TravelTalkMEDIA, August 18th, 2007
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director Michael Snyder announced today that Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C., an Arizona-based company associated with Forever Resorts, Inc., has been selected to provide hospitality services on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This new concessioner will provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, public showers, laundry, and a gas station for North Rim visitors. North Rim facilities are generally open from mid-May through mid-October. Annual visitation to the North Rim is approximately 320,000.
Forever Resorts, Inc., the parent company of Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C., also operates concessions in other national parks, including Blue Ridge Parkway, Grand Teton National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Big Bend National Park, Badlands National Park, Olympic National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
“We are pleased to welcome Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C. to our excellent team of concessioners at Grand Canyon National Park,” said Superintendent Steve Martin. “The North Rim is a spectacular place to see the Grand Canyon, and we look forward to working with the new concessioner to provide visitors with a great experience.”
The selection of Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C. for this contract was made through a competitive process. The park received a total of seven proposals, including a proposal from the current concessioner, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. Xanterra at the South Rim, L.L.C. (a subsidiary company of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc.) continues to hold the contract for providing hospitality services on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Martin noted, “We look forward to continuing to work with Xanterra as they provide high-quality services under their continuing concessions contract on the South Rim.”
In addition to Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C. and Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc., ARAMARK Sports & Entertainment Services, Inc., Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Inc., Guest Services, Inc., National Park Hospitality Company (associated with Vail Resorts, Inc.) and Mr. Darrell Hafen also submitted proposals for the business opportunity on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A team of experts analyzed the proposals based on criteria specified in the Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998. Those criteria include protecting and conserving park resources, providing necessary and appropriate facilities and services to the public at reasonable rates, the experience of the concessioner, the financial capability of the concessioner and proposed franchise fee.
The National Park Service expects Grand Canyon North Rim, L.L.C. to begin operations with the summer season of 2008. Guidelines used to evaluate all seven proposals can be found at http://concessions.nps.gov/policy.cfm.
Editorial Contact:
Maureen Oltrogge
Phone: 928-638-7779
