IDDC Announces The Indiana Destination Recovery Council

The council will hold their first meeting today.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – The Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) today announced the formation of a new council to assist travel related industries in Indiana. 

Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Suzanne Crounch, the Indiana Destination Recovery Council (IDRC), an advisory group, was established to consider traditional as well as creative ways to assist the leisure and travel related industry in their COVID-19 recovery efforts. 

"The IDRC will work closely with the Indiana Economic Relief and Recovery task force appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to administer federal relief funds from the CARES Act," said Crouch. "This collaborative approach will help our partners as they work to safely reopen and will put Indiana tourism back on track."

Indiana Destination Development Corporation Secretary and CEO, Elaine Bedel, is steering this new council made up of a variety of industry experts, including:

• Allison Barber, Ph.D., President & COO of the Indiana Fever
• Jeffrey Brown, CEO of Schahet Hotels 
• Matt Eckert, President & CEO of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
• Jim Epperson, Executive Director of SoIN Tourism 
• Todd Hensley, CEO of Gym Rats
• Leonard Hoops, President & CEO of Visit Indy
• Dana Huber, Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations of Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
• Jeffrey McCabe, President of Big Wood Brewing Company
• Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority

"COVID-19 will have a sustained impact on the leisure and travel-related industry," said Bedel. "By forming this council, we hope to recommend programs that help the industry become economically stable again as well as strategies that focus on being even stronger in the future."

The council's first meeting will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 9 a.m.