Airport Westin Hotel literally on solid footing

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis International Airport Westin Hotel is literally on solid footing as concrete has been poured to support the first floor of the long-awaited $205 million project.

“We anticipate to have that first floor concrete fully poured into the next month and the project is really moving along on schedule with an anticipated opening date of end of ’27,” said Megan Carrico, the senior director of public affairs for the Indianapolis Airport Authority.

17 years and at least one failed development later, IIA will finally have on-site lodging geared toward visitors, conference attendees and local travelers needing a good night’s sleep before they fly out first thing in the morning.

”About 30% of our passengers are flying out early mornings and for people who are commuting 45 minutes to an hour for our facility having the convenience of being able to stay in a hotel before you’re going out on your early morning flight is really beneficial,” said Carrico. ”And then there’s a lot in the airport community, whether it’s pilots or flight attendants or airport business partners that do require that overnight.

”The Indianapolis Airport Westin Hotel is a seven-story structure, that first floor is the main lobby as well as a restaurant. We’re gonna have around ten thousand square feet of meeting space, not meant to take conventions from downtown but certainly to serve as a relief valve and a good meeting space for our local partners as well as airport business partners. There will be 253 guest rooms and that seventh floor is gonna have a really nice restaurant and look out on to the airfield as you sip a glass of wine before your flight.”

The airport hotel build happens as Indianapolis’ downtown lodging industry is expanding with the construction of the Pacers Sports and Entertainment’s Shinola Hotel across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the topping off of the Signia by Hilton 38-story hotel on Friday morning.

IAA will own the Airport Hilton to be operated by Wischerman Partners, but with a local touch, said Carrico.

”So we’re looking at opportunities for local public art, we’re seeing what that restaurant’s gonna look like, the ability to be on the top floor and look out and see the airfield, and then what are some of those conveniences, potential bag drop when you’re at the hotel instead of coming through, so all of that’s on the table,” said Carrico.