GUEST COMMENTARY: Destination marketing requires new savvy today

There’s a news story circulating in the destination marketing organization world this month that involves drama and Indiana in the same sentence — and my friends in the industry reach out to me and ask, “Speros, right?”

RICH JAMES: Is it too soon to talk of new tax?

Northwest Indiana has languished in mediocrity for far too long, largely because of an unwillingness to raise or spend money.

South Shore CVA receives three awards

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority received three awards recognizing its newly updated website and the 2012 South Shore Air Show event poster.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Batistatos wants no part of true regionalism

As head of the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, I agree with your May 6 editorial calling for regional cooperation on tourism efforts. There’s already a viable seven-county organization, the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission, that promotes tourism in our region.…

EDITORIAL: Casino isn't a sure bet for Calumet City

Calumet City Mayor Michelle Markieiwicz Qualkinbush is right to be concerned about the number of vacant homes in the city. But looking to a casino as an answer to the city's problems is a big gamble.

Former Horseshoe GM offers lessons from Vegas

HAMMOND │ There is a $500 million project underway in Las Vegas and none of it involves gaming.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: What has Northwest Indiana done to attract tourists?

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will be 30 years old on July 1. Throughout my tenure as president/CEO of the organization, we have led the region's hospitality industry in a wide array of issues, and I can assure you we have no intention of resting on our laurels now.

RICH JAMES: Remove fences, end tourism turf war

There are no walls, no checkpoints and no border guards asking for residency cards when you pass from Lake County into Porter County. The same can be said when you slip from Porter County into LaPorte County.

South Shore CVA to host annual tourism luncheon

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will be hosting its annual Tourism Week Luncheon on May 8 at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive.

South Shore CVA to host annual tourism luncheon

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will be hosting its annual Tourism Week Luncheon on May 8 at the Indiana Welcome Center. Registration for the event begins at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon will begin at 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $300 for a table of 10.…

South Shore CVA launches new mobile site

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority continues to pave the “technological” way for other destination marketing organizations through launching its new geocentric-based mobile website. The updated mobile site uses the advanced technological features to provide visitors …

E.C. students get up close and personal with region's Civil War history

HAMMOND | About 50 East Chicago school children received a lesson Friday in the stories of Northwest Indiana men who fought — and in some cases died — in our nation's bloodiest war in history.

Exhibit tells of ordinary Hoosiers who made extraordinary sacrifices

Commemorations and historical exhibits are often full of ironies and coincidences, both real and imagined. "The Civil War" exhibit opened Friday by the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is just such a case.

Region United, Nation Divided Civil War exhibit opens today in Hammond

HAMMOND | The century-and-a-half-old stories of Northwest Indiana's Civil War soldiers are getting new life in a Hammond exhibit opening today.

2013 South Shore Air Show fate determined

GARY | In a press conference held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond Tuesday, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority confirmed the fate of the 2013 South Shore Air Show. Speros A. Batistatos, President and CEO of the South Shore CVA and the air show event producer, stated th…

Heroes asked to "Bring it Home"

MERRILLVILLE | Twenty-seven representatives of local organizations learned what it means to be a hometown hero March 21 during the Bring it Home Ambassador Reception hosted by South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza.

South Shore CVA to guide guidance counselors through hospitality industry

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will be offering a tour to region guidance counselors to learn of the opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industry. On April 25, guidance counselors will get an inside look at hospitality and tourism-related businesses and …

Association members learn about being "Bring It Home” Heroes

MERILLVILLE | Twenty-seven organization and association representatives learned what it meant to be a hero on March 21 during the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza’s Bring it Home Ambassador Reception.

Convention visitors authority sets Bring It Home Hero reception

MERRILLVILLE | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, in partnership with Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, hosts its Bring It Home Hero Ambassador Reception today at the Radisson.