Leonard Hoops has served as president & CEO of Visit Indy since 2011. He leads a team of 65 industry professionals who are charged with growing Central Indiana’s economy through the region’s $5 billion convention, tourism and event industry.

Under Hoops’ leadership, Visit Indy has shattered all-time records for convention and tourism sales, delivering $1+ billion annually in incremental economic impact and a 90-to-1 return on investment from public funding while also being regularly recognized as “A Best Place to Work in Indiana.” During his tenure, 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 joining Visit Indy, Hoops was executive vice president and chief customer officer of San Francisco Travel for five years where his teams produced all-time records for convention sales and international group tourism. In Hoops’ 30 years of corporate and destination marketing experience, he has also served as SVP and chief marketing officer of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, SVP of marketing for the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau, and as corporate communications manager for a global $1 billion division of FMC Corp.

Hoops has been named one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” by Successful Meetings magazine, one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality & Travel Sales & Marketing” by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), and received the Sloan-Kettering Award from Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He is also a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from Indiana’s Center for Leadership Development.

Hoops currently serves on the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Board of Directors and Destinations International's Board of Trustees. He previously served on the boards of Destinations International and U.S. Travel Association.

In Indy, he serves on the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County as well as the Boards of the Indy Chamber, Downtown Indy, the Indiana Sports Corp., the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, the Greater Indianapolis Hotel & Lodging Association, and Donte Moncrief's GameChanger Foundation. Hoops also chaired the 2015 Central Indiana March of Dimes’ March for Babies campaign.

Hoops earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University. He lives in downtown Indianapolis with his wife Dorene (an Indianapolis Public Schools commissioner), their son Cannon (12), and daughter Avalon (5).