As the home of the University of Notre Dame and Purdue, among other prestigious colleges, Northern Indiana is a major contributor to the excitement currently taking hold of the nation; most would agree, during college football season, the region is particularly spirited.
For planners, this atmosphere is attractive, as is the region’s competitive group pricing and easy accessibility.
South Bend/Mishawaka
The home of the Fighting Irish is a family-friendly destination with a deeply rooted heritage and cultural diversity, plus more than 300,000 square feet of meeting space and north of 4,700 hotel rooms, according to Carolyne Wallace, director of sales at the South Bend/Mishawaka CVB.
“South Bend is ideal for groups of all types,” she says.
The South Bend Convention District is anchored by Century Center, which overlooks the St. Joseph River and in spring 2012 will replace its banquet tent with a permanent structure hosting 300 guests.
The Century Center is connected by a climate-controlled skywalk to the Doubletree by Hilton South Bend, formerly a Marriott property, which will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation beginning in February 2012, and via underground concourse to the College Football Hall of Fame, which doubles as an off-site venue.
Among the area’s other group-friendly properties are Waterford Estates Lodge; Comfort Suites University Area; Residence Inn Mishawaka; Notre Dame Conference Center; Gillespie Conference and Special Event Center; and Mishawaka’s Bethel College.
Planners might check out nearby Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth and Potawatomi Inn Resort & Conference Center in Angola.
Upper Northwest
The South Shore, including the meetings-friendly cities of Gary, Hammond and Merrillville, is located only 25 miles from downtown Chicago along the southern shores of Lake Michigan.
“Groups can enjoy the Windy City, the Indiana Dunes and other nearby attractions but take advantage of the lower rates,” says Heather Becerra, director of sales and marketing at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. “The South Shore is home to many unique attractions and hundreds of restaurants and has a variety of shopping, from antiques to an outlet mall.”
Main meetings properties include Merrillville’s Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, Ramada Conference Center of Hammond and Horseshoe Casino Hammond.
Linda Simmons, spokesperson for the LaPorte County CVB, says Michigan City is a relaxing escape from Chicago with scenic water settings.
“Michigan City boasts its ‘Golden Triangle’ assets of the exciting Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa, the shopping adventures of Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets and beautiful Washington Park, with its sandy beaches and prominent lighthouse,” she says.
Aside from Blue Chip, meetings-friendly properties include Clarion Inn and Best Western Plus LaPorte Hotel & Conference Center.
Fort Wayne/Allen County
Indiana’s second-largest city sports a sophisticated metropolitan feel in a package small enough to make groups feel right at home, according to Jim Nirmaier, vice president, group sales at Visit Fort Wayne.
“Fort Wayne is alive in art and entertainment offerings,” he says, citing local philharmonic and ballet offerings, and adding that it’s also a great place to shop and dine out.
Grand Wayne Convention Center is connected to the Courtyard Fort Wayne Downtown and the Hilton Fort Wayne. Other meetings-friendly facilities are Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn and Suites, both of which opened in 2011, the Fort Wayne Marriott and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
The historic Embassy Theatre and the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory accommodate group events.
Kosciusko County
Kosciusko County boasts more than 100 lakes, which, according to Mary Kittrell, executive director of the Kosciusko County Visitors Bureau, creates a great atmosphere for meetings.
“Our meeting locations include traditional conference space as well as outdoor venues, including camps, parks and even a cruise boat [the Dixie, Indiana’s oldest stern-wheel paddleboat] that seats over 100 people,” she says, adding that when the Oakwood Inn and Conference Center reopens in 2012, it will provide a scenic meetings experience as groups overlook Indiana’s largest natural lake.
The Orthopaedic Capital Center in historic Winona Lake offers a variety of meeting space.
West Lafayette/Lafayette
The Lafayette-West Lafayette area is located just one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of Chicago.
Purdue University offers conference facilities, tours and educational speakers, says Ashley Gregory, group tour and meeting manager at the Lafayette-West Lafayette CVB. Facilities include the Union Club Hotel, connected to the Purdue Memorial Union and Stewart Center.
Best Western Lafayette Executive Plaza and Conference Center and University Plaza Hotel, which is scheduled to change flags to a Four Points by Sheraton in early 2012, are other options.
Muncie
Affordability and personal service are the pros of holding a meeting in Muncie, according to Shonda L. Kane, marketing and sales manager at the Muncie Visitors Bureau.
The Horizon Convention Center and Cornerstone Center for the Arts are two standby group facilities, and Kane suggests outings to Ball State University Museum of Art and downtown galleries.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus MidAmerica.
