New Concession Operator at Acadia National Park

[llholmes1948]

It appears that the long time Concession operator, Acadia Corporation, is out and Ortega is in at Acadia National Park:

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/09/25/o ... ncessions/

My daughter worked for Acadia Corporation at the Jordan Pond House restaurant for one full summer and part of two others.

Lyman

[pitamakan]

The Park Service's current bidding procedures are clearly designed to benefit large conglomerates ... something that I think is really terribly unfortunate. Every time something like this happens, a park loses a little bit of its unique character.

[llholmes1948]

The Park Service's current bidding procedures are clearly designed to benefit large conglomerates ... something that I think is really terribly unfortunate. Every time something like this happens, a park loses a little bit of its unique character.

The Acadia Corporation manages one popular and historic restaurant in the Park:

http://thejordanpondhouse.com/

as well as some gift shops in the Park and they seem to do an excellant job. But doing an excellant job doesn't seem to cut it anymore.

Like GPI, Acadia Corporation runs some services outside the Park and I guess those will continue.

Lyman

[pitamakan]

But doing an excellant job doesn't seem to cut it anymore.

Like GPI, Acadia Corporation runs some services outside the Park and I guess those will continue.

Lyman

Nope.

If I were running Glacier's boat, horse, or chalet concessions, I'd be very nervous the next time my contract came up for renewal. If Xanterra decides it wants those businesses, they'll probably be able to take them.

Mark

[llholmes1948]

Follow up article from Bangor Daily News indicating that local congress members have asked the Park Service for a review of this process:

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/11/07/p ... committee/

[Selkie]

Thanks for the follow-up, Lyman.
It seems terrible when local firms that have worked with local people and parks lose out on a dollar basis (I assume cost and return were among the most heavily weighted factors in the contract decision, though probably that's not easily available information). I am glad to see Maine's elected representatives raising their voices.

[pitamakan]

Thanks, Lyman. Let us know if you hear any further updates on this.

I think it's very evident that there are some significant structural errors in the NPS bidding process, that will hopefully come to light at some point along the way. Even though it won't change things out here, I'm glad that the folks in Maine are trying to bring some attention to the problem.

[llholmes1948]

The Acadia concession issue is now in federal court. It will be interesting to see what happens:

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/02/03/n ... dia-sites/

[Selkie]

Thanks for the update.

[llholmes1948]

Here is the latest news on the Federal Court appeal. It doesn't look good for the long-time operator:

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/03/17/b ... -contract/

[Selkie]

Thanks for the update. The importance lies in fighting back, drawing attention to how the NPS awards contracts, with, perhaps, some possibility of having the concession award process handled differently in the future.
Makes me sad, though.

[llholmes1948]

Former Concession operator will run the Asticou Inn located outside of the Park:

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/01/06/b ... nn-on-mdi/

[Selkie]

Thanks for this info.

The link on Yosemite shenanigans was very useful. I can see a concessionaire having exclusive usufruct of names while holding the contract, but to go and trademark them, then require successor concessionaires to pay the intellectual property rights, strikes me as astoundingly wrong. I also suspect it boosts income to the NPS, which apparently is all that counts.

[PeteE]

Thanks for this info.

The link on Yosemite shenanigans was very useful. I can see a concessionaire having exclusive usufruct of names while holding the contract, but to go and trademark them, then require successor concessionaires to pay the intellectual property rights, strikes me as astoundingly wrong. I also suspect it boosts income to the NPS, which apparently is all that counts.

My be astoundingly wrong in your opinion, but it appears to be legal--at least so far...if I read this article right:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Co ... 74931.html
However, it's like everything these days. It takes teams of lawyers and months/years of court time to settle anything.
We'll see. This might get settled in my lifetime

I'm guess I'm confused.
How does it "boost income" to the NPS, specifically to Yosemite?
Yosemite will have to pay $51 million to Delaware North if it loses the contract but prevails in its trademark application(s).

pete