ZooTampa go green with Attractions.io

Leading by example with a sustainable digital strategy

In a single year, ZooTampa used to print more than 400,000 tickets, 300,000 maps and 30,000 membership cards. They wanted a more efficient and scalable approach to minimise their environmental impact and encourage guests to do the same.

Working with Attractions.io, ZooTampa launched a branded mobile app that replaced these physical resources with sustainable digital alternatives. Today, guests use interactive wayfinding, mobile tickets and digital memberships to manage their visit without relying on printed materials.

95%

Reduction in printed materials

$50,000

In printing costs saved
every year

ZooTampa activities and wayfinding example app

“If we have a new baby animal born or there is a new experience, we do not have to throw away maps that are outdated. We can simply update our app on the spot.”

Sandra Torres,
‍ Director of Communications at ZooTampa

A connected guest journey that inspires sustainability

ZooTampa's goal was not only to reduce its own environmental footprint but also to encourage guests to adopt sustainable habits. The Attractions.io platform helps the team connect digital touchpoints to real-world moments on-site through Bluetooth beacons and push notifications. This enabled the zoo to present guests with educational content at precisely the right moment.

“When people visit the zoo, they want close encounters with our animals. And when they are here, we want them to make the connection between the animal standing in front of them and an action that they can take to help that same species out in the wild.”

Sandra Torres, Director of Communications at ZooTampa

For example, guests visiting the Orangutan habitat might receive a prompt about choosing sustainable palm oil. At the manatee exhibit, the zoo shares guidance on preventing boat strikes, a major threat to Florida’s manatee population. These messages help guests understand how their behaviour can directly support conservation.

“If a message pops up saying, ‘you can help these animals in the wild by buying sustainable palm oil,’ that connection can be made through the app, so that when guests leave the zoo, they can return to it and check what they can do to help.”

Sandra Torres, Director of Communications at ZooTampa

Leading by example with sustainable digital tooling

The app also frees up internal teams who previously spent time managing printed resources. Whether it's refreshing event schedules, publishing new experiences or updating exhibit information, everything now happens through one platform that supports the zoo’s long-term sustainability goals.

Working with Attractions.io also allowed ZooTampa to streamline processes behind the scenes. Visual updates, operational changes and new content no longer require long lead times or additional spend. The team can adapt quickly, respond to guest needs in real-time, and maintain consistent messaging across the entire site, resulting in an improved guest experience.

4.8

Star average app store rating

91%

Of guests leave positive feedback

65%

Of registered users consent to marketing

ZooTampa information and direction example

"We can adapt our content in the moment, which keeps it fresh for guests and helps us save money and resources. We’ve been so impressed by how flexible and easy to use the Attractions.io platform is to use.”

Sandra Torres,
Director of Communications at ZooTampa

A trusted partner in sustainable transformation

For the team at ZooTampa, their mobile app has become a catalyst for reducing waste, streamlining operations, and enhancing guest engagement. The shift to digital now underpins their sustainability strategy, helping them minimise printing, save on operational costs and deliver a smoother, more connected experience for every guest.

“In Attractions.io, we found a vendor who could handle the heavy lifting for us. Their digital platform was ready to go, and the team made sure the setup was smooth, effective and above all, furthering our sustainability goals at the Zoo.”

Steve Marsicano,
Marketing and Content Manager at ZooTampa