Indianapolis Wedding Hotels

"When things go smoothly at a hotel, there is really no way to judge how they truly operate. It is when a problem occurs, that you can tell what management's attitude is."

This is my new favorite hotel quote.  A guest recently stayed at our hotel and wrote about her visit on the blog 2 Wired 2 Tired.  Although we have many guests stay with us who may review their stay on Expedia, TripAdvisor and through Hilton's guest satisfaction survey, it really catches our interest when a guest posts something on their blog.  Blogging a review usually evokes more of a story-telling dialog and we can find out more in depth how things went instead of a simple satisfaction scale.

We had no idea "Tired Grandma Judy" was here to write about her stay and her trip to Indianapolis.  So when our General Manager came to the morning staff stand up meeting with her blog post, we were excited to hear what she wrote.  Of course we'd like it to be a glowing review of our downtown Indy hotel!  It wasn't.  As soon as we heard the quote above, we all took a deep breath, preparing ourselves for what we were about to hear.

Upon settling in to their room, Judy and Grandpa Randy had multiple phone calls from the Front Desk but no one could be heard on the line.  Then a knock on their door presented someone from our maintenance department to switch out the broken phone, which Grandpa Randy said wasn't needed.  Another phone call and Judy "was beginning to get irritated."

They opened the door again and there stood Megan Mills, our Guest Service Manager and Dave Kalbfleisch, Chief Maintenance Engineer.  Megan explained that one of the valet drivers accidentally scratched the bumper of their car on a wall and she wanted them to come down to look at it.  Maintenance was still there ready to replace the phone.

"The damage to our car was minor [but] the Hilton Garden Inn offered us a rental to get around the city the next day, while they got it repaired. I told them I just wanted to take it home to the person I knew. They agreed and asked us to get an estimate and they would mail the check out immediately."

After day two passed and they hadn't yet received the check, Judy was followed up with by our General Manager, Richard Letko.  The check was received the next day to cover the scratches.  "We were very pleased."

"Pleased with the valet for reporting it, he easily could not have and we probably would not have noticed until after we had left Indianapolis. We were also pleased with the front desk for being persistent and handling the incident in an appropriate manner."

PHEW!  What a relief!  Although we're never happy when a guest has an issue or inconvenience during their stay, we are pleased that we were proactive in contacting the guest, being completely candid about what happened and quick in following up and resolving what happened.

Judy goes on to say,

Rib America Festival is coming up again this Labor Day weekend.  There are only 43 days left until the festivities begin at Military Park.  You can always count on Rib Fest to be a smokin' hot, sweet and spicy good time.  Live music, great BBQ, drinks and sunshine drain the energy out of us for four days...and it feels so good!

This year we are proud once again to offer hotel accommodations Indianapolis at a discounted price.  For $99 per night, plus tax, stay at the official hotel of Rib America.  We also have a great downtown Indianapolis hotel package which includes two admission tickets to the festival, 20 food & beverage tickets and breakfast for two in our downtown Indy hotel's restaurant, the Great American Grill.  Act quick, though, because this Indianapolis hotel package is almost sold out!

Our Hilton Garden Inn is located just five blocks from Military Park - a quick walk or a $5 cab ride.  The IndyGo Red Line Circulator also has $1.75 single rides picking up one block north of the hotel and dropping off at Military Park.  Don't forget to check Sunday and holiday schedules as the Red Line may not be running.

Call our downtown Indy hotel today to reserve your Rib Fest hotel reservations Indianapolis downtown!  We'd love to have you join us in the best BBQ affair of the year!

Over the weekend, Kirk Stelsel and wife Laura stayed at our Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown.  They planned a "staycation" in downtown Indy for Kirk to blog about on Doing Indy's blog.  The happy couple spent Saturday night with us, had dinner at Mesh on Mass Ave and then went to an Indianapolis Indians game at Victory Field.

Kirk and Laura were married on April 24, 2010.  We were one of their selected Indianapolis wedding hotels for their guests to stay while in town for their nuptials.  It was good to have them back here with us just over a month after they celebrated their one year anniversary.

Kirk is posting three installments on the Doing Indy blog.  The first is about our downtown Indy hotel and their experience here.  The second will be about dinner at Mesh while the third is reserved for the Indians game.  In the first blog, already posted, Kirk talks about how their three star hotel downtown Indianapolis is within walking distance or a short cab ride to many things downtown, one of my favorite features of our HGI.

If you want to read Kirk's blog and hear it from a real guest, other than my sales blog, please check it out and comment on it!

Shopping has been attributed many adjectives – stress reliever, mood uplifter, wardrobe upgrader, woman’s best friend and the list goes on. However, there’s one adjective that no one would associate with shopping – money saver. Money spender – yes. Money saver – no! And yet, that is exactly what you end up doing when you choose our Circle Centre Shopping Package.

One of the few hotels near Indianapolis Airport, Hilton Garden Inn is a hot favorite with people from every walk of life – vacationers, families, to-be-weds, corporate officers and shoppers. Our Circle Centre Shopping Package had always been a favorite of many die hard shoppers. Now, there’s more reason for shopping enthusiasts to choose this package and give downtown Indy a visit. Here’s why – we’ve slashed our price for this package to $199 from $219. This price reduction is on till November.

Amongst all Indianapolis hotel packages, this package has found favor with many. What all do we offer as part of this package? Deluxe hotel accommodations, Indianapolis’s Circle Centre Mall’s shopping coupons, a welcome amenity bag from Simon Mall, a Simon Mall American Express gift card worth $100 and breakfast for two at the Great American Grill!

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and drop into our star hotel, downtown Indianapolis to enjoy the shopping delights Indy has to offer.

Weddings, reunions, get-togethers, holidays – Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis has been host to events aplenty. But, it’s not casual events and fun outings alone that attract people to our hotel. Our conference hall has witnessed its share of formal conferences and meetings.

So if you are looking for a conference hotel Indianapolis has us to offer. There are many reasons why you should choose to host your meeting at Hilton Garden Inn. Firstly, we are one of the few hotels near Indianapolis airport and therefore transportation is very convenient for the members participating in the conference or meeting.

Secondly, we have a conference hall that has just the right setting to promote brainstorming and successful, productive interactions. Thirdly, we have excellent facilities to enhance presentations during your conference including projectors of all conceivable kinds, microphones, speakers, 32” television with DVD and VCR facilities, wireless internet…you name it, we have it.

In addition to providing excellent conference facilities, we also have unmatched food, cold beverages, professional decorations including floral arrangements and banners for the conference, awesome accommodations and an ever-ready staff.

Once you've made your hotel reservations, Indianapolis will not remain a conference location alone. There’s a lot happening in downtown Indy these days. Once your meeting is done, you can take a walk down the streets, do some shopping, attend a sports event, visit a museum or do one of several other things that Indy has to offer. Who said conferences can't be fun?

From a small city to a big one, from a quaint, non-happening place to one that sports a nightlife that other cities would envy – Indianapolis has come a long way. It has something for everybody. Excellent architecture, wonderful museums, shopping hotspots, a rocking nightlife, friendly people and fantastic hotels – is it any wonder that so many people are choosing downtown Indy as their holiday retreat?

Visitindy.com recently posted a video that featured amongst many other visitors, celebs like Patrick Dempsey, Peyton Manning and Gene Simmons and they all love Indy. Whether they were in town for a vacation, a conference, a convention or just visiting someone, all those captured on video only had good things to say about the city.  Check out this video below:

While sports enthusiasts gushed that Indy is the best sports town around, the nightlife was adjudged “the best” by club hoppers. Visitors also praised the way the city has been laid down and the ease with which they could get around. With sufficient hotel accommodations Indianapolis has managed to steadily increase the number of visitors it entertains.

If you are considering dropping into Indy for a weekend and are looking for hotels near Indianapolis Airport or conference hotels, Indianapolis has the Hilton Garden Inn that offers an atmosphere conducive not only to conferences, but also weddings, reunions, vacations and everything in between. Come and live the good life – the downtown way!

• Kindred Hospital-Indianapolis
• Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health'
• IU Health University
• IU Simon Cancer Center
• IU Health Methodist
• St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
• St. Francis Indianapolis Hospital
• Community Hospital-East
• Larue D Carter Memorial Hospital
• St. Vincent Women's Hospital

Congratulations!  You just got engaged!  After the excitement, you realize you have so much to do to prepare and plan for your wedding.  Find a ceremony and reception venue, pick colors, decide on a menu, whittle down the guest list and find an Indianapolis wedding hotel for your friends and family coming in from out of town.

Yes, we are an Indianapolis wedding hotel located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.  We can help you with your friends and family Indianapolis group travel.  Discounted rates may be available for your group of 10 rooms or more.  Indy is a busy city, so we always recommend checking the convention calendar to try to avoid the busiest dates of the year where availability is limited and rates are high.  You want Uncle Ted to be able to buy you a gift and not spend all his money on the hotel, right?

Not only can we help with your hotel reservations Indianapolis, Celia Belden, Catering Sales Coordinator, can assist you with your small(er) ceremony and reception!  Our James Whitcomb Riley room seats about 90 for a ceremony (it's uniquely shaped), and our Benjamin Harrison Ballroom maxes out at 120.

Click the photo for more information, or to submit a request for a proposal or book your room block yourself, check out our eEvents page.  Start the process of booking with our three star hotel downtown Indianapolis today!  Our location is perfect for your wedding guests to enjoy the fun, and walkable, downtown area!


Some of the wedding venues to which we are closest, 2nd closest or are great partners:

• D'Amore Events of Indianapolis (attached through Chase Tower Parking Garage
• The Rathskeller
• Murat Centre
• Indiana Landmarks Center
• Conseco Fieldhouse
• Roberts Park United Methodist Church
• Scottish Rite Cathedral
• Mavris Arts & Events Center
• Fountain Square Theatre
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Community Life Center

• Fri Nov 26 - Nov 27 2010  IHSAA State Football Championships 
• Sun Nov 28 2010  Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers 
• Tue Nov 30 2010  International Motorsports Industry Show Reception 
• Wed Dec 1 2010  Beck's Hybrids Christmas Extravaganza 
• Wed Dec 1 2010  GER & D 2010 Team Meeting 
• Fri Dec 3 2010  Midwest ISO Holiday Party 
• Sun Dec 5 2010  Indianapolis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys  
• Fri Dec 10 2010  Indianapolis Housing Agency's Year End Celebration 
• Sun Dec 19 2010  Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 
• Sun Jan 2 2011  Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans 
• Sat Jan 29 2011  Monster Jam 
• Fri Mar 4 - Mar 6 2011  Indianapolis Home & Flower Show 
• Sat Mar 12 2011  Supercross 
• Thu Mar 24 - Mar 26 2011  Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) 

Whether you are headed to the Murat Centre for a performing arts production, a concert or for another reason, you might be looking for hotels near Murat Centre.  Whether you live in Indy or a few hours away, it's always nice to plan a weekend or a week day evening downtown and treat yourself to a night in our newly renovated hotel Indianapolis. 

The Murat Centre is located in downtown Indy in the Massachusetts Avenue cultural district.

Here is a list of the upcoming events at the Murat Centre:

• Nov 13 - Chelsea Handler: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang 07:00 PM
• Nov 20 - Experience Hendrix 07:30
• Nov 24 - Straight No Chaser 06:00 PM
• Nov 27 Sat Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker 02:00 PM
• Nov 29 Mon Shinedown with Apocalyptica 07:00 PM
• Dec 2 Thu Bottomless Soda: WNOU Santa Slam featuring B.O.B. & More 06:15 PM
• Dec 4 Sat John Prine 08:00 PM
• Dec 1 Fri Chris Isaak
• Dec 15 Wed Wicked 07:30 PM

• in person at the box office
• online at www.livenation.com
• over the phone at 317-239-5151

While perusing Twitter for interesting things around town, I came across this link.  Indianapolis was listed in the top 50 bike-friendly cities in the country! Although there are many trails in Indy to ride, the most well-known and probably the most popular is the Monon Trail.  It's beginning/end points are located in downtown, near 10th and Massachusetts, connects with the Monon Greenway at 96th Street and ends at 146th and Gray Road.

Mass Ave is a great place to start, too!  The avenue touts some great local restaurants, unique shopping, salons, theatres and music venues.  Our hotel is the closest of the downtown Indy hotels near Murat Centre, where touring bands, comedians and plays stop to entertain.  Another staple, and one of my personal favorites, The Rathskeller is on Mass Ave.  They have a great outdoor biergarten with concerts in the summer, a beautiful historic feel and a dizzying list of great German beers from which to choose!  Also, many of the weddings booked at The Rathskeller find accommodations for their guests at our Indianapolis wedding hotel.

The Monon is paved and has great scenery along the way.  From industrial warehouses to residential areas and a jaunt through Broad Ripple, the Monon has lots to see in its 15.5 miles.  The Monon begins just 1.5 walking/riding miles from the Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown.  So you can start here, ride up, check out Broad Ripple and Carmel or start up there and come visit our hotel Indianapolis green hotel just off the greenway!

As our Indianapolis downtown hotel continues to grow and improve, we have recently started serving Starbucks® Coffee in our hotel! Starbucks® started out as a single coffee shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market.  Now the company is an internationally recognized brand known for its quality coffees.

Starbucks® is now being served in our Great American Grill, located on the first floor of our newly renovated hotel.

As a smaller conference hotel in downtown Indianapolis, we thought it would be a great idea to offer Starbucks® Coffee as a hot beverage option for all banquets.  Planners who are searching for an Indianapolis meeting hotel, or even couples searching for a hotel wedding brunch can now offer their guests the familiar flavor of premium Starbucks® coffee!  We plan to offer Tazo Teas and different blends in the future.

Stay tuned!  Or, better yet...come in for breakfast, lunch or dinner and have a cup today!

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010!  There's going to be a lot happening this year!  The Colts have home field advantage for the playoffs and face off against the Baltimore Ravens this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium!  Being one of the hotels near Lucas Oil Stadium, our lobby is decked out with Fatheads, flags, bobble heads and our staff will surely be in Colts attire starting tomorrow!

We are officially one of Indianapolis' newly renovated hotels!  Only a few final touches remain before we're 100% complete.  Our restaurant, the Great American Grill, has been completely redone and has a very chic feel to it.  The guestroom beds, carpet and furniture have been replaced.  Lobby furniture is brand new and, as and Indianapolis meeting hotel, we have updated our meeting space as well!  Check our pictures out on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter too!

The Hilbert Circle Theatre will be host to some great shows this season.  I'm particularly interested in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's presentation of The Music of Pink Floyd!  Of course being a concert fanatic, I'm very excited to see what other venues will present this year.  We're the closest hotel to Murat Centre, so why not stay with us when you come to your next show?  Don't forget about the Pacers and those performances at Conseco Fieldhouse to which we're one of the the closest hotels.

Big things will be happening in 2010!  Oh...ladies and gentlemen, Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching!  So when you get engaged, be sure to call our wedding hotel when you're looking for a place to host your rehearsal dinner, small ceremony or reception or simply need a discounted hotel room block for your group's travel!

Happy New Year from the Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown!

Need a mini get away?  How about coming to an Indianapolis Downtown Hotel like the Hilton Garden Inn.  Book a night and go see an Indiana Pacers game. We are one of the Hotels Near Conseco Fieldhouse, by only being two blocks north you can easily walk there in 5 mins.  If you need any tickets feel free to call the hotel for suggestions. If you need an Indianapolis Group Travel discount, don't hesitate to contact our sales office for a price break.  Being a Newly Renovated Hotel we want to make sure you know about our new Garden Sleep System beds.  They adjust on the side to fit your comfort needs. 
Check out the Pacers' Schedule down below!

It's FOOTBALL SEASON!!  This Thursday, September 3 marks the end of the Indianapolis Colts' preseason!  Our first regular season game is Sunday, September 13.  The Indianapolis Colts face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home!  I don't know about your team, but we have Blue Friday here in Indy.  Our hotel celebrates the Colts games by displaying larger-than-life Colts players in the lobby, flags in our lobby palm trees, and a banner or two.

Of course, most employees really love Blue Friday because we get to wear something a bit more casual and our Indianapolis Colts jerseys!  You can check out our team spirit on our Facebook page photo gallery!  We even bring out the war paint and temporary tattoos from time to time!  Are you a member of the Colts Blue Crew?  You should be!

Of the hotels near Lucas Oil Stadium, we may not be the closest, but we certainly bleed blue (most of us).  When you are searching for Indianapolis hotel reservations, whether you're supporting the Colts or the Texans, 49ers or Jets, we'd love to have you stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown!  If you're coming from out of town for the Titans game, or any other, call me to check for Indianapolis group travel options!

Home Games:
Sun, 9/13:  Jacksonville Jaguars
Sun, 10/4:  Seattle Seahawks
Sun, 11/1:  San Francisco 49ers
Sun, 11/8:  Houston Texans
Sun, 11/15:  New England Patriots
Sun, 12/6:  Tennessee Titans
Sun, 12/13:  Denver Broncos
Sun, 12/27:  New York Jets