Coral Hospitality will take over 5 Georgia State Parks
Clicky I hope this is not a sign of things to come.
Forum Discussion
As a supporter and "friend of" GA state parks, I did some research on the "takeover", this is all I could find.
State Announces Management Change for Two Park Lodges
ATLANTA, GA. September 26, 2012
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Today the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced plans for management changes at two north Georgia state park facilities. The lodges and cottages at Amicalola Falls and Unicoi state parks will soon be operated by a hotel management comp
any, allowing the state to improve both the financial performance and guest experience. Through a third party operator agreement, Coral Hospitality will assume operation of the lodge guest rooms, conference facilities, restaurants and cottages at Unicoi State Park
on November 1 and at Amicalola Falls State Park on December 1. Other park facilities, including campgrounds, will remain under DNR management. Unicoi is located near Helen and Amicalola Falls is located near Dawsonville. Earlier this year, the DNR announced plans to close Unicoi State Park’s lodge during 2013 for renovations. However, further exploration of renovation plans revealed that the
costs, coupled with revenues lost during the closing, exceeded available funds for the project. Instead, Coral Hospitality will upgrade Unicoi’s and Amicalola Falls’ guestrooms , while keeping the lodges open, with more major renovations of the conference facilities, restaurants and cottages scheduled during the next two fiscal years. The DNR was able to engage Coral Hospitality through an existing agreement with the North Georgia Mountains Authority (NGMA). The NGMA is affiliated with the DNR and was the state authority responsible for originally developing Unicoi’s lodge. The NGMA also manages the state-owned Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris and the Lake Blackshear Retreat and Golf Club at Georgia Veterans State Park, which have been operated by Coral Hospitality since 2005.Coral is a full-service hospitality management company specializing in resorts, hotels,clubs and residential communities. Coral’s expertise well equips it to operate the state park lodges while enabling the DNR to focus more on its core mission of protecting the parks’ natural resources and providing outdoor recreation to Georgia’s citizens.
“Both Amicalola Falls and Unicoi state parks are natural treasures for Georgia, and we are committed to preserving them for future generations,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Williams. “We are pleased to be partnering with the NGMA and Coral Hospitality to achieve improved efficiencies and customer service at these state park lodges. We
are confident that visitors will have an exceptional experience when they stay overnight and attend business functions."
As I said earlier, Coral manages the lodges, restaurants, and special "hospitality" industry parts on several of our parks. DNR still runs the camping/outdoor activities/and actual parks. I think this may be a better way for things to work.
State Announces Management Change for Two Park Lodges
ATLANTA, GA. September 26, 2012
--
Today the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced plans for management changes at two north Georgia state park facilities. The lodges and cottages at Amicalola Falls and Unicoi state parks will soon be operated by a hotel management comp
any, allowing the state to improve both the financial performance and guest experience. Through a third party operator agreement, Coral Hospitality will assume operation of the lodge guest rooms, conference facilities, restaurants and cottages at Unicoi State Park
on November 1 and at Amicalola Falls State Park on December 1. Other park facilities, including campgrounds, will remain under DNR management. Unicoi is located near Helen and Amicalola Falls is located near Dawsonville. Earlier this year, the DNR announced plans to close Unicoi State Park’s lodge during 2013 for renovations. However, further exploration of renovation plans revealed that the
costs, coupled with revenues lost during the closing, exceeded available funds for the project. Instead, Coral Hospitality will upgrade Unicoi’s and Amicalola Falls’ guestrooms , while keeping the lodges open, with more major renovations of the conference facilities, restaurants and cottages scheduled during the next two fiscal years. The DNR was able to engage Coral Hospitality through an existing agreement with the North Georgia Mountains Authority (NGMA). The NGMA is affiliated with the DNR and was the state authority responsible for originally developing Unicoi’s lodge. The NGMA also manages the state-owned Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris and the Lake Blackshear Retreat and Golf Club at Georgia Veterans State Park, which have been operated by Coral Hospitality since 2005.Coral is a full-service hospitality management company specializing in resorts, hotels,clubs and residential communities. Coral’s expertise well equips it to operate the state park lodges while enabling the DNR to focus more on its core mission of protecting the parks’ natural resources and providing outdoor recreation to Georgia’s citizens.
“Both Amicalola Falls and Unicoi state parks are natural treasures for Georgia, and we are committed to preserving them for future generations,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Williams. “We are pleased to be partnering with the NGMA and Coral Hospitality to achieve improved efficiencies and customer service at these state park lodges. We
are confident that visitors will have an exceptional experience when they stay overnight and attend business functions."
As I said earlier, Coral manages the lodges, restaurants, and special "hospitality" industry parts on several of our parks. DNR still runs the camping/outdoor activities/and actual parks. I think this may be a better way for things to work.
