Author Archives: Kat Summers

Top 5 Things to Do in DC over the 4th of July Weekend

Lounging on a bed of beautifully manicured grass, family and friend’s enjoy celebratory beverages under a sky lit by the patriotic explosions of fireworks. Unfortunately, your view is through a television screen and you’re lying on the couch. Don’t be that person this year! Free yourself of this boring fate on 2017’s Independence Day weekend with one of these five festivities!

What: Boating on the Potomac with Boating in DC
Where: Key Bridge Boathouse, National Harbor, Thompson’s Boat Center, Washington Sailing Marina
When: Friday, June 30th – Tuesday, July 4th

Key Bridge Boathouse: Friday, Monday, & Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The “4th of July Fireworks Paddle” has limited boats left. Reserve now!

National Harbor: Friday, Monday, & Tuesday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thompson’s Boat Center: Friday–Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Washington Sailing Marina: Monday & Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bring your friends and family out to sail, kayak, paddle board, or even bike your way around some of the most legendary locations in the country.

What: Burgers, beers and shakes with DC skyline views at Triple Craft
Where: Triple Craft, 1 Marina Drive, Alexandria, VA
When: Friday, June 30th – Tuesday, July 4th 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Triple Craft has an “over-the-top” menu of burgers, beer, and milkshakes that will have you drooling. The only thing that is more impressive than a Triple Craft meal is the unforgettable view provided by the Potomac River and the Washington D.C. skyline. This year’s 4th of July event includes delicious beers from the Honor Brewing Company, live music, and a special one-time-only menu!

Directions to Triple Craft

What: Jazz in the Garden
Where: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Pavilion Café, 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC
When: Friday, June 30th 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Treat yourself to a refreshing signature sangria from the Pavilion Café, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy the Jazz show! After all, just like Victor Provost who will be performing that week’s show, Jazz was born in America. The Pavilion Café menu includes a variety of drinks, toasted sandwiches, fresh salads, pizzas cooked to perfection, and a number of other menu items like an assortment of wonderful pastries!

Directions to Pavilion Cafe

What: Indulge at the Island Time Bar & Grill
Where: Columbia Island Marina, George Washington Pkwy, Arlington, VA
When: Friday, June 30th – Tuesday, July 4th 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Island Time Bar & Grill menu offers an affordable variety of appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, and a refreshing array of beer and drink options. Spoil yourself this Independence Day with the sights and sounds of the Pentagon Lagoon while washing your exquisite meal down with a cool beverage!

Directions to Island Time Bar & Grill

What: A “Monumental” Swan Boat Ride
Where: Tidal Basin, 1501 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC
When: Friday, June 30th – Tuesday, July 4th 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Under the gaze of Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson, the glimmering Tidal Basin is waiting for you to join the Tidal Basin Pedal Boat crew in floating around some of the most iconic monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C.

Directions to the Tidal Basin

National Park Service Selects New Operator for Everglades National Park

New contract will expand and improve visitor services including a new restaurant and lodging at Flamingo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 2, 2017
General Park Information: 305-242-7700
Media Queries: Denese Canedo, Denese_Canedo@nps.gov, 786-481-7592

HOMESTEAD, Fla – Get ready for new ways to experience Everglades National Park! On May 30, 2017, the National Park Service selected Everglades Guest Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guest Services, Inc. (Guest Services), to provide visitor services in the park’s Flamingo district. The contract requires construction of 24 cottages and 20 eco-tents by December 2019, but authorizes a total of 40 cottages and 40 eco-tents. Apart from campsites, this will be the first expanded overnight accommodations in the park since 2005, when the previous lodging complex was removed due to severe damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.

Under the new agreement, Guest Services will manage all visitor services in Long Pine Key and Flamingo, including campgrounds, boat tours of Florida Bay and Whitewater Bay, a new restaurant co-located with the cottages, and retail. The new accommodations will be environmentally friendly, affording a sustainable visitor experience. The 20 year term of the contract will enable the new operator to invest in needed visitor services and make customer service a priority.

Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Pedro Ramos, expressed excitement about the new contract: “Guest Services has a long history of serving our national parks and the millions of visitors that come out to visit them. We are thrilled that we can now move forward with Guest Services to revitalize Flamingo and offer quality services that will enhance the visitor experience at Everglades National Park.” Ramos also expressed his gratitude to Sammy Hamilton and Everglades National Park Boat Tours for over eight years of providing services to the visitors of the Flamingo area.

Gerry Gabrys, CEO of Guest Services, Inc. similarly shared his enthusiasm by stating, “2017 has been a very special year for our organization as it marks a ‘Century of Service’ since our founding in 1917. When we received this tremendous news from the National Park Service, our Centennial Celebration became even more special. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to steward and enhance visitor services within the Everglades – truly one of America’s most iconic National Parks!”

Flamingo is accessed by water, through Florida Bay, or a 45-minute scenic drive through the park. Visitors will be able to walk out their cottage door, and within minutes have the opportunity to see crocodiles, alligators, manatees, sawfish, sea turtles, dolphin, tarpon and more. Flamingo is also a world-class birding and fishing paradise, with rich history of peoples and industries from the Calusa & Tequesta Indians, Guy Bradley and the Audubon Society, to Henry Flagler and agriculture.

Guest Services was selected under the provisions of the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act. Guidelines used to evaluate proposals can be found online at: http://www.nps.gov/commercialservices. More information about the company is available at www.guestservices.com.

For more information about Everglades National Park, visit http://www.nps.gov/ever or call (305) 242-7700.

– NPS –

The National Park Service has more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 National Parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

[foogallery id=”2962″]

Food Management Magazine Ranks Guest Services, Inc. as the #1 Company To Watch in 2017

Guest Services experienced a surge in new business across its markets over the past year, highlighted by major contract wins with the National Park Service, Florida State Parks, Missouri State Parks, and a ski and golf resort in the Upper Midwest. Growth was augmented by the acquisition of Boston Outdoor Recreation, a marketer of non-motorized watersports services. The company also increased its market share in the senior living segment via new partnerships in Tennessee, Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

Those successes served to kick off centennial year celebrations throughout 2017 for the firm, which was founded in 1917.

In 2016, Guest Services introduced a series of national brands such as Starbucks, Five Guys, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Red Mango in several of its accounts and added a series of new proprietary concepts. These include Local Roots (allergen-free, locally sourced, organic cuisine), Qi Bao (pho and stir-fry), Wedge (display and made-to-order sandwiches), Borders (self-serve regional and international cuisine), Pigs ‘n Pickles (barbecue), Green Works (tossed-to-order salads), Cracking the Coconut (curries), Olives (pizza, calzones, strombolis and pasta), Tejas (Mexican) and Nature’s Table (salad bar).

In 2017, Guest Services plans to roll out an enhanced nutritional program led by Corporate Nutritionist Judy Caplan, who previously served as founding director of nutrition services at Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa and has also been a media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.