,
The renovated Lewis Center connects property outdoor space, flexible ballroom and performance upgrade as it is away from internal nationwide use
Property is now known as Ohione Hotel & Event CenterLocated at a distance of about 20 miles north of the city of Columbus in Ohio, it has passed through several changes in its 80-year history, which has began as a radio station in the 1940s, later working as a nationwide insurance training site, and eventually acting as a low-profile conference center in the suburbs of the Lewis Center. In this summer, the site is stepping into a new role: an open-trade incident destination for planners throughout the region.
The shift comes with a new name, comprehensive renewal and a clear goal: to bring in the third party booking which were out of access once.
The 20-acre campus has been overhale to appeal to association planners, corporate groups and trades, seeking a midwestern option with flexible places, on-site lodging and outdoor facilities. Improvements include advanced ballroom, extended pre-functioning area, refreshing guest room and a new outdoor gathering place called Grand Angan.
Catherine Burton, Chief Operating Officer of Columbus Hospitality Management, says the upgrade is more than aesthetics. She indicates to increase interest from planners who rejected the site due to the first layout or lack of size.
“Now is the biggest difference capacity,” Burton says. “We can handle large programs and provide more options for indoor-outdoor setup. We have come back to planners who did not consider us before because of capacity or layout. It is no longer a limit.”
The Grand Angan, which includes fireplace and open-air seating, is already being used for reception and networking functions. Inside, the roof heights have been raised, the light has improved, and the flow between the breakout and the normal session location is re -designed to allow smooth transition between segments.
“It is quickly becoming a favorite among planners for cocktail reception and evening events, offering a warm and invited environment,” she says.
Burton says changes show how planners are building events today, small agenda, with hybrid-friendly formats, and more focus on informal connections.
“We are looking at more events in which wellness elements, networks, and short time get stuck in a ballroom throughout the day,” she says.
Located at the Lewis Center, an unirrigated community in the Orange Township, Delaware County, the site offers component parking, on-site dining and a cool, moving layout that stands opposite to urban hotels and convention centers. The region has seen stable residential and commercial development, which is supported by nearby destinations such as HiBanks Metro Park and Alum Creek State Park. In the west of the Lewis Center, the city of Powell is also drawing attention to its small town attractions, access to the place of trails and green, and closeness to the Columbus Zoo-that appeals to families and professional groups equally.
New booking shifts shift
Ohio’s repairing is already seen in the calendar. Upcoming booking is involved Ohio Chamber of Commerce Workforce Summit, Ohio Association of Rumetology Annual MeetingAnd this 340B Midwest Regional Conference and ExpoAll are scheduled for August. Ohio Tesol Conference Confirmed for November. These third-party events represent exactly the same type that is targeting the type of professional programming.
History and development
The property has evolved quietly in eight decades. Originally a radio broadcast feature in the 1940s, it became Green Meadows Inn in the 1960s. Nationwide insurance bought the site and converted it into a private training complex in 1974, which was completed with themed buildings and residential houses. In the early 2000s, it expanded to a public-focused hotel and conference center. Columbus Hospitality Management operated in 2010 and helped direct its latest infections towards external events and full -scale booking.
The ribrand for “The Ohioan” indicates a new chapter. With improvement in infrastructure, the hotel commissioned three Ohio-based artists to establish original functions in public fields, to bring regional storytelling and design elements. The renewal for 193 guest room and on-site pubs continues to fall in decline, but the site is open and booking for 2025 and beyond.
“This has always been a well -running feature,” Burton says. “But now it is more accessible and more alignment what planners need.”
