The National Park Service today announced the selection of an Aramark subsidiary, Yosemite Hospitality, LLC, as the primary concessionaire for Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Hospitality will provide retail, overnight accommodations, fuel sales, bike and raft rentals, and food and beverage to park visitors for the next fifteen years.

It is the single largest concession contract in the national park system, and will take effect on March 1, 2016. Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher said, “We’re very excited about bringing on Aramark to operate our primary concessions. Aramark brings tremendous resources to the table and has extensive experience in operating concessions at many other national parks. We believe they’ll be a great partner with us at Yosemite as we work to implement the vision of the Merced River Plan.”

 Aramark employs more than 270,000 employees in 21 countries and currently holds eight other NPS contracts with gross revenues of over $110 million in 2013. Other concession contracts include Mesa Verde, Olympic, Denali, Glacier Bay National Parks, as well as Lake Mead and Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas.

In Yosemite Aramark will continue to operate the free shuttle system for visitors, to further reduce vehicle traffic. Other improvements will include water conservation, the reduction of fuel and electricity usage, and enhanced food and beverage operations.

Aramark will work closely with the existing concessionaire, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (DNC), during the transition.  DNC has operated the concessions since 1993, and in 2014 grossed over $146 million. DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. has operated under the existing contract since 1993, grossing over $146 million in 2014. During their tenure they operated two of Anwahnee and Wawona Hotels, two of the park's National Historic Landmarks. Neubacher stated, “Throughout its tenure as the park’s primary concessioner, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. provided quality services and unforgettable experiences to millions of visitors. We appreciate all of their work.”