South Shore hosting Heartland Travel Familiarization Tour

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is hosting one of only two familiarization (FAM) tours offered to Heartland Travel Showcase attendees, a three-day marketplace that connects group tour operators with travel suppliers. The marketplace will be held at the Century Center in South Bend from March 1-3, 2024.

The South Shore CVA had to fill out an application in May 2023 to pitch the South Shore as a potential FAM tour location. The FAM tour will be hosted following the convention and will take group tour operators to several local attractions and restaurants throughout Northwest Indiana in an effort to book future group tours.

Currently, the South Shore CVA’s FAM will host nine different group tour businesses, with businesses coming from Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Virginia.

The agenda is as follows:

Sunday, March 3
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Albanese Candy Factory, 5441 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville
2:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Chicagoland Popcorn, 5470 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville
3:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N. 600 E., Fair Oaks

Monday, March 4
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N. 600 E., Fair Oaks
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Indiana Dunes Visitors Center, 1215 IN-49, Porter
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: Friendship Botanic Gardens, 2055 US-12, Michigan City
4:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Four Corners Winery, 294 E 600 N, Valparaiso

Tuesday, March 5
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.: The Museum at Lassen’s Resort, 7408 Constitution Avenue, Cedar Lake
10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: The Shrine of Christ’s Passion, 10630 Wicker Avenue, St. John
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m: Provecho Latin Provisions, 110 S. Main Street, Crown Point
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Downtown Crown Point
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Community Veterans Memorial, 9710 Calumet Avenue, Munster
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.: Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster
6:20 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Teibel’s Restaurant, 1775 US-41, Schererville

Wednesday, March 6
7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.: Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond

For more information or if you are planning to attend any of the FAM tour stops, please contact Stephanie Smith, Communications & Social Media Manager, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, by emailing stephanie@southshorecva.com or calling 219.301.7765.