The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA) released anticipated figures today related to conventions, meetings and special events booked by them for 2004. Adding to recent years of success, the top 20 revenue-producing events this year for Indianapolis will contribute over $238 million in direct visitor spending into the Indianapolis economy. From grassroot political leaders across the country to the international membership of Sweet Adelines across the globe, hundreds of thousands of convention delegates will convene in Indianapolis in 2004 filling meeting halls, hotel rooms, restaurants and attraction venues. Convention delegates join leisure travelers, special and sporting events attendees and visiting friends and relatives to bring the anticipated number of Indianapolis visitors to 18 million* each year.

�Indianapolis is a remarkable city with an ever-growing popularity as a convention destination,� said Bob Bedell, President and CEO of the ICVA. �The Indiana Convention Center is the engine that drives our tourism machine in Indianapolis. Our convenient, connected and accessible convention package, coupled with our award-winning service has helped Indianapolis earn a positive reputation from meeting planners across the country. When we combine these conventions with business booked by individual hotels, conference centers and attractions, along with revenue generated from visitors experiencing the arts, attending sporting events, shopping, dining, etc., the result is more than $2.3 billion in annual visitor spending.�

Highlights of the 2004 convention and special events calendar include:


the return of 45,000 sci-fi and adventure gaming enthusiasts for the Gen Con Gaming Fair in mid-August where �gamers� will embark on a weekend full of interactive games, participate in hobby-related events and meet celebrity guests;
more than 25,000 firefighters and their instructors hold their national meeting for the Fire Department Instructors Conference in late April; Indy�s largest national church convention is in mid-June when 25,000 Southern Baptists converge on the city for their annual meeting;
more than 12,000 women singers of Sweet Adelines International will meet to advance the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances in late October;
the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the U.S. will convene in Indianapolis as the National League of Cities Congress of Cities commences in late November; and
the 51st Annual Meeting of Indianapolis-based American College of Sports Medicine will occur the first week of June, contributing to Indianapolis� life sciences initiative.

To calculate the anticipated direct visitor spending figures for each convention, the ICVA is guided by a conservative model provided by the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche on behalf of the International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (IACVB). Figures are based on food and beverage, accommodations, sightseeing, merchandise purchasing and transportation use while in the host city, plus incidental costs accrued by convention delegates during their visit.

The ICVA is the official tourism destination management and marketing organization for the capital metropolitan region of Indianapolis. The ICVA undertakes visitor marketing; sales and servicing; planning and research; and destination development with community partners in order to advance Indianapolis� economic, cultural, and environmental progress as well as enhance its quality of life. According to a 2002 report released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, visitors pump $2.3 billion into the Indianapolis economy each year. This critical impact results in 47,500 full-time equivalent employment positions in the hospitality industry.

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Media Contact:
Bob Schultz
+1 317-639-4772
bschultz@indianapolis.org