Who's Coming to Town? • Northwest Indiana Business Magazine

Who’s Coming to Town?

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Wide variety of events and conferences slated for 2012.
by Shari Held

Despite the slower than expected economic growth that has continued to put a damper on business meetings, events and conferences, Northwest Indiana has continued to hold its own.

“The SMERF (sports, military, education, religious and fraternal) market in Northwest Indiana has sustained even through the terrible economy,” says Keren Olivero, senior sales manager for Star Plaza-Radisson Hotel in Merrillville. “Though planners and organizers are a bit more selective and conservative with their guaranteed expected attendance numbers, food and beverage, etc., they continue to book. Planners are slowly starting to secure dates two and three years out, ensuring their conference dates and convention space are available.”

STUDEBAKERS DRIVE HOME South Bend’s Century Center will welcome the Studebaker Drivers Club International annual convention this summer.

Angela Gaghan, director of sales and catering for Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, sees a trend toward shorter meeting programs and says conferences that used to book on an annual basis are now tending to book every other year. “We are also seeing more requests for ways to incorporate some of our unique amenities such as gaming into conferences,” she says. “For example, a conference with a dinner banquet may request to have gaming tables and dealers available to train attendees at the event on how to play the games.”

It's too soon to tell if 2012 will be a banner year compared to the past few years, but here's a look at some of the organizations and events that are coming to Northwest Indiana this year.

LAKE COUNTY
The Star Plaza will once again host the 19th Annual Indiana Challenge February 23-26. One thousand participants are anticipated for the DanceSport Competition, which gives out more than $40,000 in cash and awards. This event will add 500 room nights.

In April, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (500-600 room nights) and Omega Psi Phi will come to town adding 500-600 room nights.

June marks the second year Star Plaza has hosted the Crusaders Impact Network. Under the leadership of Apostle John Eckhardt, the Crusaders Church in Chicago is the headquarters church and international apostolic base for the IMPACT Network. Twelve hundred to 1,500 room nights are anticipated.

Approximately 3,000 participants are expected to attend the Salvation Army Conference this June 8-10. “This is traditionally the largest convention held in Northwest Indiana,” says Heather Beccera, director of sales and marketing for South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. The conference, which has been hosted by the Star Plaza for more than two decades, generates approximately 1,000 room nights, with an estimated economic impact of $250,000.

In December, Star Plaza will host the Chinese Christian Mission Conference for the second time. Attendees will come from the region, Chicago and China, and the event is expected to add 1,000 to 1,200 room nights.

Hammond will be the site of Leon's Triathlon, the world's fastest triathlon. This event brings up to 1,000 participants to Wolf Lake Park on June 3.

South Shore residents have a treat in store for them this July when the United Council of Corvette Clubs comes to the area. The 200 attendees will be driving their cars throughout the South Shore during the entire week. This event includes drag racing, a road course, car shows and social activities. It is expected to generate approximately 560 room nights and its economic impact is in the $140,000 range.

LaPorte County
The Northwest Indiana Steelheaders will hold its annual conference/tradeshow at Michigan City's Marquette Mall for the first time on January 14-15.

August 11-17 the Pyrotechnic Guild International, a worldwide non-profit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts, will hold its annual conference at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds. Displays will be open to the public.

The Blue Chip Casino will host the Indiana Parks & Recreation Association's annual conference January 18-20. This marks the first time the conference has come to LaPorte County. “This is a great economic boon for Michigan City,” says Jason Miller, Sports Development Manager for LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

PARKS AND RECREATION Not the fictional TV show set in Indiana, but the real-life Indiana Parks & Recreation Association, meeting this year at the Blue Chip Casino.

Blue Chip Casino will also be the site of the Indiana District Convention of International Rotarians June 1-2. Up to 2,800 Rotarians are anticipated.

Porter County
With 3 million tourists flocking to Porter County each year to visit Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, leisure travel is the county's biggest draw. “The sports market represents 4 percent and business, conferences and seminars collectively represent 16 percent,” says Indiana Dunes Tourism Executive Director Lorelei Weimer. “The sports and convention markets are important niche markets.”

According to Weimer, 2011 was a “growth year,” with room revenue up 11.6 percent and room demand up 9.8 percent through October of 2011, compared to 2010.

Indiana Dunes Tourism doesn't host events, but offers marketing grants to help Porter County venues and organizations succeed in hosting sporting events, conferences, festivals and events. “We're looking at redevelopment of the Expo Center and we're looking at opportunities to bring in additional sports complexes,” Weimer says.

The two main venues for hosting events and conferences are Valparaiso University (VU) and the Porter County Expo Center. Valparaiso University hosts the Lutheran Basketball Association of America's National Basketball Tournament March 29-April 1. This event, which has been held at VU since 1971, brings in 864 participants and their families for an estimated economic impact of $625,000 annually. The Institute of Liturgical Studies will come to VU in May, and the City of Valparaiso will host the GreenTown 2012 Conference at VU this fall.

The Expo Center will host the Garden Show in January, the Passport to the Past antique show in March, the Winter Snow Show in December, and many others. Chesterton High School will host the AAU Youth District (State) Track & Field Championship in June, and in July, Lake County's South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is hosting the NSA Girls Fast Pitch ‘B' World Series which takes place in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. This sporting event will bring in some 10,000 players, coaches and family members to the South Shore. Games will be played throughout facilities in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. According to South Shore's Becerra, this event will generate approximately 4,000 room nights in all three counties, with an estimated economic impact of more than $1 million.

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
“Youth sports events remain our strength, with new events and more of them scheduled for 2012,” says Colleen Bormann, marketing manager for South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau. “With a variety of venues available, South Bend/Mishawaka will be host to many varied events, conferences and competitions in 2012.”

Baseball figures prominently in bringing visitors to the area. Throughout June and July, six Pasttime Tournaments will utilize several fields around the area. July 20-29 CABA World Series Baseball will bring 1,200 participants to the area in the Under 15 age division. These events will utilize the fields at Coveleski Baseball Stadium, Notre Dame Baseball Stadium and other facilities. And from August 30 to September 2, Belleville Softball Complex will host 500 participants for the ASA Men's A 16-inch Slowpitch East Tournament.

Bormann says that while the actual number of meetings and conventions in South Bend/Mishawaka has remained steady over the past three years, attendance has decreased slightly. “Still, with a few key events in place for 2012 we remain cautiously optimistic that better days are ahead.”

Several Hockey Time Productions tournaments will take place at the new $50 million Compton Family Ice Arena at the University of Notre Dame now through April. Two events will take place May 11-13 at Notre Dame: the Queen of Peace Ministries National Conference on Medjugorje and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Competition. Founded in 1973 at South Bend, this competition is the largest of its kind worldwide. Its 81 performances will be open to the public.

Four thousand international competitors, from Tiny Tots to Collegiate, will compete at the National Baton Twirling Association of America's Youth on Parade pageantry competition at the Joyce Center July 16-20. This marks the 47th consecutive year the competition has come to South Bend. This event is free and open to the public.

April 25-27 the Indiana Arts Commission Governor's Arts Awards will be held at Indiana University South Bend for the first time. Two of the six honorees are hometown people — June H. Edwards and Alexander Toradze.

South Bend's Century Center is the site of a large variety of events in 2012. “We are cautiously optimistic about the level of business for 2012,” says General Manager Jill Scicchitano. “We anticipate a slight growth in attendance of our consumer shows over the past two years and look forward to an increase in the number of corporate meetings and conventions for 2012.”

Here are a few that are currently on the books. January 21-22, the RVIC Valley RV and Camping Show will draw 5,000 to 10,000 people. Nearly 1,000 attendees will converge on South Bend for the annual LOGAN Nose-On Fund-Raiser luncheon on March 21. LOGAN, a private, non-profit organization, provides resources and opportunities for people with disabilities.

March 22-25 approximately 300 people from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan are anticipated to attend the National Association of Insurance Women Region 4 Conference.

May 21-24 The Century Center will host approximately 285 attendees of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center for the fourth time. This annual even generates more than 500 room nights for downtown South Bend hotels. The research center is one of only three nationwide to be funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct biofuels research.

The Studebaker Drivers Club International annual convention, which features 800 classic Studebakers, will draw close to 2,500 people to South Bend from July 29 to August 4. South Bend and Century Center have hosted the event many times over the past 30 years, and is pleased to have the event return home to South Bend, home of Studebaker, for its 50th anniversary celebration. Activities will also take place at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Studebaker National Museum.

On September 21-23 800 estate planners are expected for the Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute annual conference. This marks the institute's 39th year in South Bend.

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