Alaska Press Kit 2012

ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Alaska Press Kit

2012 1

A L A S K A

A L A S K A

A L A S K A

Press Kit 2012

Table of Contents

Welcome 3

Alaska Operations At a Glance 4

About ARAMARK Parks and Destinations 5

Media Resources 6

Denali National Park Introduction 7

Lodging 8

Tours 10

Activities 12

Camping 13

Glacier Bay National Park Introduction 14

Lodging 15

Tour 16

Activities and Park Information 17

Story Ideas 18

2 ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Alaska Press Kit 2012

Welcome

Thank you for attending the Alaska Media Road Show and for your interest in Denali Park Resorts and Glacier Bay Lodge and Tours. Alaska is a marvelous, vast and untamed land that has called out to explorers for centuries. One of the state’s early explorers, John Muir, said it well when he stated: “To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.” Today, nature lovers, adventure seekers and dreamers make the pilgrimage to Alaska for an experience seldom found elsewhere on earth.

We invite you to explore Alaska, if you have not yet already, or to join us again if you have already discovered the beauty and amazement of the last frontier. In this press kit you will find information for two very different Alaskan destinations: Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

Denali National Park is deep in the heart of the Alaskan Bush between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It is an untouched wilderness home to grizzly bears, moose, dall sheep and caribou as well as Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. The park is accessible by the lone Park Road, which winds 92 miles into the park to its terminus at the turn-of-the-century mining district of Kantisna.

Outside of Juneau in Alaska’s Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park is a hidden refuge for sea life such as orca and humpback whales and the endangered Steller sea lions as well as birds and land mammals. Covering a recently-glaciated bay and surrounded by mountains, the park is only accessible by plane and boat, making it a truly wild destination.

Please read on to learn more about our lodging, activity and dining options in and just outside of these memorable destinations. We hope to see you soon.

Carol Fraser Director of Sales and Marketing ARAMARK Alaska Region


Alaska Operations at a Glance Annual Visitors Served

Denali (DNP) Operations 400,000+ Glacier Bay (GBNP) Operations 80,000+

Alaska-Based Employees Full-time/year-round 70 Seasonal/summer 1,000

Lodging Operations McKinley Chalet Resort, outside DNP McKinley Village Lodge, outside DNP Glacier Bay Lodge, inside GBNP

Tours Denali Natural History Tour: DNP Tundra Wilderness Tour: DNP Kantishna Experience: DNP Glacier Bay Day Tour: GBNP

Activities White water rafting, outside DNP Hiking, inside/outside DNP Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, outside DNP

Pounds of Recyclables Per Season Paper 16,613 Cardboard 137,544 Aluminum 3,123 Plastic 818 Tin 4,551

Gallons of Water Saved 1.2 million gallons


About Aramark Parks and Destinations ARAMARK Parks and Destinations provides lodging, dining and activity options in some of the United States most beautiful and treasured places including national and state parks and national forests. ARAMARK Parks and Destinations seeks to create memorable experiences at destinations by bringing the best in environmental stewardship, sustainable cuisine and interpretive programs to the guests it serves. For more information on ARAMARK Parks and Destinations and its properties visit www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com.

A division of ARAMARK, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations manages Denali Park Resorts and Glacier Bay Lodge and Tours in the state of Alaska and is an authorized concessioner at Denali and Glacier Bay National Parks. Outside of Alaska, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations operates lodges, resorts, restaurants and activities at:

•  Asilomar Conference Grounds, California •  Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation

Area, Arizona/Utah •  Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada •  Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado •  Olympic National Park, Washington •  Togwotee, Wyoming •  Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Green Thread® At ARAMARK, we have a deep respect for and commitment to protecting and improving the environment. We work to reduce our environmental footprint while developing exceptional operational results. We also offer expertise and practical solutions to our clients to help them reduce their environmental impacts. Throughout our company, we develop and implement long-term environmental stewardship programs and policies within the areas of food purchasing; supply chain; building operations; energy and water conservation and waste management.


Media Resources

Online Press Room: You can access the online press rooms at the following links:

Denali National Park Glacier Bay National Park

High resolution photos can be downloaded by using the log in: media password: aramarkmedia

For up-to-the-minute updates, like us on FaceBook: Denali Parks Resorts Glacier Bay Lodge and Tours

Media Contact Information: Lauren Pearce Account Executive RIESTER 802 N. 3rd Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85003 (602) 462-2262 [email protected]


Denali National Park and Preserve Denali National Park and Preserve spans more than six million acres and includes Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet above sea level. The park is located along Alaska Highway 3 (George Parks Highway) about 240 miles north of Anchorage and 120 miles south of Fairbanks. It is accessible by road and the Alaska Railroad.

President Woodrow Wilson established Mt. McKinley National Park as a wilderness refuge in 1917. The park was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve and expanded by an additional four million acres in 1980.

The park includes three ecosystems: tundra, taiga and alpine and is home to some of Alaska’s most well known animals: grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves and dall sheep. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not established to protect Mt. McKinley, but rather to save the beautiful white dall sheep from poachers. Seemingly untouched by man, Denali astonishes visitors with its natural beauty, size and abundance of wildlife.

Unlike some parks with extensive road and trails networks, Denali National Park has been left widely undisturbed. The sole Park Road stretches 92-miles into the park. And most hiking is done off trail. Popular activities at Denali include: guided tours of the park, hiking, river rafting, mountaineering and backcountry camping. Because the park is located about 300 miles south of the Arctic Circle, there are nearly 21 hours of sunlight during the summer solstice, allowing visitors to explore late into the evening.

Denali’s main season runs from mid May to mid September, however, the park is open year-round.

7 ARAMARK Parks and Destinations

Alaska Press Kit 2012

Set along the Nenana River just outside the Park entrance, the prestigious McKinley Chalet Resort is a hub for Denali activities. Featuring 345 standard rooms and two-room mini suites in cedar lodges, the McKinley Chalet Resort serves as the embarking point for the park’s white water rafting trips, shuttles into the park, and the Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater.

Lodging: •  55 double queen rooms •  290 two-room mini suites

Dining: •  Nenana View Grille: fine dining with magnificent river

views. Open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. •  Nenana View Bar: a gathering place for drinks and

small meals. Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. •  Courtyard Café: buffet to fit any palette. Open from

4:30 a.m.-9 p.m. •  Grizzly Grind: coffee, grab and go meals, sandwiches

and salads. Open from: 4:30 a.m.-7 p.m. •  Courtyard Outpost: coffee, pastries, ice cream and

paninis. Open from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. weather permitting.

2012 dates of operations: May 14-Sept. 19

Rates: $159 - $299

Contact: Mile 238.5 George Parks Highway Denali National Park, AK 99755 (800) 276-7234 [email protected]

Denali National Park and Preserve McKinley Chalet Resort



The McKinley Village Lodge is situated on the banks of the Nenana River eight miles south of the park entrance in a peaceful and secluded valley. The lodge features 188 updated guest rooms, Wi-Fi and shuttle services to the park and other activities.

Lodging: •  140 standard rooms •  48 river view rooms

Dining: •  Gold Rush Dining Room: the heart of the lodge with uniquely Alaskan offerings.

Open from 5 a.m.-10:30 pm, closed from 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. •  Lucky Miss Saloon: fireside Alaskan-style saloon in the main lodge with a rustic patio on

the banks of the Nenana. Open from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. •  Quigley’s Coffee Corner: gather in the lodge common area for a latte, hand-dipped ice creams

and a wide variety of grab and go items. Open from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. •  The Chubby Salmon Bar: rustic Alaskan feel meets warm hospitality at the Chubby Salmon

with a covered patio and comfortable interior. Open from: 4 p.m.-12 a.m.

2012 dates of operation: May 21-Sept. 11

201 rates: $154-$299

Denali National Park and Preserve McKinley Village Lodge



Denali National Park and Preserve Tours No trip to Denali National Park is complete without venturing into the heart of the park. Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Ventures offers three guided tours that take visitors to varying distances within the park for wildlife viewing, educational narration, and to drink in the impressive panoramas the park affords. Due to private vehicle restrictions, guided tours and the park shuttle are the only way for guests to venture past mile marker 15 on the Park Road.



Denali National Park and Preserve

Tours Tundra Wilderness Tour The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the most popular tour within the park. It takes guests 53 miles into the interior of Denali National Park to an overlook that provides breathtaking views of Mt. McKinley, on a clear day. The driver-guide interprets the flora, fauna, geography and history of the park as guests enjoy the incredible scenery and some of the best opportunities to spot wildlife. Drop-down screens provide up close footage of animals spotted on the tour and a DVD of sightings is available for purchase.

•  Length: 6-8 hours, departs multiple times throughout the day •  2012 dates of operation:

Tundra Wilderness Tour: May 20-Sept. 13 Shortened Teklanika Tundra Wilderness Tour: May 15-19 and Sept 14-24

•  Price: $149 Adults $74.50 Children 14 and under

Katishna Experience This 12-hour journey takes guests to the historic mining district of Kantishna, known as “The End of the Road” and the heart of Denali National Park. Enjoy postcard-worthy vistas and countless wildlife viewing opportunities on this tour that is jointly narrated by the driver-guide and a National Park Ranger that joins the tour at Wonder Lake. The tour includes lunch and a stop at the historic cabin of Fannie Quigley.

•  Length: 12 hours •  2012 dates of operation: June 9-Sept. 13 •  Pick up from hotels: 7-7:30 a.m. •  Return: between 7-7:30 p.m. •  Price: $199 Adults $94.50 Children 14 and under

Denali Natural History Tour The shortest and most affordable guided tour within the park, this tour focuses on the rich cultural history of Denali National Park. Guests learn about the native tribes and more recent human history of the park, as well as the landscape and geology.

This tour does not provide viewing opportunities of Mt. McKinley.

•  Length: 5 hours •  2012 dates of operation: May 13-Sept. 24 •  Price: $93 Adults $46.50 Children 14 and under




Activities




Camping For guests looking to go into the wild on their Alaskan vacation, Denali National Park offers a number of RV and campgrounds to chose from. Visitors may camp for a maximum of fourteen nights per season, permits are required for backcountry camping.

McKinley RV and Campground Located just 11 miles north of the gateway to Denali National Park and Preserve, the campground has 89 sites with RV hookups as well as basic camping and tent sites. Electricity, water, sewer and other amenities are included.

Riley Creek Campground Riley Creek is open all year and provides 146 RV and tent sites near the park entrance. Facilities include flush toilets, pay phones, showers and laundry facilities.

Savage River Campground Open mid May through mid September, Savage River has 33 sites for RVs and tents available to campers. Located at mile 13, there are flush toilets and campground hosts on site.

Sanctuary River Campground This site offers seven tent sites at mile 23. Open, weather permitting, from mid May through mid September, Sanctuary River can be reached only by shuttle bus.

Wonder Lake Campground This tent-only site has 28 plots and is accessible only by camper bus. Open from June to mid September, facilities include water and flush toilets. No fires are permitted.

Teklanika River Campground Teklanika is currently open only to hard-sided campers due to wildlife activity. It is located at mile 29 and provides 53 sites with flush toilets and water. Open from late May through mid September, weather permitting, there is a three night minimum stay for vehicle campers.

Igloo Creek Campground Currently closed due to wildlife activity, Igloo Creek is accessible only by shuttle bus and is located near mile 34 of the Park Road. There are seven tent sites with chemical toilets.

Reservations for camping can be made at: www.reservedenali.com.



Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is located near Gustavus, 60 miles west of Juneau, Alaska, and stretches northward from the state’s Inside Passage to the Alsek River, encompassing 3.3 million acres. Marine waters make up nearly one-fifth of the park, and no point of land is more than 30 miles from the coast. The patchwork of evolving ecosystems in Glacier Bay includes snow-capped mountain ranges rising to over 15,000 feet, coastal beaches with protected coves, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, coastal and estuarine waters and freshwater lakes.

A remote destination, much removed from the modern world, Glacier Bay provides opportunities to observe the ebb and flow of majestic glaciers – a chance to study life as it returns in the wake of retreating ice. Glacier Bay is also a watery paradise for outdoor adventure-seekers, offering everything from whale watching, kayaking and backcountry exploring to flight-seeing tours, fishing and river rafting.

Open year round, the park’s main visitor season runs from late May to mid September, when the only in-park accommodations, the Glacier Bay Lodge, and the day boat cruises are in operation. The Glacier Bay Lodge 2012 dates of operation are from May 25-Sept. 5

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve


Glacier Bay Lodge is the only commercial overnight accommodation located within Glacier Bay National Park. The cozy, rustic 56-room lodge is nestled among Sitka spruce on the shores of Bartlett Cove. The lobby features a wood-burning fireplace, giant wood beams and cathedral ceilings, with guest rooms separate from the main lodge and accessible by boardwalks. Rooms are available with single, twin and double beds and feature: private bath and or shower, alarm clock and telephone. Two rooms are handicap-accessible.

The lodge is home to the Glacier Bay National Park Ranger Station, as well as a gift shop, baggage storage for campers and the Fairweather Dining Room, the only full-service restaurant in the park.

With sweeping views of Bartlett Cove, Fairweather Dining Room patrons can watch the park’s resident humpback whales play while enjoying traditional Alaskan cuisine such as halibut and salmon. The dining room’s hours of operations are:

Breakfast: 6 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: 5:30 p.m.–10 p.m. Deck: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Getting there: To access the park, guests should fly into the nearby town of Gustavus. From there, the lodge provides a free-of-charge shuttle from the airport to the park. Ask for details when making reservations.

2012 dates of operation: May 25–Sept. 5 2012 rates: prices range from $159 for a forest view room to $199 for an ocean view room

Contact: (888) 229-8687 [email protected]


Glacier Bay Lodge


The park’s only day boat tour takes passengers to see magnificent tidewater glaciers, ancient snow capped mountains, whales, Stellar sea lions, rare birds, bears, and more. Passengers are taken to the face of the Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers, two of 16 tidewater glaciers found in the national park. The eight-hour tour is fully narrated by a National Park Service interpreter.

The Baranof Wind will give guests an intimate view of marine and coastal wildlife along side massive glaciers and towering mountains. The boat operates daily during the season from the dock at Glacier Bay Lodge on Bartlett Cove. Passengers board at 7 a.m., depart at 7:30 a.m. and return at about 3:30 p.m. daily. Camper and kayak drop-off service is also available for backcountry explorers.

Lunch, beverage and a souvenir mug are included. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

•  2012 dates of service: May 25–Sept. 5 •  Rates: $189 adult

$94.50 children 3-12 years old


Glacier Bay Tour


Kayaking As a world-class kayaking destination, Glacier Bay offers a variety of kayaking options, from guided day trips within Bartlett Cove to multi-day backcountry excursions. Kayak rentals are available at Glacier Bay Lodge.

Hiking There are four hiking trails in Bartlett Cove near Glacier Bay Lodge, all fairly easy to moderate walking. There are no other established trails in the park, and most backcountry travel is by kayak. Visitors should be aware that they are hiking in bear and moose country.

Camping A free walk-in campground (14-day limit) with bear-resistant food caches, firewood (when available) and a warming hut is located in Bartlett Cove. No reservations are needed, but a permit is required. Required permits for backcountry campers and overnight kayakers can also be obtained from the visitor information station.

Glacier Bay National Park Visitor Center The NPS information desk and a variety of exhibits that explore the wonders of Glacier Bay are located on the second floor of the Glacier Bay Lodge. A Park Ranger is available at the information desk daily from 12 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Visitor Information Station Campers and boaters must go to the visitor information station, located at the Bartlett Cove dock, to obtain camping and boating permits from park rangers. Orientations, provided with the permit, are required annually for all campers and skippers. Backcountry campers can also check out bear-resistant food containers to use free of charge during their visit.

Backcountry Transportation The Glacier Bay Lodge and Tours boat offers drop-off and pick-up services for backcountry campers and kayakers at various designated locations in the bay. It is possible to get dropped off at one site and paddle to another for pickup at a later date.


Activities and Park Information


Story Ideas Denali National Park:

•  Experience Alaskan gold rush history: Kantishna Experience and Cabin Nite Dinner Theater make learning about Alaska fun

•  Bucket list travel: why so many people visit Alaska/Denali

•  Busting Alaska travel myths: putting common misconceptions to bed

•  Adventurous Alaskan vacations: Alaska is the perfect destination for adventure seekers

Glacier Bay Lodge:

•  Global warming vacations: destinations worth visiting before they melt away

•  Amazing isolated destinations: lodges that are worth the trek

•  Kayaking in Glacier Bay National Park

Contact Lauren Pearce for additional information on these, and other story ideas and for press trip facilitation.


Alaska Press Kit 2012

Documents

Transcript of Alaska Press Kit 2012