From airport greeters and a citywide opening celebration to walkable experiences and iconic venues, Indianapolis showed what a true host city can be.
If you were not among the association professionals who gathered in Indianapolis for the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, you missed a host city experience that extended far beyond the convention center. From a warm welcome to unforgettable events, Indy showed what happens when access, hospitality, and a genuine sense of place come together.
The experience began when attendees landed at the No. 1 airport in North America. Hoosier Hospitality greeters welcomed arriving delegates, and with Indianapolis International Airport only a short drive from downtown, guests moved quickly from their gates to their hotels and into the action.
That welcome continued on opening night, when Team Indy hosted a reception on Monument Circle that was open to every attendee. Bringing the ASAE community together in the heart of downtown made Hoosier Hospitality tangible. Everyone was invited, and everyone had a place at the celebration.
Once downtown, Indy’s walkability became one of the event’s greatest advantages. The Indiana Convention Center, connected hotels, restaurants, attractions, and evening venues form a compact convention campus that is easy to navigate. Attendees could walk from education sessions to dinner or a reception, leaving more time for conversations and connections.
ASAE also arrived at an exciting moment in Indy’s evolution. As the city prepared to open an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and the 803-room Signia by Hilton Indianapolis later this year, attendees saw a convention destination that continues to grow while preserving the compact, connected experience planners value.
Indy’s signature venues turned scheduled events into lasting memories. White River State Park offered expansive green space steps from the convention center. Indianapolis Motor Speedway immersed guests in the history and excitement of the Racing Capital of the World. Lucas Oil Stadium delivered the energy of one of the city’s defining landmarks. Each offered an experience that could happen only in Indy.
Between events, attendees experienced Indy through its food, neighborhoods, and culture. Many visited St. Elmo Steak House for its legendary shrimp cocktail and steaks, discovered the seasonal cooking at Bluebeard, and explored the restaurants, galleries, theaters, and nightlife of the Mass Ave Cultural Arts District. Live music lining downtown street corners added energy, making the city feel like an extension of the meeting.
The biggest takeaway from ASAE Annual Meeting was that a host city is not simply a backdrop. The right destination becomes an active partner, and that partnership begins with people. Visit Indy’s dedicated Destination Experience team works alongside planners to simplify the process, connect them with local resources, anticipate attendee needs, and bring their vision to life. For ASAE, that support helped create a coordinated experience that felt welcoming from arrival through the final event.
The results reflected that experience. ASAE recorded its highest attendance since 2019, its largest expo on record, and outstanding attendee feedback.
“This year’s annual meeting was one to remember,” said Michelle Mason, president and CEO of ASAE. “None of that happens without incredible partners, and the Visit Indy team went above and beyond to make our community feel welcome from the moment we arrived.”
Learn more about bringing your next meeting to Indianapolis at visitindy.com/meetings.
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