John Rebchook is a former Rocky Mountain News reporter with more than 30 years of experience in writing and communications... Denver-based Xanterra Parks & Resorts received the “Top Company” award in the Tourism/Hospitality category from ColoradoBiz Magazine in its 24th annual Top Company Awards in September. Awards were presented in 11 categories.
Xanterra’s extensive environmental programs and accomplishments were cited in the publication’s snapshots of finalists posted earlier this month. The magazine noted that Xanterra has received 71 environmental awards in 11 years, and recently won two top environmental achievement awards from the National Park Service for initiatives at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and at Grand Canyon Railway. ColoradoBiz Magazine also cited Xanterra’s significant charitable programs and its financial contributions to organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, American Red Cross, National Park Conservation Association and National Park Foundation. Xanterra is owned by the Anschutz Corp.
“This award is a reason for celebration company-wide, because all of our employees share a commitment to protecting the environment in tangible ways while also operating at the highest levels of professionalism in their fields,” said Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra. “From the employees at Grand Canyon Railway who devised an innovative system for reusing vegetable oil to power special runs of the Railway’s steam engine to the dedicated volunteers at Ohio’s Punderson Manor State Park Lodge who volunteer their time in a garden and donate a portion of their harvest to the local county home, our employees are a dedicated, hard-working and creative group of professionals.”
The Top Company award-winners were determined by a panel of business leaders who considered each finalist’s financial performance, community involvement and outstanding achievement.
The country’s largest national park concessioner, Xanterra has operations at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Other operations include Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., eight Ohio State Park Lodges, Geneva Marina in Ohio’s Geneva State Park, Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz. and Windstar Cruises.
Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com
