Yavapai Lodge Restaurant in Grand Canyon National Park Reopens Following Renovations

BUFFALO, N.Y., July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Following an extensive six-month renovation, Delaware North, one of the largest privately held global hospitality and food service companies in the world, is pleased to announce the reopening of the Yavapai Lodge Restaurant, inside Yavapai Lodge, the largest lodging complex on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

The remodeling of the Yavapai Lodge Restaurant returns the property's interiors back to a mid-century design replete with contemporary upgrades, including a state-of-the-art kiosk ordering system, modern kitchen equipment, remodeled air conditioning system and new Energy Star equipment, which helps reduce the use of electricity and critical fuels.

Other renovations include several enhanced and newly added food and beverage venues in the main lodge building as well as a new front desk to expedite check-in/check-out, a new activity desk, a revamped retail store and ample seating for guests to enjoy the fireplace and complimentary WiFi.

"Since Delaware North took over operations at Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village RV Park in January 2015, we've wasted no time making improvements to enhance the total guest experience," said John Kenny, Delaware North's general manager at the Grand Canyon. "As a company, we take great pride in the fact that we operate lodging in some of the most spectacular locations in the country. These renovations demonstrate our continued commitment in creating accommodations that elevate the guest experience."

Guests of Yavapai Lodge now have more options when choosing where to dine during their stay, including:

• The Yavapai Lodge Restaurant has been reconcepted and has enhanced its menu offerings. The venue is now a fast casual restaurant with a southwestern BBQ-theme for everything, from the cuisine to the dinnerware. The menu features classic BBQ dishes, including brisket smoked in-house and rotisserie chicken, as well as salads, hamburgers and sandwiches, which will be available for lunch. Pizza is also available.
• Yavapai Tavern was relocated and transformed into a full-service bar, featuring cocktails with locally-sourced ingredients, as well as beers and wines from the region. A bar menu with pizza and small bites is also offered.
• Yavapai Coffee Shop is a newly added offering, featuring hot and cold coffees as well as two Grab-N-Go kiosks with healthy beverage options, including teas, juices and water.

Peter Grove Collaborative Design Studio, a general contractor from Reno, Nevada, was the architect for and designed the renovated Yavapai Lodge Restaurant.

The relocation of the front desk lobby was a significant renovation. The new lobby is set at the side of the lodge, where the retail store previously stood, and now allows associates to immediately greet guests and assist with their needs. Like the rest of the redesign, this bright lobby also reflects mid-century style and features a comfortable sitting area and open passage into the retail shop, restaurant and coffee shop. The newly remodeled retail space incorporates design elements of the Grand Canyon into its interiors, including a rock façade cascading down one of the shop's walls.

Delaware North has long enjoyed a strong presence in the Arizona market, already operating The Grand Canyon Village Marketplace and Desert View Market in Grand Canyon National Park, both of which offer retail, grocery and food service for visitors, in addition to the Tusayan General Store located one mile outside the park.

This renovation is part of a larger initiative by Delaware North to provide guests with lodging experiences that exceed expectations and enhance their visit. The company recently has invested more than $23 million in renovations to 17 of its lodging properties across North America, including Yosemite Lodge at the Falls in Yosemite National Park. The investment began in 2014 and will continue through the end of the 2016, resulting in a total renovation spend of nearly $32 million.

In addition to Grand Canyon National Park, Delaware North, through its subsidiaries, operates various concession services in Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Shenandoah and Olympic national parks.

About Delaware North's parks and resorts business

Delaware North Parks and Resorts is a global leader in the hospitality industry, operating lodging, food and beverage and retail services, recreational activities, and educational programming at destinations throughout North America and Australia. Delaware North operates in many of the United States' iconic national and state parks, including Yosemite National Park and Niagara Falls State Park, as well as at cultural attractions such as Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Its portfolio also includes five luxury resorts in Australia. To learn more about Delaware North's hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.

About Delaware North

Delaware North is one of the largest privately held hospitality and food service companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 60,000 employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a time in serving more than a half-billion guests annually. Delaware North operates in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurant and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries and has annual revenue of approximately $3 billion. "Delaware North" is a reference to Delaware North Companies Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including location-specific operating entities. Learn more about Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and food service, at www.DelawareNorth.com.

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SOURCE Delaware North

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