|
|
Resorts to Continue as Yellowstone Concessionaire For Another 5 Years |
.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, May 16, 2005 - Xanterra Parks & Resorts
has been awarded the contract to operate the lodging, restaurants, gift
shops and activities in Yellowstone National Park for another five years.
The contract renewal was announced by the National Park Service (NPS) and
is effective November 1, 2005.
Xanterra has operated the park's nine lodging facilities and their restaurants and retail shops as well as a variety of activities since late 1995 when it purchased TW Recreational Services. TW was awarded the concession contract in 1979. "We are gratified the National Park Service has selected us to continue to offer services to the people who come from all over the world to visit one of the most fascinating and beautiful places on Earth," said Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Xanterra was one of two concessioners competing for the NPS contract. The contract award was made based on selection criteria that placed heavy emphasis on facilities maintenance and environmental performance. The world's first national park, Yellowstone is home to several historic hotels and lodges such as the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Roosevelt Lodge that were at the forefront of trends in lodging architecture, especially in national parks throughout the American West. Among the most obvious changes that will occur as part of the new contract will be the restoration of eight White Motor Company model 706 touring vehicles that transported visitors in the park for some 20 years starting in 1936. The 14-passenger touring cars were sold and disbursed across the country until the Skagway (Alaska) Streetcar Company purchased them for its fleet. The owner of the Skagway Streetcar Company felt the vehicles belonged back in Yellowstone, and the vehicles returned to the park in 2001. After they are restored, the vehicles will be used for a variety of guest tours in the park. Another key to receiving the contract was Xanterra's commitment to environmental programs. The company's award-winning Ecologix environmental management system (EMS) has resulted in numerous initiatives affecting all areas of Xanterra's operations. In 2004 the company became the first in the country to build employee houses certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The Council provides guidelines for green buildings and recognizes buildings with different levels of LEED certification based on a point system. The buildings are located in Gardiner, Mont. In addition, Xanterra's Yellowstone operations received ISO 14001 certification. ISO 14001 is an international environmental management system standard published in 1996 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The goal of ISO 14001 is to support and recognize environmental protection and pollution prevention through the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives in a rigorous management framework. While currently widespread in Europe and Japan, the certification is relatively new in the U.S. Xanterra was one of the first hospitality companies in the U.S. to achieve this certification. More information can be obtained and reservations at Yellowstone made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or visiting the site www.TravelYellowstone.com. For more information about Xanterra Parks & Resorts, visit www.xanterra.com. Xanterra Parks & Resorts (consisting of Xanterra Parks & Resorts,
Inc. and Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C.) operates lodges, restaurants
and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra
Parks & Resorts is the country's largest national park concessioner.
Xanterra operates concessions in the following locations: Yellowstone,
the North Rim of Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley,
Petrified Forest and Everglades national parks, and Mount Rushmore National
Memorial; and at the Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.;
Long committed to the preservation and protection of the environment, Ecologix, Xanterra Parks & Resorts' environmental program, includes a variety of proactive environmental stewardship programs in each location. Xanterra has been repeatedly recognized for its environmental leadership in the hospitality industry and is the recipient of many honors, including major awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Travel Industry Association, Colorado Department of Public Health, State of Arizona and Utah Department of Environmental Quality. |
Contact:
Xanterra
|