Tag Archives: guest services

National Park Service Selects New Operator for Everglades National Park

New contract will expand and improve visitor services including a new restaurant and lodging at Flamingo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 2, 2017 
General Park Information:  305-242-7700
Media Queries: Denese Canedo, Denese_Canedo@nps.gov, 786-481-7592

HOMESTEAD, Fla – Get ready for new ways to experience Everglades National Park! On May 30, 2017, the National Park Service selected Everglades Guest Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guest Services, Inc. (Guest Services), to provide visitor services in the park’s Flamingo district. The contract requires construction of 24 cottages and 20 eco-tents by December 2019, but authorizes a total of 40 cottages and 40 eco-tents. Apart from campsites, this will be the first expanded overnight accommodations in the park since 2005, when the previous lodging complex was removed due to severe damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.

Under the new agreement, Guest Services will manage all visitor services in Long Pine Key and Flamingo, including campgrounds, boat tours of Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay, a new restaurant co-located with the cottages, and retail. The new accommodations will be environmentally friendly, affording a sustainable visitor experience. The 20 year term of the contract will enable the new operator to invest in needed visitor services and make customer service a priority.

Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Pedro Ramos, expressed excitement about the new contract: “Guest Services has a long history of serving our national parks and the millions of visitors that come out to visit them. We are thrilled that we can now move forward with Guest Services to revitalize Flamingo and offer quality services that will enhance the visitor experience at Everglades National Park.” Ramos also expressed his gratitude to Sammy Hamilton and Everglades National Park Boat Tours for over eight years of providing services to the visitors of the Flamingo area.

Gerry Gabrys, CEO of Guest Services, Inc. similarly shared his enthusiasm by stating, “2017 has been a very special year for our organization as it marks a ‘Century of Service’ since our founding in 1917. When we received this tremendous news from the National Park Service, our Centennial Celebration became even more special. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to steward and enhance visitor services within the Everglades – truly one of America’s most iconic National Parks!”

Flamingo is accessed by water, through Florida Bay, or a 45-minute scenic drive through the park. Visitors will be able to walk out their cottage door, and within minutes have the opportunity to see crocodiles, alligators, manatees, sawfish, sea turtles, dolphin, tarpon and more. Flamingo is also a world-class birding and fishing paradise, with rich history of peoples and industries from the Calusa & Tequesta Indians, Guy Bradley and the Audubon Society, to Henry Flagler and agriculture.

Guest Services was selected under the provisions of the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act. Guidelines used to evaluate proposals can be found online at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices. More information about the company is available at www.guestservices.com.

For more information about Everglades National Park, visit http://www.nps.gov/ever or call (305) 242-7700.

– NPS –

The National Park Service has more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 National Parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

[foogallery id=”2962″]

Food Management Magazine Ranks Guest Services, Inc. as the #1 Company To Watch in 2017

Guest Services experienced a surge in new business across its markets over the past year, highlighted by major contract wins with the National Park Service, Florida State Parks, Missouri State Parks, and a ski and golf resort in the Upper Midwest. Growth was augmented by the acquisition of Boston Outdoor Recreation, a marketer of non-motorized watersports services. The company also increased its market share in the senior living segment via new partnerships in Tennessee, Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

Those successes served to kick off centennial year celebrations throughout 2017 for the firm, which was founded in 1917.

In 2016, Guest Services introduced a series of national brands such as Starbucks, Five Guys, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Red Mango in several of its accounts and added a series of new proprietary concepts. These include Local Roots (allergen-free, locally sourced, organic cuisine), Qi Bao (pho and stir-fry), Wedge (display and made-to-order sandwiches), Borders (self-serve regional and international cuisine), Pigs ‘n Pickles (barbecue), Green Works (tossed-to-order salads), Cracking the Coconut (curries), Olives (pizza, calzones, strombolis and pasta), Tejas (Mexican) and Nature’s Table (salad bar).

In 2017, Guest Services plans to roll out an enhanced nutritional program led by Corporate Nutritionist Judy Caplan, who previously served as founding director of nutrition services at Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa and has also been a media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Guest Services Chefs

Giants Ridge to operate under single management

Eveleth, MN: A contract has been finalized under which Guest Services, Inc., in partnership with Billy Casper Golf, will manage all Giants Ridge operations, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) Commissioner Mark Phillips announced today.

Effective May 1, 2017, Guest Services, Inc. and Billy Casper Golf will oversee all Giants Ridge operations, including golf, ski, rental, retail, concessions, and facilities.

Giants Ridge in Biwabik includes two 18-hole championship golf courses, hiking trails, award winning bike trails, alpine and nordic ski operations, wedding, banquet and conference facilities. More than 100,000 visitors enjoy the many offerings at Giants Ridge each year.

Giants Ridge - Biwabik, MN
Giants Ridge – Biwabik, MN

Existing contracts with multiple vendors for golf, ski, rental, retail, food and beverage, and other operations, expire April 30, 2017.

During the month of April, a transition will occur from the current multi-vendor operational model to the new model. The transition comes following 18 months of studies involving numerous stakeholder groups about ways to make Giants Ridge more efficient and more successful.

IRRRB will continue to own all Giants Ridge physical assets and property.

“Giants Ridge is the crown jewel of the Iron Range. This is an operating model and partnership that provides Giants Ridge with new opportunities to grow and attract more visitors and investment,” said Phillips. “Guest Services has an excellent track record of delivering the top level of customer experience. IRRRB will continue to own and invest in Giants Ridge to ensure it remains a premier destination and a key contributor to the region’s economy.”

For each dollar invested in Giants Ridge, 1.6 dollars goes back to the local economy, creating a more than $43 million multiplier economic impact, according to a 2016 Giants Ridge Economic Impact Analysis performed by THK Associates Inc., of Aurora, Colo. Giants Ridge employs more than 150.

“We are proud to officially launch our new partnership with IRRRB, and we look forward to delivering spectacular visitor services and experiences at Minnesota’s #1 Family Vacation Destination – Giants Ridge,” said Scott Shepherd, Chief Commercial Officer at Guest Services, Inc.  “Our very unique corporate culture and our Recreation Area first operating mentality perfectly situate our firm to commit the most to the iconic properties we’re privileged and honored to steward.  It’s also very important to our firm to provide meaningful local jobs that offer great benefits.”

“Billy Casper Golf was built through golf innovation, superior customer service, and unparalleled industry expertise,” said Mike Cutler, Senior Vice President of Billy Casper Golf. “We look forward to our partnership with Guest Services, Inc., and delivering the ultimate customer experience to Giants Ridge visitors.”

The new www.GiantsRidgeCareers.com website will debut this week to effectively communicate transition updates, list available employment opportunities and details for how to apply.  Representatives from Guest Services, Inc. and Billy Casper Golf will also be on site this week to meet current employees, begin the employment transition process, as well as conduct a career fair for any remaining (available) positions.

 

About Guest Services, Inc.

For over a century, Guest Services, Inc. has earned the reputation as a premier hospitality management company and national and state park concessioner that has taken great care and pride in delivering best-in-class food, lodging, retail and recreation services. The Fairfax, Virginia-based company and its subsidiaries employ over 4,000 valued team members at more than 300 properties, which welcome approximately 35 million guests annually across the United States. Guest Services, Inc. is proud to welcome guests at the award-winning DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Naples, The Lodge at Breckenridge, Mount Rainier National Park, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and, iconic state park lodges such as the Bear Mountain Inn in New York, Big Sur Lodge in California and Echo Bluff State Park Lodge – Missouri’s newest state park in the Ozarks.  To learn more visit www.guestservices.com.

About Billy Casper Golf

Billy Casper Golf is one of the largest privately owned golf course management companies in the U.S., with nearly 150 properties in 29 states.  Headquartered in Reston, Va. – with regional offices across America – BCG has more than 25 years of results-driven expertise.  The company specializes in full-service course management as well as assistance in specific segments of the golf business, including course and property maintenance, staffing and training, career growth, clubhouse operations, food and beverage, merchandising, golf instruction, marketing and public relations, special events and financial management. To learn more visit www.billycaspergolf.com.

IRRRB is a state economic development agency headquartered in northeastern Minnesota whose mission is to promote and invest in business, community and workforce development for the betterment of northeastern Minnesota. To learn more about the agency and its services, visit http://mn.gov/irrrb/. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/IRRRB.

For more information, please contact:
Sheryl Kochevar
Communications Coordinator, IRRRB
218-735-3021
Sheryl.Kochevar@state.mn.us

Contact Information for Guest Services:
Liz Gerber Morris, Director of Sales & Marketing
239-593-3339
morrisL@guestservices.com