No, the Buffalo Zoo has not launched a food truck selling animal cookies. The vehicle that you see here is actually a shuttle that is now making pick-ups at Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo in Lafayette Square, and the Hyatt Regency at Fountain Plaza. Called the Zoofari Shuttle Service, the Zoo has decided to proactively search out visitors, by creating a service that makes it easy breezy to get from a hotel to Rainforest Falls in a snap. Instead of waiting around for the Buffalo tourism market to come to them, the Zoo decided to be proactive.
“Tourism in Buffalo is expanding rapidly,” noted the Zoo’s marketing manager, Todd Geise. “We want to be a part of that expansion and excitement. We’re adding shuttle stops downtown for tourists who are looking for a nice way to spend an afternoon in Buffalo with their families, in addition to whatever else has brought them to visit our city.”
For years, a number of BRO articles have been posted, stating the need for these types of shuttles. Along with the ease of getting tourists from Point A to Point B, this is a great marketing initiative – it’s like a moving billboard for all to see. I’m surprised that all of the galleries didn’t get together to do this. The Albright-Knox, the Burchfield-Penney, the Buffalo History Museum, etc., could pool marketing dollars and create a similar campaign that would also allow members to utilize the service.
Good thinking on The Zoo’s part. To add to the program’s success, people can now purchase tickets to The Zoo at hotel outposts, including Hilton Garden Inn, Comfort Suites, Embassy Suites, Courtyard Mariott, Hyatt Regency, and the Hampton Inn. Visitors to The Zoo don’t have to worry about directions, parking, tickets or weather. The kids get excited to be on a safari, while the adults get to sit back, relax and enjoy the sights of Buffalo.
Along with the Zoofari Shuttle Service and ticket outposts, The Zoo has teamed up with Medaille College and Nichols School to offer additional parking for the attraction. Nichols is located just across the street from The Zoo. As for Medaille, the college is now on the list of shuttle stops.
The Zoofari Shuttle runs Friday through Sunday. A complete schedule for the Zoofari Shuttle follows.
10:15am Hilton Garden Inn
10:20am Hyatt Regency
10:40am Zoo
11:00am Medaille
11:10am Zoo
11:20am Medaille
11:30am Zoo
11:40am Medaille
11:50am Zoo
12:00pm Medaille
12:10pm Zoo
12:20pm Medaille
12:40pm Zoo
12:50pm Medaille
1:00pm Zoo
1:10pm Medaille
1:20pm Zoo
1:40pm Hilton Garden Inn
1:45pm Hyatt Regency
2:00pm Zoo
2:10pm Medaille
2:20pm Zoo
2:30pm Medaille
2:40pm Zoo
2:50pm Medaille
3:00pm Zoo
3:10pm Medaille
3:20pm Zoo
3:30pm Medaille
3:40pm Zoo
3:50pm Medaille
4:00pm Zoo
4:10pm Medaille
4:20pm Zoo
4:30pm Medaille Drop-off FINAL
4:40pm Zoo FINAL
4:55pm Hilton Garden Inn
5:00pm Hyatt Regency
For additional information about parking options at the Zoo, or the Zoofari schedule, visit www.buffalozoo.org or visit the Zoo’s Facebook page.