Powell, OH – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds are proud to host the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) 2023 Annual Conference.
Experience Columbus, the premier destination marketing organization for the Columbus region, estimates that 2,700 zoo and aquarium professionals will convene in Columbus, utilizing 5,000 hotel rooms and generating $2.8 million in direct visitor spending. The conference will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from September 9-14, 2023.
The Columbus Zoo and The Wilds are accredited by the AZA. The AZA Annual Conference is the largest, most comprehensive zoo and aquarium professionals’ event in the country. The conference offers attendees with valuable networking and learning opportunities with colleagues who share a common vision to save wildlife, and the opportunity to explore cutting-edge products and meet innovative service providers. Activities at this year’s conference will also include the option for conference attendees to join a pre- and post-conference tour at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio, and an opportunity to experience Zoo Day to see firsthand the Columbus Zoo’s dedication to animal care and wellbeing, conservation, and inspiring others to care about wildlife.
“This is a really exciting time for our teams; they are so involved in our national associations, leading Species Survival Plan Programs, developing conservation action plans, serving as accreditation inspectors, and so much more. The AZA Annual Conference is the culmination of much of that activity. We are pleased to welcome several thousand of our zoo and aquarium colleagues and friends from around the world and share with them all that our great city has to offer,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds.
The Columbus Zoo hosted the AZA Annual Conference in 2000 and was scheduled to welcome conference attendees again in 2020. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person conference was put on hold at that time. Instead, the dedicated Columbus Zoo team worked that year with the AZA to successfully host the accrediting body’s first virtual Annual Conference so that this important collaboration among the zoological community could continue.
"We are pleased to welcome back leaders within the zoological community as they return to our vibrant city for the Association of Zoo and Aquariums’ 2023 Annual Conference,” said Dan Williams, Chief Sales Officer at Experience Columbus. “This event holds special significance as it marks our rescheduled reunion after the challenges posed by the 2020 pandemic. I can think of no better host than the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a leading world-class institution with a steadfast commitment to wildlife conservation and education."
“I know all of our conference attendees are excited to be in Columbus and in person. We certainly adapted and innovated during the pandemic, but we also learned there is no substitute for direct interaction and networking with professional colleagues,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. “With Columbus so centrally located to many AZA-accredited members, I would not be surprised if we see record-breaking attendance. I am looking forward to a great week in Columbus, and we are all grateful to our friends and colleagues at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds for hosting us!”
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, animals, events, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
###
About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide to continue the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
About The Wilds
The Wilds sits on almost 10,000 acres of lush landscapes along the Appalachian Byway and attracts nearly 120,000 visitors annually. With the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife., The Wilds is among one of the largest, cutting-edge conservation centers in North America and is home to more than 500 animals representing 28 rare and endangered species from around the world. The Wilds operates tours, overnight accommodations, special events, and summer camps as a source of revenue. The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Columbus. Normal hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from May through October. For more information, visit TheWilds.org.
