How To Leverage a City's Features To Attract Visitors With Leonard Hoops, President and CEO of Visit Indy

Leonard Hoops is the President and CEO of Visit Indy, Indianapolis, Indiana's official destination management organization. He oversees the growth of central Indiana's convention, tourism, and event business, which contributes nearly $6 billion to the economy. Under his leadership, Indianapolis became a top city for conventions, with Visit Indy consistently recognized as a "Best Place to Work" in Indiana. Before joining Visit Indy, Leonard was the Executive Vice President of San Francisco Travel and has held significant roles at the Convention & Visitors Bureau in both Sacramento and San Jose. His accolades include being named an “Indiana Living Legend” by the Indiana Historical Society and one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” by Successful Meetings. What you’ll learn in this episode: Many large cities have convention centers and sports venues that host events that bring crowds into the region. Are events the key to getting visitors to your city? Or can a city leverage its unique features to attract people to come and enjoy the area? With 35 years in the public relations and travel industry, Leonard Hoops knows how to attract people to his city. In addition to leveraging sporting events and conventions, there are other ways to engage a traveler's curiosity. As evidenced by his success, he has enticed visitors through his ability to recognize and prioritize Indianapolis' unique features, causing people to experience the city on their own accord. Leonard says although Indianapolis has benefitted from its major sports events and tournaments, he's working on creating attractions along the 160 miles of shoreline that the White River provides. Leonard points to Singapore, which made a billion-dollar investment to spruce up its Gardens by the Bay, which has paid off in grand fashion. On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Leonard Hoops, President and CEO of Visit Indy, for a conversation about making your city a traveler's destination. Leonard discusses what has helped Indianapolis attract visitors and how the city can take advantage of the existing attractions that appeal to visitors. He also talks about using AI for marketing purposes and whether a Visit Indy mobile app would benefit people who travel to Indianapolis.