Indy’s Big Wins in Meetings, Media, and Events
When national headlines, industry pros, and planners all start singing your praises at once, you know you’re doing something right. Lately, Indianapolis has been on the receiving end of some serious love—from Sports Business Journal to a glowing Hotel Dive feature, and even a fresh video testimonial from a planner who just wrapped a major event here earlier this month.
We’re not just grateful—we’re proud. Because behind the headlines is a city that works hard to make hosting easy. Here are three standout accolades that show why Indy continues to lead the way in meetings, sports, and visitor experiences.
1. Indy’s Long-Term Vision Sets a National Standard
A recent Sports Business Journal feature details how Indianapolis is redefining what it means to be a sports and event capital. With the launch of a bold 2050 Vision led by Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty, the city has shifted from short-term event planning to long-term investment in economic development.
That vision is already delivering results. In 2024, the city saw a record $251 million in tourism-related tax revenue. Major events like the recent WNBA All-Star Game (pictured above: photo credit, Section 127), NBA All-Star Game, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, and the WWE Royal Rumble have put Indianapolis on a national stage. More than 125,000 hotel room nights were tied to Big Ten championships alone.
At the center of this success is Team Indy, a collaborative network of civic leaders, hospitality partners, venue operators, and government stakeholders who meet regularly to align goals and support every event as one cohesive team.
"The ecosystem is multigenerational," said Sarah Myer, chief of staff and strategy at Indiana Sports Corp. "It feels less like a job and more like a responsibility to the century of people before us."
2. Gen Con President Testimonial Shows It’s More Than Talk
David Hoppe, president of Gen Con, speaks from experience. His team returns to Indianapolis year after year for the massive tabletop gaming convention that attracts over 70,000 attendees. In a recent planner spotlight, he highlighted the value of the city’s walkability, infrastructure, and reliability.
"The people are friendly, the community is responsive, the facilities are great… We can focus on making sure our convention is the best it can possibly be," said Hoppe.
That level of partnership helps planners focus on delivering content and experiences while trusting the city to manage everything behind the scenes.
3. A Hotel Market Ready for Growth
Hotel Dive recently featured Indianapolis as one of the most active and promising hotel markets in the country. The city recorded more than 932,000 convention-related hotel room nights in 2024, with nine of the ten highest occupancy days in city history all happening this year.
There are more than 1,500 hotel rooms under construction, including the highly anticipated 800-room Signia by Hilton. Slated to open in Q4 2026, the property will include a 50,000 square foot ballroom and a direct connection to the Indiana Convention Center via skywalk.
This level of development gives planners confidence that the city can accommodate events of all sizes without overloading the existing hotel inventory. The result is a more competitive, scalable, and planner-friendly environment.
What This Means for Meeting Planners
Indianapolis is not just getting attention, it is earning trust. Planners can expect more than just great venues. They’ll find a city that offers strategic coordination, an expanding hotel landscape, and deep institutional knowledge of how to make events successful. The city’s infrastructure is designed to make it easy to move people, connect spaces, and solve problems before they ever reach your inbox.
Indy is a place where planning logistics run smoothly, people collaborate without red tape, and you leave with the kind of results that make you want to return.
Ready to Talk Indy?
When planners talk, we listen. Whether you're exploring a first-time event or planning your tenth, Indianapolis offers a collaborative, reliable, and forward-thinking experience that is built for your success.
Contact our team today to start planning your next standout event in Indy.
