Newsmakers Q&A Kalahari expands to chase down more conventions
All of the marketing slogans associated with Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, play up fun and freedom - if not out-and-out escapism: "Kalahari: A world away." "Kalahari: Your passport to surf, splash and relax." "Welcome to Kalahari: Where adventure comes in waves."
If, however, the African-themed resort had a secondary, unspoken catchphrase, it might be something like this: "All play and no work would make Kalahari a far-less-profitable enterprise."
The operators of Kalahari - a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex touted also as "America's largest indoor water park" - are pursuing corporate business with the zeal of a hungry Botswanan lion chasing a Land Cruiser full of overfed American tourists.
Kalahari, which opened in 2005, broke ground this spring on a $22 million expansion that will more than double the size of its convention center - to almost 220,000 square feet. The addition will enable the Erie County resort to accommodate 5,200 conference or trade-show attendees at any given time - up from the current maximum of 2,200.
The new convention space, scheduled to be completed in December, won't include any water slides, wave pools or lazy rivers, but it will offer interactive whiteboards, video-conferencing capabilities and state-of-the-art sound systems, as well as HD-quality projectors and large-format screens.
"We pride ourselves in striking the right balance of features for convention guests and leisure travelers to ensure that each has a top-notch, yet very different experience," said Todd Nelson, president and owner of Kalahari Resorts, the Sandusky development's Wisconsin-based parent company.
"This expansion further demonstrates our commitment to building a premier meeting and convention venue in northern Ohio."
Mike Kallmeyer, host of ONN-TV's Ohio Means Business program, visited Kalahari to talk to Brian Shanle, the resort's general manager.
An edited transcript of their conversation:
Q: Many people might be under the false impression that this is just a water park. That's not the case, is it?
A: No. It's absolutely a big part of what we are and what we do, but the convention side, the corporate side, is a really big part of our business, too.
A lot of the smaller water parks don't get that there's another side to the business that rounds out our year and really makes it a dynamic, year-round business. (Having) 220,000 square feet of meeting space will make us one of the largest convention centers and hotel complexes in the Midwest.
Kalahari Indoor Waterpark - News
The operators of Kalahari - a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex touted also as "America's largest indoor water park" - are pursuing corporate business with the zeal of a hungry Botswanan lion chasing a Land Cruiser full of overfed American
Another neat aspect of the Norwalk weekend is that almost all the teams stay at the Kalahari resort, which has a huge indoor water park. As a result, a lot of the teams bring their families with them and make it a mini-vacation, so you're constantly
For as little as $250 guests will receive: One overnight stay in an African themed room, a $40 gas card and waterpark and indoor theme park passes for all guests valued at more than $400 (check online for availability). Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin
Staying Gluten Free at Kalahari Indoor Water Park | Naturally ...
We planned on spending most of the afternoon at Kalahari, so I figured that I would have to resort to picking the buns off of burgers and subsisting on french fries and water. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they had just opened a new restaurant that day called the Zulu Grille. It offers a gluten free version of everything on their menu!
The menu was pretty extensive too, everything from pasta, and pizza, to burgers, bratwursts, and quesadillas. The gluten free versions of each only cost $1 extra than the normal meals, making it quite affordable. Everything was made fresh, so all you had to do was make a gluten free request.
I don’t worry about trying to stay “strict paleo” all the time. Whenever possible, I focus on avoiding refined sugars and gluten, which I think accounts for the majority of benefits you will get from a paleo diet.
To say I was impressed was an understatement. I think the head chef was amused (maybe even flattered) that I was so taken back by the food offerings they had.
It’s sad that this kind of service isn’t provided in every major type of restaurant in the United States. Unfortunately, awareness of the prevalence of gluten intolerance is lagging in the United States behind other developed countries like Italy. As odd as it may seem, considering Italy’s long history of eating gluten-filled pasta, there is a high prevalence of celiac disease in Italy. Because of this, it is quite easy to order gluten free food at restaurants there.
Have you had trouble finding good places to eat while on vacation? What places have you found to be the most accommodating to gluten free diets?
David CsonkaI'm a blogger and natural health enthusiast living in Denver, Colorado. I graduated from The Florida State University with my B.S. and M.S. in Information Studies. I enjoy staying active and being outdoors, and experiencing nature is an essential part of my sense of well-being. Besides working on various Internet related projects and exploring our wondrous planet, I spend my time with my lovely fiancee and our funny little pet dachshund.
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