Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Indianapolis has landed a conference that Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger calls a “big, big deal” in the state’s effort to increase connectivity and attract more nonstop flights. The city will host the Routes Americas 2020 conference, which will bring about 800 representatives from airlines, airports and tourism organizations to Indianapolis. The city is only the third in the United States to host the conference.
Routes Americas is an annual conference focusing on aviation route development. It attracts airport and tourism authorities as well as network planners to discuss increased air service among airports throughout North and South America. The 2020 conference is set for February 3-5 in downtown Indianapolis. Organizers estimate the event will have a short-term local economic impact of $2 million, and a long-term impact of $40 million. The organization also says that airport networks have grown an average of about 9 percent over their benchmarks three years after hosting the event.
Denver and Las Vegas are the only other U.S. cities to have hosted the conference. This year’s event happens next month in Quebec City, Canada.
Governor Eric Holcomb calls the conference “a perfect opportunity to showcase Indiana’s growing global business economy and tourist assets to decision-makers across North and South America.” The governor has included attracting more international flights in his Next Level Agenda.