November 7, 200618 yr Oh, SNAP! Wait. No, I'm sorry. Your critique does not merit a snap. My mistake.
November 7, 200618 yr seriously though what about columbus distinguishes itself as a place to spend tourist dollars from out of state, especially when stacked against the other cities in the region, notably cleveland and cincy For example Arts: Both Cleveland and Cinci are better in the fine arts areas Zoo: columbus has an excellent zoo but so to the other cities Sports: Cbus is lagging on professional sports, a draw to get tourists in the area. museums: again, less than the other cities amusement parks: Cleveland has geauga Lake and Cedar Point is nearby, Cinci has Kings island. Nature and Parks: It seems as if the other cities have a much better park system in place and in addition, have more scenic beauty than the flatness of Columbus. Shopping: this is the only area where I would say columbus would have an edge over the other two cities.
November 7, 200618 yr I'm not sure how this topic became a "My C's better than your C" contest. I'll have none of that. But here's a short list that responds to the categories cited: Arts: Fine; Columbus Museum of Art. Touriste; Short North Gallery District. Performing; Capitol Theatre, Wexner Center, Southern Theatre, Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Columbus Children's Theater. Zoo: Internatinally recognized (though not my cup of tea). Sports: Home to The Columbus Crew, arguably the most popular professional US team in the field of a little-known sport called soccer. Also, an NHL team, an Arena Football team, a Triple-A baseball team as well as various teams associated with the local college sports program. Nature and Parks: Goodale, Schiller, Whetstone Park of Roses, Franklin Park featuring the one of the mindblowingest conservatories in the land (though I'll be glad when they put away all that Chilhuly glass), North Bank, Batelle Riverfront Park, Genoa Park, Bicentenniel Park Shopping: Whatever. I know Cleveland and Cinci and every other city has attractions, and I have no doubt that they would easily eclipse those in Columbus. The point here is to look at Columbus for what Columbus has to offer, and I suppose, talk about how it can be packaged and presented to the tourist public. If Cleveland and Cinci have success stories to tell, let's hear them and learn from them. Otherwise, I suggest you take your pissing match outside. With the smokers.
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change!
November 7, 200618 yr I love Columbus, but there is NOTHING about it that will draw out of state visitors in any significant numbers except for conventions. I feel spending money trying to draw visitors isn't good economic policy. The money would be better spent making Columbus a better place to LIVE... ie: fix the public transportation, improve downtown (especially City Center), clean up Weinland Park, fix the 70/71 split, etc... I feel the long-run returns on investments in the liveability of the city will be greater than money spent trying to induce tourism.
November 7, 200618 yr yea, that works fine for business travels who need to spend a few days in town because their job requires it but again what would make the liesure traveler from lets say Indy or Pittsburgh go to Cbus over Cincy or Clevelan if they were just looking for a quick getaway. Essentially from a liesure standpoint, what does Cbus have to distinguish itself?
November 7, 200618 yr I'm not sure how this topic became a "My C's better than your C" contest. I'll have none of that. But here's a short list that responds to the categories cited: Arts: Fine; Columbus Museum of Art. Touriste; Short North Gallery District. Performing; Capitol Theatre, Wexner Center, Southern Theatre, Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Columbus Children's Theater. Zoo: Internatinally recognized (though not my cup of tea). Sports: Home to The Columbus Crew, arguably the most popular professional US team in the field of a little-known sport called soccer. Also, an NHL team, an Arena Football team, a Triple-A baseball team as well as various teams associated with the local college sports program. Nature and Parks: Goodale, Schiller, Whetstone Park of Roses, Franklin Park featuring the one of the mindblowingest conservatories in the land (though I'll be glad when they put away all that Chilhuly glass), North Bank, Batelle Riverfront Park, Genoa Park, Bicentenniel Park Shopping: Whatever. I know Cleveland and Cinci and every other city has attractions, and I have no doubt that they would easily eclipse those in Columbus. The point here is to look at Columbus for what Columbus has to offer, and I suppose, talk about how it can be packaged and presented to the tourist public. If Cleveland and Cinci have success stories to tell, let's hear them and learn from them. Otherwise, I suggest you take your pissing match outside. With the smokers. Not to make comparisons (as I noted in an earlier post, i didn't want this thread to turn into that - but alas, here we are :-D) , but seriously, the museums/galleries & theatres in Columbus aren't even in the same ballpark as the as spaces in Cleveland! Zoo: The zoo has Jack, so what, the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo is just as famous for the collections, exhibits and animals. Sports: Columbus is a college sports town The metro parks and even the city parks in Cleveland are better and we have another famous park! Shopping - All three cities are about the same - subpar!
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! You are now officially banned from posting on Urban Ohio! Note to Self: Never hire MRNYC to pitch a marketing campaign! :wink:
November 7, 200618 yr I love Columbus, but there is NOTHING about it that will draw out of state visitors in any significant numbers except for conventions. I feel spending money trying to draw visitors isn't good economic policy. The money would be better spent making Columbus a better place to LIVE... ie: fix the public transportation, improve downtown (especially City Center), clean up Weinland Park, fix the 70/71 split, etc... I feel the long-run returns on investments in the liveability of the city will be greater than money spent trying to induce tourism. Including making Columbus a more desirable place to visit than it is right now.
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! You are now officially banned from posting on Urban Ohio! Note to Self: Never hire MRNYC to pitch a marketing campaign! :wink: oh you mean because unlike some people on here, i got enough love for all ohio?
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! You are now officially banned from posting on Urban Ohio! Note to Self: Never hire MRNYC to pitch a marketing campaign! :wink: oh you mean because unlike some people on here, i got enough love for all ohio? No.....the slogan!
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! Can we start calling Italian Village "The Heart of the Heart of the Heart of it All"? By the way, my apartment is the Heart of Italian Village...
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! Can we start calling Italian Village "The Heart of the Heart of the Heart of it All"? By the way, my apartment is the Heart of Italian Village... So does that make you the heart of your apartment? (which means your heart is the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of it all?)
November 7, 200618 yr ^yet don't forget the very reason it has grown. cbus is the seat of power. this has become much more important than it used to be. generally speaking both state capitals and college towns have grown across america as it has shed its industrial legacy. tie that to columbus's own local annexation growth policies and we have a perfect storm for a modern american city. malls and all. "cbus is the heart of the heart of it all" -- boomba - there --- new tourism slogan -- free of change! Can we start calling Italian Village "The Heart of the Heart of the Heart of it All"? By the way, my apartment is the Heart of Italian Village... So does that make you the heart of your apartment? (which means your heart is the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of the heart of it all?) I'm more of the spleen. The wife's the heart. And the brains.
November 7, 200618 yr I agree that Columbus is a great city for a quick weekend getaway. Everytime I go I have fun, despite the fact that there always seems to be a cheerleading convention going on. It's hard for the short north to feel like SoHo with all that pep and spirit.
November 7, 200618 yr ^^ You might hear some cheerleading in SoHo when a pair of Manolo Blahniks are discovered on sale....
November 8, 200618 yr my observation for fun in Columbus (and very obviously my opinion) in one poorly structured sentence: Columbus works well for me a yuppie, who still enjoys drinking like a freshman every now and then, but i really don't imagine me and my imaginary family going buck-wild with family fun.
November 8, 200618 yr Family fun is capable of attaining buckwild status? Man. I'm doing something wrong. Columbus does have a deceptively rich little vein of family stuff. Mind you, young kids can have fun just about anywhere, and as a perpetually broke parent, that's a wonderful thing. But for a teenager hellbent on King's Island, yeah, most towns will come up short. I think Columbus is perfect for a weekend spin, and perhaps not much more. The entire area is relatively compact. Stay close to downtown, you can cover a ton of stuff in a couple of days. Devote a day to extra-I-270 activities--Zoo, shopping, Motorcycle museum, Magic Mountain--and you'll walk away delighted as well, kids or no. The one downtown visitor buzzkiller is the Downtown Hyatt Regency. Geekcon every weekend of the year.
November 8, 200618 yr have no fear pope buckwild family fun is 'go' in columbus during the state fair.
November 8, 200618 yr Which hyatt is a geekcon? My friends are trying to get me to do new years there.
November 8, 200618 yr Hyatt Regency @ the Convention Center "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 8, 200618 yr pope if you do stay there feel free to knock it down when you leave. and if you wouldn't mind rebuild the union station....and while yr at it the kahiki. they shoulda coulda bin tourism attraction contendas. ahh welll... more union station pics: http://ernstphoto.tripod.com/Gallery/ColumbusUnionStation/CUSindex.htm
November 8, 200618 yr Hyatt Regency @ the Convention Center Wow. ColDay answered that one fast. Takes a Geekcon to know one evidently. :-D
November 8, 200618 yr pope if you do stay there feel free to knock it down when you leave. and if you wouldn't mind rebuild the union station....and while yr at it the kahiki. they shoulda coulda bin tourism attraction contendas. ahh welll... more union station pics: http://ernstphoto.tripod.com/Gallery/ColumbusUnionStation/CUSindex.htm as long as a quizno's, cold stone creamery and louis-pon-xiv are part of it!
November 8, 200618 yr Hyatt Regency @ the Convention Center Wow. ColDay answered that one fast. Takes a Geekcon to know one evidently. :-D Pot, meet vintage kettle. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 8, 200618 yr ^ so what's the difference between a "vintage" kettle versus just your "plain run-of-the-mill ol'" kettle? :?
November 8, 200618 yr ^Not in this case. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 8, 200618 yr You'd be right ColDay, since I would be the Pot and you the (self proclaimed not-so-great) Kettle. :laugh: :box:
November 9, 200618 yr I agree that Columbus is a great city for a quick weekend getaway. Everytime I go I have fun, despite the fact that there always seems to be a cheerleading convention going on. It's hard for the short north to feel like SoHo with all that pep and spirit Odd, that. When we would go we would end up on the same weekend they had those Jon Benet Ramsey-style kiddie pagents. Which was on the same weekend as the gay pride festivities. And we would stay in the Hyatt at the Convention Center. The elevators where a hoot...leather daddys, drag queens, and little girls made up like Tammy Faye Baker (and their gushy parents) Columbus can be like that.
November 9, 200618 yr When I was getting ready to move here, me, my wife and our son came down to check out places to live, and we got Pricelined into the Convention Center Hyatt on the weekend of GenCon. On any given elevator ride the doors would open to reveal a Stormtrooper, a Klingon, a Renaissance wench, a Wizard, a Ninja, Blade or any combination thereof. And that's what sealed the deal on Columbus for us.
November 9, 200618 yr You'd be right ColDay, since I would be the Pot and you the (self proclaimed not-so-great) Kettle. :laugh: :box: Nice try. Key word: Try. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 26, 200718 yr A 2006 hotel market report of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati by Hotel & Leisure Advisors (Unfortunately, the first chart is unreadable)... http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_1st/OhioHotelMarketArticle.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 27, 200718 yr I have a friend that works for Limited Brands design studio in NY and goes to Columbus almost every week. Often times it's hard for his travel dept to find good hotel rooms, most of the larger hotels downtown are sold out....and usually they only get them because of Limited's clout. I think Columbus is desperately in need of another nice Hotel downtown.
March 7, 200718 yr CONVENTION, TOURISM City urged to market Columbus experience Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/07/20070307-D1-04.html On many counts, Columbus’ convention and tourism industry appears to be looking up.
April 16, 200718 yr Author From the 1/26/07 Dispatch: * RENDERING: A rendering of the proposed renovations to 90 N. High St., the headquarters of Experience Columbus 3D / GROUP INC. Experience Columbus at crossroads Squeezed for space, visitors bureau will renovate or move Friday, January 26, 2007 Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Experience Columbus says it has outgrown its headquarters a block from Capitol Square and is considering a move to the Arena District. Then again, central Ohio?s convention and visitors bureau might stay put, thanks to a plan by its landlord to pump $1.4 million into the bureau?s building at 90 N. High St. [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/26/20070126-G1-01.html
May 11, 200718 yr Experience Columbus moving to Arena District Friday, May 11, 2007 3:29 AM By Jeffrey Sheban THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/05/11/Experience.ART_ART_05-11-07_C10_P36LNGA.html Experience Columbus is ready to experience another part of Columbus. The organization formerly known as the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau is leaving its offices at 90 N. High St. for new digs in the Arena District. The move to 277 W. Nationwide Blvd. is expected to occur by October, the group said yesterday.
June 28, 200717 yr Author From the 6/27/07 Dispatch: PHOTO: Three Santa representatives visited Columbus to help judge its merits. From left, Santa look-alikes Nicholas Trolli, T. Christian Martens and Timothy Connaghan talk with reindeer Tim Dick, proprietor of Schmidt's Fudge Haus, on one of their stops. RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH How to woo a Santa Columbus one of cities competing for convention Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:30 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Santa Claus is coming to town, if Experience Columbus officials have their way. For the past two days, members of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas have been making their lists and checking them twice while visiting Columbus to decide whether to bring their 2008 convention to the city. Representatives of the convention and visitors bureau chaperoned the three -- Timothy Connaghan of Riverside, Calif.; T. Christian Martens of Ventura, Calif.; and Nicholas Trolli of Philadelphia -- on guided tours around town and made their best pitch to get the 1,400-member group here next July. http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/27/santas.ART_ART_06-27-07_C8_2474S1T.html
July 16, 200717 yr Author From the 7/14/07 Dispatch: PHOTO: The two-story Novalis exhibit has so many plants, it took four tractor-trailers to ship them to the Columbus Convention Center for this weekend's OFA convention. David Arnold, of Conard-Pyle Co., put together the exhibit for the consortium of nine growers from across the country. RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH PHOTOS PHOTO: Suntory Flowers of Santa Barbara, Calif., is one of many out-of-state exhibitors at the OFA Convention. The trade show opens today. A colorful SHOW Big bustle for blooms OFA convention expected to draw more than 10,000 professionals to Columbus Saturday, July 14, 2007 3:28 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH For the next several days, flower folks from around the world will be calling Columbus home. The annual trade show hosted by Columbus-based OFA, or Association of Floriculture Professionals -- formerly known as the Ohio Florists' Association -- starts today and runs through Tuesday. More than 10,000 floriculture industry professionals are expected to attend, representing virtually all 50 states and more than two dozen countries. [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/07/14/OFA_CONVENTION.ART_ART_07-14-07_C10_D679FRE.html
January 9, 200817 yr Water-main break closes N. High St., threatens structural integrity of convention center Wednesday, January 9, 2008 9:24 AM By Robert Vitale The Columbus Dispatch Structural engineers are inspecting the Greater Columbus Convention Center after a 16-inch water main broke early this morning and flooded the building. Battalion Chief Doug Smith, of the Columbus Fire Division, said fire officials fear a "major collapse" of the structure, because floors of the center that were under one to two inches of water were rising and columns appeared to be buckling. When Smith arrived, he said water was running out the doors, the concrete slab floors were buckling and drywall was coming off the walls. "We had a major concern that there might be a structural collapse, and we still have that concern," he said. He said the focus of their concern is not the entire building, but the main convention hall in the center of the building -- the orange section of the multi-colored building. The center was evacuated, but officials did not evacuate the adjacent Hyatt Regency. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/09/flood.html
January 9, 200817 yr Here's a report from 10TV and link to a video and slideshow of the Convention Center Flooding. 10TV Report w/ Video - http://10tv.com/?sec=&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200801/602815602.html 10TV Slideshow - http://www.10tv.com/?slideshow=sites/10tv/slideshows/WaterMainBreak010908/&slideshowTYPE=3
January 9, 200817 yr Found this just after posting the previous 10TV report about the Convention Center Flooding. Looks like the Fire Chief was wrong. No collapse - but a whole lotta water! Update Convention center deemed structurally sound despite flooding Water-main break closes building, N. High Street Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 10:10 AM By Robert Vitale, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Structural engineers who inspected the Greater Columbus Convention Center after a broken 16-inch water main flooded the building early this morning determined that the building is structurally sound, said Tatyana Arsh, the Columbus utilities director. Fire officials reported earlier that they feared a collapse, because it appeared that support beams and floors had been compromised, but Arsh said that city officials no longer believe that to be the case. Early reports suggested that the water main ran under the building, but Smith said it runs under the sidewalk just west of the building. A plate apparently broke off of the pipe and allowed water to run underground into the building. “It could have been going on for hours and hours,” and water was flooding the building from the north end south. Arsh said after the plate broke off the 16-inch main running north and south along High Street it allowed water to run into an abandoned main that runs east and west under the convention center. City crews are now assessing the situation to determine whether the abandoned main was not properly capped off. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/09/flood.html
January 9, 200817 yr Was in the North Market this morning and the tenants there were saying it's just a lot of damage and water....
January 9, 200817 yr Too bad.... I wouldn't miss that ugly building at all. I didn't say it but... "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 10, 200817 yr After flood, convention center set to reopen Structural integrity not compromised by break of uncharted waterline Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 3:23 AM By Robert Vitale and Bill Bush, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH No one knew that a 1930s-era water main ended directly beneath a $77 million wing of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. They learned about it early yesterday, when a break flooded the Downtown building from end to end, pushing a section of thick concrete floor 2 feet into the air, soaking carpets and shoving room dividers and drywall into the ceilings. Managers said last night that two concourses with the worst damage will be repaired in plenty of time for the Arnold Sports Festival that begins Feb. 28. Meanwhile, a Longaberger sales convention that was displaced yesterday is expected to move back into the convention center today. William Jennison, executive director of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, said early estimates place the damage at $200,000. Insurance will cover all costs more than $100,000. More than 150 people -- and about 700 fans, blowers and extractors -- were working overnight to get soaked areas dried out, cleaned up and ready for business today. Two sections of the building where floors, doors and walls also were damaged will take longer. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/10/convention_center.ART_ART_01-10-08_A1_LV91251.html?sid=101
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