�Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts was the first hotel chain to offer swimming pools at every hotel beginning in 1952,� said Mark Snyder, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts. �Today, our owners are taking the concept of the �hotel pool� to the next level with robust Indoor Waterparks like Fort Rapids that offer families the one-stop, stress-free retreat they want, with assurance their fun and quality time is weather-proof.  The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbus East has done a tremendous job in transforming their existing property into a fantastic indoor waterpark hotel with unsurpassed adventure for family and kids alike.�

Renovated with America�s Old West in mind, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbus East- Fort Rapids Waterpark now offers 800,000 gallons of water featuring 12 waterslides, the Cowboy Creek Lazy River, the Kiddie Koral toddler zero-depth entry pool, a 30-person hot tub and the Rascal Roundup, a four-story interactive water play structure with a 1,000-gallon dump tank in the main water park area. The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbus East-Fort Rapids Waterpark also offers the Gold Rush Arcade and Game Room, the Rowdy Ranchers Kids Club, virtual bowling, virtual golf and fitness center. A business center and 10,000 sq-ft. of meeting space with complimentary high speed Internet access is available for guests who are traveling on business.

The hotel�s fully renovated main tower houses 278 guestrooms and KidSuites® in Western themes like Wyatt Earp and the Cisco Kid Bunkhouse. Introduced in 1996, KidSuites provide separate sleeping and entertainment areas for both kids and adults. For larger groups, guests can enjoy the hotel�s newly constructed Villa Family Suites. All 60 are Western-themed and feature microwaves, mini-refrigerators, hair dryers, coffee makers and dryer for swimsuits. The largest villa family suite accommodates up to 12 guests and kids 19 and younger stay free at all Holiday Inn hotels worldwide when sharing a room with an adult. Kids 12 and younger eat free, when accompanied by a dining adult and ordering from the kids menu, at the hotel�s two dining facilities, the Branding Iron Grille and Copper Star Saloon. 

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbus East-Fort Rapids Waterpark, which is owned and managed by Focus Lodging Group, LLC, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group, is located at I-70 and East Hamilton Rd., Columbus, Ohio. 

�This is a real thrill for us,� said Scott Somerville, president, Focus Lodging Group, LLC. �It�s so exciting to bring Central Ohio�s first year-round water park to our community.�

About Holiday Inn
With more than 1,400 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world.  In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges.  The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, and the ability to earn Priority Club Rewards points that can be redeemed for great merchandise, airline miles or free room nights, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as �America�s Favorite Hotel.�  For more information about Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.holiday-inn.com.

Virginia Osborne
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
[email protected]
770.604.2037

Monica Smith
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
[email protected]
770.604.5562