Visit Indy is reporting that 2014 was a record-breaking year for convention and tourism business. The organization booked more than 880,000 convention and hotel room nights for future dates, the most since its founding in 1923.

The results significantly exceeeded Visit Indy’s goal of 750,000 bookings. The previous record was set in 2002.

“2014 was a phenomenal year for Visit Indy, the City of Indianapolis and central Indiana’s tourism industry,” said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy. “Thanks to a decades-long vision and the continued support of community leaders, Indy’s tourism industry is producing more jobs and tax revenue than even the most optimistic forecasts could have predicted.”

Hoops cited Indy’s recognition last March as USA Today’s #1 convention city in the US, as well as its inclusion on the New York Times “52 Places to Go” list as major boosts to the city’s appeal.

A few upcoming events that are contributing to the record numbers include the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2017 conference, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2017 convention, GameStop Corporation’s 2018 expo and the National Rifle Association’s 2019 and 2023 annual meetings.

“We must continue striving to make Indy a must-visit destination or risk losing our hard-earned market share and visitor dollars to other cities,” said Hoops.

Source: Inside Indiana Business