The Columbus Zoo has shared new details about its plans to construct an on-site luxury hotel for guests, which it says would include a minimum of 130 rooms and provide an “immersive” overnight experience.
The new $32- $45 million hotel would sit adjacent to the entrances of the zoo, Zoombezi Bay and the newly announced John F. Wolfe Aquarium, which is set to open in 2029. There is currently no expected opening date or name for the hotel.
The construction of the new hotel is a “key component” of the zoo’s “2040 Framework,” a long-term initiative to enhance animal care and conservation efforts, improve the zoo guest experience and increase visitation, spending, and length of stay, according to the zoo’s request for developer interest and proposals for the project.
What will the guest experience be like?
There are currently no official plans released for the hotel, but it’s expected to have no fewer than 130 rooms that would include a mix of king- and queen-sized bed options as well as family-friendly layouts with bunk beds.
To create a more immersive experience, some of the rooms will be “animal-themed” or contain other themed elements and will have balconies overlooking the zoo and Zoombezi Bay.
The development cost is about $250,000 to $350,000 per room, according to the proposal.
For meals, there will be a full-service restaurant offering at least breakfast and dinner, plus a separate café space or equivalent option for grab-and-go meals.
Amenities available to guests will include an indoor pool, waterslide and whirlpool, a gym, a retail outlet of some sort, and a themed lobby with educational programming on the zoo and conservation efforts. There will also be about 8,000 square feet of event spaces, according to the proposal.
Will the zoo be accessible from the hotel?
The hotel will have dedicated pedestrian access to the zoo, and the proposal mentions the potential of giving guests early access to attractions. It also mentions the possibility of creating bundled ticketing and accommodation packages, although no specific details are available yet. The new hotel will also use the current zoo parking lot.
What else is included in the zoo’s 2040 Framework plan?
The 2040 Framework is a long-term plan that the zoo created to guide its expansion efforts in the upcoming years. This hotel is one of several construction projects that are part of this framework.
The zoo shared plans for an acclimation and conservation center, which will break ground soon and be completed next year. That center will help facilitate the transition of fish and other aquatic life from the current aquarium into the recently announced John F. Wolfe Aquarium – a massive $175 million project expected to open to the public in 2029.
Through these construction projects, zoo officials say they are emphasizing sustainability and conservation efforts. In its proposal for the hotel, the project focuses on energy and water efficiency, the use of sustainable materials, and ways to reduce waste to go along with the zoo’s promises surrounding environmental stewardship.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New details revealed about Columbus Zoo’s planned luxury hotel
Reporting by Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
