The city has broken ground on its first Ritz-Carlton, a $350 million mixed-use development led by Boxcar Development and the Simon family investment group, in partnership with Live Nation and Marriott International. The project includes a 176-room Ritz-Carlton hotel scheduled to open in early 2028, alongside a 4,000-capacity live music venue expected to debut in fall 2027.
The original plan was to build a Shinola Hotel on the site but that was scrapped for the Ritz-Carlton that will feature 30 executive suites, two deluxe hospitality suites, and approximately 11,500 square feet of meeting and event space.
Amenities include a spa and fitness center, multiple food-and-beverage outlets, a private guest lounge, and a third-floor outdoor terrace designed for receptions and social events.
“Having Ritz enter our marketplace will further boost the brand of Indy as a sophisticated destination,” said Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Visit Indy. “We can sell our destination as tier-one with recognized brands like Ritz and Signia.”
Located three blocks from the Indiana Convention Center, the Ritz-Carlton will be connected to Gainbridge Fieldhouse via a third-floor skybridge, home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, enhancing walkability and event connectivity for large conventions and citywide programs.
“Introducing The Ritz-Carlton to this development brings a globally recognized standard of luxury hospitality to a project that will energize downtown and draw visitors to Indianapolis,” said Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International, in a statement.
Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Underway
The Ritz-Carlton project is part of a broader $3 billion investment in Indianapolis’ convention and hospitality infrastructure.
The Indiana Convention Center is nearing completion of a major expansion that will add 143,500 square feet of new event space, including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom, scheduled to open later this year. An 800-room Signia by Hilton, developed as a purpose-built headquarters hotel, will open alongside the expanded convention center, strengthening the city’s ability to host larger citywide conventions within a connected downtown footprint.
Gahl said the expanded infrastructure will allow Indianapolis to pursue meetings it previously could not accommodate.
“We are laser-focused on medical meetings and major association business that we couldn’t accommodate before,” Gahl said.
The Ritz-Carlton will join a growing portfolio of luxury hotels in downtown Indianapolis, including the JW Marriott Indianapolis, one of the largest JW properties globally, the Conrad Indianapolis, and the recently opened InterContinental Indianapolis, which features a rooftop bar overlooking Monument Circle.
Additional upscale and lifestyle properties are in development, including a Kimpton and a 21c Museum Hotel slated to open in 2028 in the former city hall building. The 21c property will include the brand’s largest gallery space to date.
According to Gahl, more than half of new downtown hotel projects planned over the next five years will fall into the luxury or upscale category, representing $1.46 billion in investment and approximately 2,300 new hotel rooms.
“We are a city hungry to exceed expectations and shed the remnants of a stereotype of only being a sports city,” Gahl said.
