27 September 2001

�

For immediate release

Contact: ��������� Charlie McDonald ([email protected] or 317:549-0055) or Susan

�McKee ([email protected] or 317:297-0502)

����������� What do international visitors expect when they come to Indianapolis? How do their expectations match up with reality?

����������� A team of faculty and student investigators from the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management of the School of Physical Education at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis decided to find out. Leading the survey were Sotiris H. Avgoustis and Francis Achana.

����������� Armed with funding arranged by the Trade & Tourism Subcommittee of the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Partnership Committee, they designed and conducted a survey of visitors to Indianapolis during the recent World Police and Fire Games.

����������� What they learned will be discussed with hospitality professionals and others interested in working with international visitors during a two-hour workshop on October 25 in Room 1126 of the IUPUI library.

����������� There�s no charge for the workshop, which begins at 8:30 a.m., but reservations are requested by October 22. Call Charlie McDonald, 317:549-0055 or e-mail [email protected].

����������� The survey was funded by the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Partnership Committee, along with the Indiana Council for the Humanities, the Max Kade German/American Center, and the IUPUI Office of International Affairs. The workshop is sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management, School of Physical Education,  IUPUI.

Just the facts�

�(Who)    �������� The Trade & Tourism Subcommittee of the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister

City Partnership Committee

(What)  ���������� Workshop to present the findings of an in-depth survey of visitors

to the World Police and Fire Games regarding their expectations and
experiences of Indianapolis as a tourist destination

(When)  ���������� Thursday,  25 October 2001

����������������������� Registration and continental� breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

����������������������� Workshop 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

(Where)  �������� Room 1126, University Library, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis

(Why)   ���������� The Trade and Tourism Subcommittee, along with the Indiana Council for the Humanities, the Max Kade German/American Center, and the IUPUI Office of International Affairs funded a survey of international visitors to
Indianapolis during the World Police and Fire Games in June 2001--
�
Importance Performance Analysis of the Tourism Attributes of  Indianapolis: Perspectives of Participants and Visitors to  Indianapolis During the World Police and Fire Games (2001):

Comparing Visitor Expectations on Tourism Attributes with What Indianapolis Has to Offer

This survey was designed and conducted by Sotiris H. Avgoustis and Francis Achana of the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management, School of Physical Education,  IUPUI.

Results are grouped by the geographic region from which the respondent came and include key findings on the importance of general destination features to international visitors prior to arrival and how these destination
features in Indianapolis  measured up once the visitors arrived in town. For example, Indianapolis received high marks from visitors who expected a new destination to allow them to try new experiences, and visitors found that Indianapolis nightlife and night entertainment are generally very good. What didn't they like? Accommodations are too expensive, and getting to Indianapolis by air is difficult.

(How)   ���������� The methodology of the survey will be presented at the workshop. Its
findings will be discussed in detail, and the session will conclude with
recommendations from the survey team for the city to play up its strengths
and minimize its weaknesses when dealing with international visitors.

There is no charge for the workshop, which is funded by the Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management at IUPUI.

Reservations are requested by Monday, October 22, 2001.

Please reply to Charlie McDonald by e-mail ([email protected]), fax (317:546-0055) or telephone (317:549-0055).

Who should attend? Those in the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, attractions) � and anyone interested in providing �Hoosier hospitality� to our growing numbers of international visitors.

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