Indiana has a new message, “Honest to Goodness Indiana.”
The Indiana Office of Tourism Development announced the new brand at a press conference Wednesday. The goal of the project is to create a brand the represents the entire state and encompasses all we have to offer.
Jake Oakman with the Office of Tourism says the “Honest to Goodness Indiana” brand is meant to emphasize the Hoosier hospitality reputation. The logo also includes the date Indiana became a state, 1816. The Office says the new brand is well timed with the upcoming bicentenial.
"Hoosier hospitality is known by everyone," says Oakman, "so we definitely had to have a nod to that and I think the honest to goodness aspect ties into that as well."
The new brand comes after a year’s worth of research and development. The message replaces the “Restart Your Engines” campaign that was launched in 2006.
The logo will start to appear in ads in state and out of state. Tourism is the sixth largest industry in Indiana.