Understanding Park Visitors of the 2020s was scheduled for March 16 and 17, 2020, to facilitate discussions among national park concessioners, the NPS, Congress and others regarding new and better ways to enhance the experiences of national park visitors while balancing visitation to national park units across the country. Sessions were to include conversations with Interior Department and NPS officials; discussions with key Congressional staff and other special guests, including leaders of NPCA, the National Park Foundation and more; and discussions of association goals and priorities.  The meeting was scheduled at the Intercontinental Washington at the Wharf, 801 Wharf St. SW Washington, D.C. 20024, 1-202-800-0844. Uncertainties about travel and assembly of nearly 100 persons during a time of concern about community transmittal of the Coronavirus caused the NPHA Board of Directors to cancel the meeting, shifting key discussions to a series of videocalls and the NPHA fall meeting.

NPHA members will meet by conference call on March 16 to discuss a variety of key topics, including strategies to improve park visitor experiences through concessioner programs which are more nimble and which capitalize in infrastructure maintained, modernized and where appropriate expanded, primarily through NPS-approved investments of private capital.  Other key topics to be discussed include operations under the current National Emergency and preparations for future disruptions to normal operations.

All registered participants for the cancelled meeting are invited to join a videocall on Tuesday.  This session will provide an important forum for conversations between NPS officials and the national park concessions industry on current operational topics, including public health issues, as well as important long term opportunities for collaboration among all organizations seeking to protect our national parks and encourage their enjoyment by all Americans, working seamlessly to create great memories and continue a long tradition by the public of cherishing units of the national park system.