Columbus expects eclipse to bring 'significant surge' in visitors, even though it's outside full totality - Columbus Business First
As Monday's eclipse approaches, Columbus is becoming more and more attractive to travelers hoping to see the moon cover the sun for an estimated three-and-a-half to four minutes. ColumbColumbus, Ohio, is expected to see a significant surge in visitors, despite being just outside of the path of full totality. Despite this, hotels, short-term rentals and businesses are preparing for the anticipated eclipse. The area is becoming more attractive for travelers hoping to see the moon cover the sun for an estimated three-and-a-half to four minutes. Despite limited availability in the area, Joe Savarise, president and CEO of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, recommends consumers to book rooms along the path. At the Cambria Hotel Columbus – Polaris, director of sales, Gene Minnich, is seeing an increase in Sunday night reservations.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Zachary Jarrell in Business
Gene Minnich has a full dish of moon pies ready, as well as a sign proclaiming that his hotel is “over the moon.”
“I'm doing something really cheesy,” Minnich, director of sales for the Cambria Hotel Columbus – Polaris, told me.
He’s getting the hotel ready for Ohio’s first total solar eclipse since 1806, something hotels, short-term rentals and businesses are preparing for all over Ohio. The Buckeye State won’t see another one until 2099.
While Columbus is just outside of the eclipse’s 124-mile-wide path of full totality and not expected to see as much of a tourism impact as areas inside that range, the region is still anticipating a “significant surge” in visitors, said Sarah Townes, chief marketing and innovation officer for Experience Columbus.
As Monday approaches, Columbus is becoming more and more attractive to travelers hoping to see the moon cover the sun for an estimated three-and-a-half to four minutes.
That’s because availability in the path of full totality is dwindling.
“While you can still find some limited availability in those areas, it's gotten pretty full at this point,” said Joe Savarise, president and CEO of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association.
His group is recommending consumers look to Columbus when they run into booked-up hotels along the path of totality.
“Places like Columbus are a great place where you can still book a room that's affordable, and you can perhaps drive into the full eclipse area,” Savarise said. “But then during your stay, you can take advantage of other attractions and amenities and events in the Columbus market.”
Townes said Experience Columbus is "ready to welcome visitors who plan to stay here whether they’re traveling into the nearby path of totality or staying downtown where there will be 99.6% totality."
“Using Columbus as a launchpad for the region is a great option as many of our hotels still have availability," she continued.
At Cambria, Minnich is seeing an uptick in Sunday night reservations — and selling out, while not guaranteed, is in the cards.
“I hope we sell out,” he said. “It's a Sunday night, which is a slow night for all hotels, so that would be great.”
Two weeks ago, Minnich noticed someone from out of state made six reservations in his name coming on Sunday night.
He was curious, so he emailed the man, asking why he was coming to town.
Turns out, he’s visiting to see the eclipse.