-tier amenities at a value cost. We are positioning ourselves as a major meetings and conventions destination, going after larger groups, and we will be more affordable. What we are doing is being very aggressive in national association solicitation."
Also in the works downtown is a $450 million, 1,600-room Marriott Place complex that will feature four of the Marriott brands. The project will be anchored by a 1,005-room JW Marriott. The complex will also have a 250-room Courtyard by Marriott, a 168-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and a 150-room SpringHill Suites, together adding nearly 1,600 rooms to the downtown inventory, as well as 110,000 square feet of meeting space. The project is slated for completion in early 2011, with the latter three properties opening next year. The complex will boost the number of hotels connected to the center via skywalk to a dozen, with 4,700 guest rooms within a few minutes’ walk of the stadium and convention center.
It is the largest number of hotels connected to any convention center in the country, according to Burt. In addition, there are $30 million in renovations to existing properties taking place.
"In 2011, Indianapolis is really going to be a new city," Burt says.
The city has a variety of top-name hotels for meetings, including the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis; Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel; Indianapolis Marriott Downtown; Hilton Indianapolis; Westin Indianapolis; Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown–Union Station; Omni Severin Hotel; and Conrad Indianapolis. Groups can also use the University Place Conference Center and Hotel, located on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis.
The city is renowned for its namesake speedway, but its evolving nature is giving it a number of other selling points.
"The sporting side [of the city] is a given," Burt says. "We also highlight the connectivity and the compactness of the city, with over 200 restaurants near the convention center."
Groups can take full advantage of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and host to the Indy Racing League, NASCAR and Formula One. The speedway offers group packages and behind-the-scenes tours. It is also home to the Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, with the world’s largest collection of racing, classic and antique cars. Groups can take a run in the passenger seat around the track at 185 mph, set up autograph sessions with drivers and organize for drivers to make an appearance or speak at an event.
The city’s cultural riches are on par with its wealth of sports venues. One group-friendly venue that brings both strong points to the table is the National Art Museum of Sports, with one of the largest collections of sports-themed art in the world.
Art buffs can head to the 1934-era Indianapolis Art Center and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, founded in 1883 and currently showcasing over 50,000 pieces of art. Adjacent to the museum and located on 100 acres of woodlands, wetlands, meadows and a 35-acre lake, the city is slated to open 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park in June 2010. The art park will present art projects and exhibitions. Also new to the museum is the renovated 600-seat Tobias Theater, which opened in November 2008.
Another new attraction downtown is the Rhythm! Discovery Center, located next to the Artsgarden. The center features three galleries exploring the expansive history and cultural connections of rhythm and percussion. There is also a hands-on area that allows visitors to play a variety of drums and percussion instruments, including a 96-inch drum.
Other off-site options include the Indiana State Museum, which features a hall dedicated to the Hoosiers. The museum is located at White River State Park, also home to a sculpture garden and some 250 acres of green space, as well as the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and the NCAA Hall of Champions.
For trendy restaurants and nightlife, Mass Ave is one of the city’s main neighborhoods, while the Lockerbie area is Indianapolis’ oldest surviving neighborhood, dating back to 1847. Many of the Victorian homes in Lockerbie have been preserved.
A short drive southeast of downtown, Fountain Square is home to more than 200 antique dealers, specialty stores and art galleries.
Groups can explore downtown via the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick, which is an urban bike and pedestrian path that connects five downtown cultural districts: Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park and the Wholesale District. The Cultural Trail is being expanded to connect with the Monon Trail, allowing visitors access to Broad Ripple Village from downtown.
Indianapolis Environs
Groups also have a variety of options just outside the city.
In November 2008, the $1.1 billion Indianapolis International Airport Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal opened. The 1.2 million-square-foot terminal is slated to be the largest LEED-certified building in the Midwest. One highlight is Civic Plaza, a pre-security, 25,000-square-foot space with 100-foot glass windows overlooking the runways and views of the city’s skyline. This space is available for events and receptions.
More than 50 retailers and restaurants are featured throughout the terminal as well as free Wi-Fi.
Hotel properties with meeting facilities near the airport include the Wyndham Indianapolis West (formerly the Adam’s Mark), Radisson Hotel Indianapolis Airport and Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport (formerly the Holiday Inn Select).
East of the city, the Indianapolis Marriott East is well equipped for meetings, and groups can visit the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Autumn is popular in Brown County State Park, an hour south of the city, while the area is also known for its art galleries, shops and theaters. Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Country Star Museum is also south of the city.
North of Indianapolis is the 4,000-acre Eagle Creek Park, also featuring a 1,300-acre reservoir, which offers canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. Its Earth Discovery Center has learning laboratories with live native animals. Eagle Creek Park also offers groomed cross-country skiing.
Meetings-friendly properties in Indianapolis North include the new Renaissance Indianapolis North, Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites, Hilton Indianapolis North, Indianapolis Marriott North and Holiday Inn Indianapolis North at the Pyramids.
