INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — With a slate of high-profile events, including three Taylor Swift concerts, many businesses in Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis are feeling the positive effects and looking forward to future events.
“Tourist numbers are 2 to 3 percent higher than record levels before the pandemic,” said Chris Gahl, vice president of Visit Indy, the city’s tourism arm.
With the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium wrapping up on Sunday, Indianapolis is hoping for a surge in tourism this year. City leaders are confident Indianapolis is on its way to surpassing pre-pandemic levels. “We started the year strong with the NBA All-Star Game and now we’re saying goodbye, literally dismantling USA Swimming and getting ready to welcome the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration,” Gahl said.
He said the city will grow at a record pace in 2024, expecting 32 million visitors and $6 billion in economic impact by the end of the year.
Indianapolis has its sights set on a high-profile gathering just a few weeks away: “Approximately 100,000 visitors from around the world will converge on Indianapolis as part of the National Eucharistic Convention. Again, this is an event that Indianapolis has never hosted and hasn’t been held in North America in nearly 40 years,” Gahl said.
Sun & Moon Cafe and other downtown businesses have reported an increase in travelers, and it’s been a big hit since the solar eclipse. “Anytime the (Indiana) Convention Center has an event, especially the recent solar eclipse, people always come out to us,” said Ashley Wilcher, manager of Sun & Moon Cafe.
What’s coming up: Taylor Swift’s three concerts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 1, 2 and 3 could pump more than $150 million into Indianapolis’ economy. The concerts will be the final shows of her U.S. tour. According to Visit Indy, hotel bookings for November are up 162.8% compared to last year.
“Head in bed” is one of Visit Indy’s key tourism metrics, and if local hotels are full, that means tourism spending is happening. Here’s how it’s going so far:
Hotels in the Indianapolis metropolitan area are enjoying record room bookings and record revenue of $347.3 million. Downtown hotel occupancy is up 4% from last year at 66%, slightly above the national average of 60%. Downtown hotel rooms are selling for a record average rate of $204.32 per night, compared to the national average of $155.73.
The short-term rental market (AirBnB and VRBO) is also operating at record levels.
Bookings increased 26.9% year over year. Revenue increased 45.1% year over year. Bookings for November 2024 increased 162.8% year over year, likely due to the impact of three upcoming Taylor Swift concerts.
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