March 26: Leonard Hoops, President & CEO, Visit Indy
Leonard Hoops has served as president & CEO of Visit Indy since 2011. He leads a team of 62 industry professionals charged with growing Central Indiana’s economy by driving the region’s $5.2 billion convention, tourism and event industry.
During Hoops’ tenure, Visit Indy has generated a 90-to-1 return on investment from its public funding, and Indianapolis has been named the #1 convention city in America by USA Today and a top visitor destination by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure.
Prior to Visit Indy, Hoops was executive vice president and chief customer officer of San Francisco Travel, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, senior vice president of marketing for the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau, and a corporate communications manager for a Fortune 120 company.
Hoops has been named an “Indiana Living Legend” by the Indiana Historical Society, one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” by Successful Meetings magazine, and one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality & Travel Sales & Marketing” by HSMAI. He has also received the Sloan-Kettering Award in Business from Delta Upsilon Fraternity and the Kurt Vonnegut Humor Award.
Hoops currently serves on the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Board of Directors and Destinations International Foundation’s Board of Trustees. In Indy, Hoops serves on the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County as well as the Boards of the Indy Chamber, Downtown Indy, and the Indiana Sports Corp.
Hoops earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University. He and his wife, Dorene (an Indianapolis Public Schools commissioner), have a son and a daughter
All are welcome at Rotary programs. The lunch buffet opens at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center at 11:45 a.m. and the program runs 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. See you there!
