Our international airport has been named top in North America consistently for the last decade. We're expanding our convention center, which—coupled with Lucas Oil Stadium—offers 745,000 square feet of exhibit space, making it one of the largest convention facilities in the United States. And that facility is linked by climate-controlled skywalks to more hotel rooms than in any other city (12 hotels and 4,700 rooms). It's all come together to make ours a natural, top-pick convention city.
Assisted by our promotion, the Indianapolis tourism industry is taking a giant leap forward—a leap that will add to what is already a significant contribution to our city and state economy. Our most recent (pre-pandemic) figures show Indianapolis receiving 29.2 million annual visitors, who spend roughly $5.6 billion dollars. Visitor spending supports more than 82,900 full-time equivalent employment positions in our hospitality industry. Tourism also produces $1.26 billion in tax receipts each year - including $725 million in state and local government tax. Tourism is big business and it is helping Indy race ahead.
In recent years, our efforts on behalf of the city have won multiple national industry awards (including the Gold Service Award from Meetings & Conventions, the Pinnacle Award from Successful Meetings and the Distinctive Achievement Award from Association Convention and Facilities). We're proud of those awards. But we're never satisfied. Which is why we will continue pushing ourselves harder, to push our city even higher.
Visit Indy is proudly certified through The Good Wages Initiative which celebrates Marion County employers who provide full-time employees both a wage of at least $18/hr and access to health insurance benefits.