January 3, 2010
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS –The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA)—the city’s official sales and marketing organization charged with driving tourism and booking conventions—announces its President & CEO, Don Welsh, has accepted a position as CEO of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau.
During Welsh’s tenure, Indianapolis has risen into the rankings of a first-tier destination, competitive on the national convention and tourism scene. Welsh arrived to the ICVA in August 2008, deliberately recruited from the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau due to plans of the city creating more than $3 billion in new tourism developments.
Under Welsh’s leadership, the city opened Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indianapolis International Airport’s new Weir Cook terminal. In the first quarter of 2011, the city will open the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and finish the Marriott Place Indianapolis hotel complex project with the opening of the JW Marriott Indianapolis.
“The entire Indianapolis hospitality and convention industry is extremely appreciative of Don’s commitment and enthusiasm over the last two and a half years,†said Michael Browning, Board Chairman for the ICVA. “As with past ICVA leaders, Don has been instrumental in keeping Indianapolis’ strategic growth moving forward and raising the profile of the city.â€
The search for a new CEO will be executed in the coming weeks, with the ICVA’s Board managing the process of identifying appropriate candidates and facilitating the interview process. Since 1978, the organization has had only four CEOs, including Welsh.
“With Indianapolis’ strong tourism product, including the expanding convention center and the coup of hosting the Super Bowl, we know this position will be extremely sought-after by numerous top-level executives both in Indianapolis and across the country,†said Browning.
In the interim, the ICVA’s executive leadership team—and 60 employees—will execute its 2011 strategic business plan to market Indianapolis and entice conventions to meet in the city.
“I am extremely thankful for my time in Indianapolis, this is truly a first-class destination poised for continued growth,†said Welsh. “I am confident Indianapolis will continue to attract new conventions and leisure visitors from around the globe.â€
When the $275 million expanded Indiana Convention Center opens its doors on January 20, it will propel the facility from the 32nd to the 16th largest convention center in the U.S. with 749,000 square feet of exhibit space. The ICVA is the chief organization in charge of attracting meetings and conventions to fill this space.
The ICVA recorded numerous successes in 2010, booking nearly 650,000 hotel room nights. Also in 2010, the ICVA retained Gen Con, the city’s fourth largest annual convention, through 2015 because of the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center. The mission of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association is to increase Indianapolis growth by strategically selling the destination to conventions, meetings, events, and leisure travelers. For more information, www.VisitIndy.com.
Source: Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association
