Indiana meeting planners guide: Conrad Indianapolis opened in March.

You're holding the 2006 edition of the Indiana Meeting Planners Guide, a resource for meeting planners preparing for events in Indiana. The Indiana Meeting Planners Guide is distributed with the April issue of Indiana Business magazine, and is sent to readers of Successful Meetings, the leading industry publication for meeting planners, in Indiana and contiguous states.

The Indiana Meeting Planners Guide provides information about major meeting facilities in 11 regions, along with a selection of accommodations near those meeting places. It also includes listings for meeting-services providers, convention/visitor associations and an assortment of attractions that might interest convention or meeting attendees in their off-hours. The guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest corner of the state and working toward the south.

While this is not a complete compilation of all meeting places, hotels, service providers and attractions, we've tried to include a broad range of listings useful for meeting planners. If your business is not listed and you would like to be considered for the next edition, please visit indianabusiness.com/ meeting for more information.

The Indiana Meeting Planners Guide is published as a supplement to Indiana Business magazine. Indiana Business, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317/692-1200 800/473-2526

Northern Indiana

The state's northern third offers meeting planners a wide range of choices. Plan a gathering at the expanded Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne or along the scenic East Race waterway in downtown South Bend's Century Center. Mix a business retreat with golf at sites in Plymouth and Valparaiso, or follow a meeting with a show in Merrillville.

There's plenty to do when the business is done in northern Indiana. The Indiana Dunes and lakeshore casinos are draws to the northwest, the College Football Hall of Fame and Amish Country welcome northern Indiana visitors, and Fort Wayne's choices range from a lush downtown botanical conservatory to an entertaining zoo.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

MEETING PLACES

AVALON MANOR BANQUET CENTER (See ad on Meeting Planners Guide page 4) 3550 E. U.S. 30 Merrillville, IN 46410 1.7 miles east of l-6S on the north side of U.S. 30.

Phone 219/945-0888

Fax 219/947-3130

Credit cards: Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover 15-1, 100 people, extensive A/V equipment, custom-size rooms, elegantly designed for business and social events, exceptional food quality, handicap accessible, gazebo for outdoor ceremonies, bridal suites with descending staircase, view of natural pond in all rooms.

www.theavalonmanor.com

BLUE CHIP HOTEL & CASINO

2 Easy Street

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-7711, 888/879-7711

Rates: $71.99 & up

THE CALUMET CONFERENCE CENTER AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY CALUMET

2300 173rd St.

Hammond, IN 46323

219/989-3136

Units: 11

Meeting space: 9,200 sq. ft.

CENTER FOR VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

1040 Ridge Rd.

Munster, IN 46321

219/836-1950

Rates: $25.00 & up

Meeting space: Banquet and meeting facilities for up to 400 guests in the dining room, smaller meeting rooms available

GENESIS CENTER

1 Genesis Center Plaza

Gary, IN 46402

219/882-5505

Meeting space: 72,000 sq. ft.

HARRAH'S EAST CHICAGO CASINO & HOTEL

777 Harrah's Blvd.

East Chicago, IN 46312

219/378-3000, 877/496-1777

Units: 293

Meeting space: 2 ballrooms and 1 library

HOLIDAY INN EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

5820 Franklin St.

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-0311, 800/HOLIDAY

Units: 164

Meeting space: 3,000 sq. ft.

INDIAN OAK RESORT & SPA

558 Indian Boundary Rd.

Chesterton, IN 46304

219/926-2200, 800/552-4232

Units: 100 Rates: $59-175

Meeting space: 7,500 sq. ft. of total space with lake view, including 7 meeting rooms

INN AT ABERDEEN

(See ad on Meeting Planners Guide page 3)

3158 S. State Road 2

Valparaiso, IN 46385

2.7 miles south of U.S. 30 on State Road 2 at

the Village of Aberdeen.

Phone 219/465-3753

Fax 219/465-9227

Credit cards: All major

Rates: $99-180

Bed & breakfast and conference center. 11 suites, Jacuzzi for 2, fireplace. Dinners for 64. Receptions for 120. Board/classroom for up to 48. Executive Chef Bill Simon.

www.innataberdeen.com

MAJESTIC STAR CASINO & HOTEL

One Buffington Harbor

Gary, IN 46406

219/977-7406, 888/2BLUCKY

Units: 300

Meeting space: 1 up to 400, 1 up to 150,1

up to 50 & 1 conference room

RADISSON HOTEL AT STAR PLAZA

800 E. 81st Ave.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/769-6311 ext. 5321, 800/333-3333

Units: 347 Rates: $99-129

Meeting space: 67,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting/banquet facilities; 21 rooms plus the adjoining 3,400-seat Star Plaza Theatre

RAMADA & CONFERENCE CENTER

4141 Calumet Ave.

Hammond, IN 46320

219/933-0500, 800/562-5987

Units: 100 Rates: $69-150

Meeting space: 16,000 sq. ft.

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEST VALUE INN & SUITES

444 Pine Lake Ave.

LaPorte, IN 40350

219/362-4585, 888/315-2378

Units: 140 Rates: $59-129

Meeting space: Up to 300 people

BEST WESTERN INN & SUITES

8293 Louisiana

Merrillville, IN 46401

219/756-2378

Units: 52 Rates: $50-150

BLUE CHIP HOTEL & CASINO

2 Easy Street

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-7711,888/879-7711

Rates: $71.99 & up

COMFORT INN

1915 S. Mississippi St.

Hobart, IN 46342

219/947-7677, 800/228-5150

Units: 61 Rates: $59-149

COMFORT INN

2300 Willowcreek Rd.

Portage, IN 46368

219/763-7177, 800/228-5150

Units: 52 Rates: $69 & up

Meeting space: 1,080 sq. ft.

COMFORT INN

3801 N. Frontage Rd.

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-9190, 800/228-5150

Units: 50 Rates: $59-89

Meeting space: One room holds 20 people

COUNTRY INN & SUITES

8311 Ohio Street

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/736-1300, 800/456-4000

Units: 62 Rates: $119-179

Meeting space: Up to 25 people

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT CHICAGO SOUTHEAST/HAMMOND

7730 Corinne Dr.

Hammond, IN 46323

219/845-6350, 800/321-2211

Units: 85 Rates: $89-149

Meeting space: 2,269 sq. ft., maximum seating capacity is 80

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT MERRILLVILLE

7850 Rhode Island Ave.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/756-1600, 800/321-2211

Units: 112

Meeting space: 1,664 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

2301 E. Morthland Dr.

Valparaiso, IN 46383

219/465-1700, 800/321-2211

Units: 111 Rates: $79-249

Meeting space: 1 private meeting room for 25; 1 semiprivate lower cafe seats 30 (600 sq. ft.)

EXTENDED STAY AMERICA

1355 E. 83rd Ave.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/769-4740, 800/EXTSTAY

Units: 105 Rates: $49/day-259/wk

FAIRFIELD INN BY MARRIOTT

8275 Georgia St.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/736-0500, 800/228-2800 (marriott)

Units: 132 Rates: $59-99

FAIRFIELD INN BY MARRIOTT CHICAGO SOUTHEAST/HAMMOND

7720 Corinne Dr.

Hammond, IN 46323

219/845-6950, 800/228-2800

Units: 94

FAIRFIELD INN BY MARRIOTT VALPARAISO

2101 E. Morthland Dr.

Valparaiso, IN 46383

219/465-6225, 800/228-2800

Units: 63 Rates: $69-119

HAMPTON INN & SUITES

8936 Calumet Ave.

Munster, IN 46321

219/836-5555, 800/HAMPTON

Units: 91

HAMPTON INN & SUITES

1451 Silhavy Rd.

Valparaiso, IN 46383

219/531-6424, 800/HAMPTON

Units: 77 Rates: $89 & up

Meeting space: 875 sq. ft., catering available

HAMPTON INN LAPORTE

1777 W. Hi Point Dr.

LaPorte, IN 46350

219/362-6100, 800/HAMPTON

Units: 62 Rates: $79 & up

Meeting space: 700 sq. ft.

HAMPTON INN MERRILLVILLE

8353 Georgia St.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/736-7600, 800/HAMPTON

Units: 64 Rates: $95-149

HAMPTON INN PORTAGE

6353 Melton Rd. U.S. 20

Portage, IN 46368

219/764-1919, 800/HAMPTON

Units: 60

Meeting space: 12 people

HILTON GARDEN INN CHESTERTON

501 Gateway Blvd.

Chesterton, IN 46304

219/983-9500, 877/STAYHGI

Units: 120 Rates: $89-189

Meeting space: 2,515 sq. ft.

HOLIDAY INN EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

5820 Franklin St.

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-0311,800/HOLIDAY

Units: 164

Meeting space: 3,000 sq. ft.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

100 E. Shore Court

LaPorte, IN 46350

219/326-7900, 800/95-FOCUS

Units: 65 Rates: $79.00-149.00

Meeting space: 1 meeting room to accommodate 20 classroom-style

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

2323 Willowcreek Rd.

Portage, IN 46368

219/762-7777, 800/465-4329

Units: 76 Rates: $150-400 (not including cleaning fee)

Meeting space: 1 room holds up to 100 people

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

1019 W. Lincoln Hwy.

Schererville, IN 46375

219/865-9500, 800/HOLIDAY

Units: 53 rooms, 4 suites Rates: $90-119

Meeting space: Up to 12 people

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MERRILLVILLE

8375 Georgia St.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/795-9500, 800/HOLIDAY

Units: 62 Rates: $59-149

Meeting space: 1 meeting room holds 20 people

INDIAN OAK RESORT & SPA

558 Indian Boundary Rd.

Chesterton, IN 46304

219/926-2200, 800/552-4232

Units: 100 Rates: $59-175

Meeting space: 7,500 sq. ft. of total space with lake view, including 7 meeting rooms

INN AT ABERDEEN

(See ad on Meeting Planners Guide page 3)

3158 S. State Road 2

Valparaiso, IN 46385

2.7 miles south of U.S. 30 on State Road 2 at

the Village of Aberdeen.

Phone 219/465-3753

Fax 219/465-9227

Credit cards: All major

Rates: $99-180

Bed & breakfast and conference center. 11 suites, Jacuzzi for 2, fireplace. Dinners for 64. Receptions for 120. Board/classroom for up to 48. Executive Chef Bill Simon.

www.innataberdeen.com

LA QUINTA INN

8210 Louisiana St.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/738-2870, 800/531-5900

Units: 121

Meeting space: 1 meeting room accommodates 25 people

LEES INN & SUITES

6201 Opportunity Ln.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/942-8555, 800/733-5337

Units: 70 Rates: $89 & up

Meeting space: 500 sq. ft., holds up to 10; 1,000 sq. ft., holds up to 50

MAJESTIC STAR CASINO & HOTEL

One Buffington Harbor

Gary, IN 46406

219/977-7406, 888/2BLUCKY

Units: 300

Meeting space: 1 up to 400, 1 up to 150, 1 up to 50 & 1 conference room

RADISSON HOTEL AT STAR PLAZA

800 E. 81st Ave.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/769-6311 ext. 5321, 800/333-3333

Units: 347 Rates: $99-129

Meeting space: 67,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting/banquet facilities; 21 rooms plus the adjoining 3,400-seat Star Plaza Theatre

RAMADA & CONFERENCE CENTER

4141 Calumet Ave.

Hammond, IN 46320

219/933-0500, 800/562-5987

Units: 100 Rates: $69-150

Meeting space: 16,000 sq. ft.

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT CHICAGO SOUTHEAST/HAMMOND

7740 Corinne Dr.

Hammond, IN 46323

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