Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown, source from Hilton website
Come one and all to Indianapolis for the MBS Fall 2025 convention! Our four-day convention not only includes Indianapolis IndyGo including their innovative bus rapid transit network, but visits to systems in Fort Wayne, Elkhart, South Bend, Lafayette, Bloomington, Dayton and Louisville.
Convention Headquarters
The host hotel for the convention will be the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Indianapolis, 10 East Market Street in Indianapolis. The hotel is close to Monument Circle which is the true heart of downtown Indy. The hotel has free high-speed Wi-Fi internet access and a business center.
The special MBS room rate is $169 per night for a standard King room or a standard room with two Queen beds. The room rates do not include applicable state and city taxes (currently at 17%, subject to change). A block of rooms has been put aside for MBS members from Tuesday, October 7 th to Saturday, October 11th.
The Garden Grill & Bar is on site while many other restaurants are within a short walk of the hotel. There is a valet parking charge of $43 per day.
Please note that hotel reservations must be made by Sunday, September 7th, 2025. The hotel room space and rate cannot be guaranteed after that date. All hotel reservations must be made by either calling the hotel directly or by visiting the Hilton Garden Inn website. The phone number for the hotel is (317) 955-9700. Remember to mention the group name “Motor Bus Society” when booking by telephone.
Motor Bus Society is currently in the planning stages for its Fall convention. There cannot be guarantees that we will be admitted to all the garages and maintenance facilities due to either health and security protocols or shortages of personnel to handle our visits. Some of the facility tours may require a safety vest. If you have one available, please bring it.
Registration
The MBS convention registration fee is $150 per person per day or $475 for all four days for MBS members. For non-MBS members, the registration fee is $170 per day or $550 for all four days. To assure that space will be available for the garage and facility tours, advance registration is strongly recommended. In case of any shortage of seat space on the tour buses, persons with reservations will be given priority. Please note that payment is now possible online on this site at the links at the bottom of this page. The deadline for MBS convention registration is Monday, September 15th.
Logistics
For autos, the hotel is in the downtown area. Coming from the east or west, follow I-70 and exit at Ohio Street. From the north or south, follow I-65 to I-70 and then exit at Ohio Street. Travel west on East Ohio Street, south (left) on North Pennsylvania Street and right (west) on East Market Street.
From the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), follow the signs to I-70 East and follow the directions above.
For transit from IND, take IndyGo route 8 to the downtown Julia Carson Transit Center. The hotel is approximately a 7-8 minute walk north and west of the Transit Center.
The Greyhound Terminal and the Amtrak Union Station are located at 350 Illinois Street. The hotel is approximately a 15-minute walk north and east.
IndyGo provides the transit service in Indianapolis and the surrounding area. While in town, be sure to ride the electric BYD articulated buses that are used on the BRT lines (Red and Purple). More information is available at: www.indygo.net
IndyGo bus route, photo by Trevor Jensen
Another IndyGo bus route, photo by Trevor Jensen
Convention Activities: Registration and sign-in will take place in the Hilton Garden Inn starting at 7:30 AM on all four days, with buses departing promptly at 8:00 AM each day.
Garage and Facility Tours: The itinerary has not been finalized and is highly dependent on whether properties are receptive to having visitors.
Itinerary
Wednesday, October 8 – Richmond, Butler County (OH) and Dayton. Hopefully a ride on a historic trolley bus will be included.
Thursday, October 9 – Bloomington, Columbus (IN) and Louisville (KY).
Friday, October 10 – Indianapolis, Marion and Muncie.
Saturday, October 11 – Fort Wayne, Elkhart, South Bend and Lafayette.
Order Form
Visit this link for online booking.
Click to download, print the flyer and mail the order form.
Click here for online hotel registration with group discount.