Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK – They came, they saw and they loved it. A group of international travel writers visited Indiana earlier this month, experiencing a sampling of what Indiana has to offer from Indianapolis down to southern Indiana.
The trip was hosted by Visit Indiana and Visit Indy as part of a promotion to celebrate the inaugural flight of Aer Lingus, the Irish airline that just launched a new nonstop flight from Indy to Dublin.
Amy Howell, interim director of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, said the group stayed in Indianapolis the first two nights. Their Indy visit included a tour of the newly renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and they traveled to Hendricks County to experience an Indiana Main Street.
The next two nights were spent at the French Lick Resort, where they dined at Table One, 1875 Steakhouse, went horseback riding and enjoyed spa treatments. While in Orange County, the group also visited Wilstem and Patoka Lake.
Howell said the group was impressed with the variety Indiana had to offer.
A blog on Travelbiz about the trip heaped praise on the dining options at the French Lick Resort, in particular Table One.
“Simply amazing! No words only pictures of pure artform in the kitchen,” read the blog. “The dining area provides you with full access to the kitchen area where you can see, hear and almost taste all the team prepare for you.”
“They were ‘wowed’ by the dome at West Baden. They couldn’t believe this was in Indiana,” Howell said. “Irish love their pubs and they were surprised by the wine (and wine slushies), spirits and beer offerings at Alcohol Acres. They also enjoyed the peacefulness of Patoka Lake.”
The group also appreciated what Indiana is known for – that famed Hoosier hospitality – which they experienced everywhere they went. And while Indiana may not be known as a food destination, Howell said the group gave high marks to all the dining establishments.
“They loved all the food offerings, from the soup in Danville to the extravagant offerings by French Lick Resort,” Howell added.
Kristal Painter, COO of Discover Indiana, one of the trip partners, said hosting travel writers is an effective tool to introduce southern Indiana to a new audience.
“We were honored to welcome and host travel professionals in the Discover Southern Indiana region in partnership with Visit Indiana to promote the new Aer Lingus flight from Indy to Dublin. Our region is home to historic landmarks and natural wonders that are impressive for guests traveling from any distance,” she said. “We were thrilled to hear the positive responses as our VIP guests experienced the world-class amenities of French Lick Resort and the pristine shorelines of Patoka Lake.”
In 2023, Indiana tourism brought in 81.7 million visitors who infused the state’s economy to the tune of $16.2 billion.
“Discover Southern Indiana is a big part of those numbers, representing 12 counties, which have state parks, a national forest and much more,” Howell said.
Six members of the group operate travel businesses. Howell said in Europe, most travel consumers book their trips through tour operators. Now that Indiana has a direct flight to Europe, these tour operators will add Indiana to their itineraries, promoting and marketing the direct flight to Indianapolis.
“Indianapolis Airport lost its only direct flight to Paris during COVID, so this is a great opportunity to showcase Indiana and its assets to the international market. In 2023, international travel saw a 26% increase,” Howell said. “Although international visitors represent a small fraction of Indiana’s overall travel, that’s a significant growth. We hope to bring in more international flights to Indiana.”