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.

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: Invite regionalism to tourism efforts

The threat of legal action in the ongoing battle between the three Northwest Indiana tourism agencies shows how far out of control this situation has become.

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 participate in Job Shadow Day

HAMMOND | Students from Hobart High School will visit with the staff of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority on April 15.

PHIL WIELAND: Tourism power play just political horse manure

Mr. Ed gave himself a case of email hoof-in-mouth when he sent comments complaining about Indiana Dunes Tourism lobbyist Brett Ashton and saying he had informed the mayors and Porter County commissioners that if Ashton's client, presumably Porter County tourism poobah Lorelei Weimer, wasn't …

Fate of South Shore Air Show uncertain

GARY | The 14th annual South Shore Air Show may fall victim to impending automatic federal spending cuts, tourism officials said Wednesday.

RICH JAMES: Pull the trigger for Lake income tax

Since 2007, Lake County governmental units have been in a financial free-fall.

DOUG ROSS: Talk turns to action on 'A Christmas Story'

There have been many Christmas stories told over the years. This one is about "A Christmas Story" coming home to Hammond.

Pets pose with Santa

Pets and owners visited with Santa at the Indiana Welcome Center as part of the center's Wag Your Tail Wednesdays promotion.

EDITORIAL: Short-term rentals qualify houses as inns

Today's topic is the ins and outs of inns. Or, to put it another way, should short-term home rentals be subject to the innkeeper's tax?

Tourism agency presents awards to hospitality industry contributors

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority has honored five people and three businesses for making Northwest Indiana more attractive to visitors.

Tax holiday over for waterfront rental homes, tourism chief says

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials have no reservations about going after homeowners doubling as hoteliers for past due innkeeper taxes.

Innkeeper tax wave may crash on lakeshore homes

CROWN POINT | A wave of taxes may soon crash on Lake County residents who are peddling their homes as waterfront retreats.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Tourists view Northwest Indiana as one region

One Region inspires leaders to think regionally and beyond their boundaries. It aims to get our communities to use the limited resources of tax money and time to maximize economic development and job creation.

ROSE Winners Announced at Awards Dinner

CEDAR LAKE | The banquet room of Lighthouse Restaurant was filled as more than 200 hospitality industry professionals came together to exemplary customer service at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority’s annual ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards Dinner.

Officials discuss air show

Officials with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the city of Gary discuss the 2012 South Shore Air Show.

Lake convention authority to buy warehouse

GARY | When the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority built its facility in Hammond, it never contemplated a future involving the Gary Air Show and “A Christmas Story” Comes Home, events that require a lot of “stuff.”

Lake, area tourism industry robust

SCHERERVILLE | Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties do as much hospitality business as Marian County, home of Indianapolis, said Speros A. Batistatos, president and CEO, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.