Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

A consultant is recommending the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium proceed with plans to build a resort-type hotel on the zoo's property.

A market feasibility study, prepared at the zoo's request, was done by David Sangree with Hotel & Leisure Advisors in Cleveland. The Delaware County commissioners contributed $10,000 toward the $15,000 study, using grant money received through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Former zoo director Jerry Borin called the feasibility study the "first step to see if it makes sense" to build a hotel now, or wait a while.

Borin wasn't surprised that Sangree came back with his recommendation, but Borin cautioned further study is needed before any decisions can be made to go forward.

"The opportunity is certainly worth pursuing. ... I'm encouraged by the study's findings," he said.

The study has been shared with the zoo's board as well as with officials from Delaware and Franklin counties and Columbus, Borin said.

"We're still gathering information ... looking at the up and down sides of building a hotel on zoo property," he said.

Borin said he plans to talk "informally" with local hotel operators to get their views. Then he probably will ask the zoo's board to hire someone to see if developers might be interested in the project, how it would be financed and what infrastructure improvements would be needed to accommodate the consultant's proposals.

The zoo board also needs to look at whether they can create enough business in the fall and winter months to support a hotel and its adjoining facilities, Borin said.

In his report, Sangree said if the project goes forward, this would be the first hotel built on zoo property in the United States.

He recommends a 175-room themed resort hotel with a mix of double-queen, king rooms and suites, along with meeting and party space, and a themed restaurant. In addition, he proposes the zoo build 25 tented bungalow units in the African savannah development, which is in the zoo's future plans but not yet under construction. Those units would be seasonal.

He also recommended the zoo include such hotel amenities as a fitness center, spa, game room, gift shop, pool and miniature golf course.

The hotel should also plan daily activities that are tied to the zoo, water park and golf course, he suggested.

It should be built with future expansion in mind and should be as ecologically friendly as possible, Sangree wrote.

Sangree projected development costs of between $200,000 and $250,000 per hotel room. Building the hotel with a "theme" would add to the projected cost.

According to the study, zoo officials gave Sangree three sites to work with on zoo property: a parking area just outside Zoombezi Bay water park, and two sites near the Polar Frontier exhibit now under construction.

"Overall, our study has revealed that the proposed ... hotel development has an above-average likelihood of being viable," Sangree concluded in his report. "The success of the subject will depend upon its creativity and marketing of the property as a unique and activity oriented resort complex."