Yellowstone Seeks Concessioner
The National Park Service has released a prospectus soliciting competitive proposals from businesses interested in providing a wide range of visitor services in Yellowstone National Park, currently being provided by Xanterra Parks and Resorts. Those services include lodging, retail sales, restaurants and a variety of other services. Xanterra’s current contract expires at the end of November next year. Park Spokesman Al Nash says the successful bidder will need to have significant resources to be able to manage all the services. Nash says the performance standards the successful bidder will have to meet are quite high and go beyond the operation of the businesses to include restoration and improvements to the properties. One upgrade that is specified will require the concessioner to rehabilitate the historic Haynes Photo Shop building in Mammoth for some practical use – possible relocating office space out of valuable guest space in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. The concessioner is also required to pay either a 4.3% franchise fee or 6.8% of its proceeds to the park. Bids for the contract must be submitted to the National Park Service Regional office in Colorado by the end of the day, October 15th.
