Over the past decade, Hamilton County has experienced a remarkable transformation driven by the power of tourism. At that time, our communities were emerging with their own strong identities, attractions and sports tourism were transforming our destination and hotel rooms were opening across the county. HCT was committed to, and continues, to elevate our destination, partners and stories on the national stage.

Review the Tourism Works 2025 to learn about the transformation, growth and key successes from the plan. And, while conversations will be starting soon for the next strategic plan, the work continues in development, sales and marketing, impactful events and inclusive tourism development.

As the Discover You campaign comes to an end, early performance analysis shows strong user engagement and partner activity, especially with a high volume of referrals to partner sites. Additionally, a high proportion of new users to VisitHamiltonCounty.com (nearly 95%) shows effective reach and campaign visibility.

The campaign launched in Louisville, Kentucky and Fort Wayne, Indiana in April with the goal of expanding brand awareness in emerging markets while driving urgency for visitation to Hamilton County.

“Historically, we were heavily in Chicago. Data insights showed that it was taking more impressions to drive visitation,” said Ashley Ledford, Director of Marketing & Promotions. “With a small digital mix in Louisville and Fort Wayne in years past, we saw that those markets offered opportunity. With a larger strategy, we’re excited to see how the markets perform.”

A new robust media mix includes TV, billboards, streaming audio, and print, plus premium digital publishers such as Travel + Leisure, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. In addition to digital, the campaign includes experiential and out-of-home activations, including placements at the TinCaps Stadium in Fort Wayne and during the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

Several new sports events landed in Hamilton County this spring, bringing athletes and fans from all over the world. Sports both established and emerging found success and made memories in our athletic facilities, restaurants and lodging.

STARS COME OUT TO FISHERS FOR CHIPOTLE NATIONALS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The nation’s top high school basketball teams played a nationally-televised tournament at Hamilton Southeastern High School in early April. Fourteen teams (10 boys, 4 girls) came to Fishers vying for the national championship on ESPN platforms.

The event saw former NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Andre Iguodala and Jermaine O’Neal in attendance, both coaching and also watching their sons compete in the games. The event was put on by Paragon Marketing and consistently drew large crowds in the 3,000-seat HSE gymnasium.

FITNESS COMPETITION STARTUP MAKES WESTFIELD HOME

World Fitness Project, a new international competition, turned Grand Park into a spectacle of athletic performance May 9-11, drawing 500 athletes from 15 different countries. Staff and competitors were in Hamilton County for a week, truly making Westfield a new hub for competitive fitness.

World Fitness Project, which runs a similar event in Mesa, Arizona, leading to a world championship in Denmark, turned Grand Park into a spectacle. State-of-the-art lights and video boards, full broadcast equipment, and premium seating gave Grand Park a new kind of feel while catering to a global audience. VIP tickets sold out, and plans are being made to bring the event back to the county.

 SPIKEBALL COLLEGIATE NATIONALS A HIT

Grand Park hosted the Spikeball Roundnet College Nationals over Memorial Day weekend. It was the first time this event had come to the Midwest, after mainly staying on the west coast.

Roundnet, the TV-friendly game that is played with Spikeball equipment, is aiming to be added to the Olympic Games in the future. Grand Park was able to accommodate more than 200 athletes across three turf fields.

We’re hitting the road and working hard for our partner hotels and conference spaces! Our team is out there meeting with planners, showcasing everything our destination has to offer, and positioning your properties as the top choice for future events. 

SPRING & SUMMER TRADESHOWS

More shows lined up for fall and winter!

INCENTIVE SPECIALS

If you’ve got a planner who’s considering booking, our special incentives could help seal the deal. Let’s work together to turn possibilities into confirmations—reach out today to learn more and take advantage of this opportunity! Available on new meetings with overnight hotel rooms for July 1 - December 30, 2025.

AI IMPACT - TOURISM ADDITION (free to partners)

Wednesday, July 16, 8 a.m.-12p.m.

Learn from Greg Oates, Director of AI Advocacy with the Matador Network, a digital media company focused on tourism. Learn about how AI is transforming travel as we know it.

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING WEBINAR (hotel partners)

Thursday, July 24, 9-10 a.m.

As a continued refresher available to our hospitality industry, this session teaches how to identify and respond to signs of human trafficking. Large-scale events throughout the region can bring increased risk, and every hotel department plays a crucial role in detection and prevention.

SUSTAINABILITY FOR FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an informational workshop on best practices for food services businesses. Topics covered will include food rescue, the importance of composting, food waste prevention, the reduction of single-use plastic and proper disposal of fats, oils, and greases.

Sponsored Content on VisitHamiltonCounty.com

You may receive a phone call or email from a company called "DTN" in the coming weeks. DTN is a partner of Hamilton County Tourism and has worked with us to develop a unique sponsored content program that will deliver your message on VisitHamiltonCounty.com in front of a highly qualified, ready-to-spend visitor audience!

The DTN Paid Content program offers a variety of placements, and programs can be tailored to meet your specific marketing and budget needs. And the DTN team offers free creative services to help get your program running quickly, easy access to performance reporting, and a and friendly support team.