I feel that we are in an era where rat infestations in occupied buildings shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, I feel that this should be even more of a non-issue at establishments like famous hotels and restaurants. A popular Yosemite, California, hotel had guests not only fighting against the rats but complaining about improper food storage and even a power outage that lasted for hours in the last year. Needless to say, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the patrons who were present during this particular ordeal won’t be returning.
The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite has been reported to face various issues behind closed doors, including maintenance lapses and public health concerns. Unfortunately, it seems that the parent company, Aramark Corporation, has no plans to address these problems. The reason for this inaction? Aramark has a 17-year contract with Yosemite National Park, which began in 2016, granting them the operation of all attractions within the park.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is an iconic landmark that opened in 1927. It was envisioned to be a lodge by the first director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, but that decision was ultimately changed. What was once considered a luxury hotel rated at four diamonds, now has only three diamonds after AAA downgraded the rating four years after Aramark took over. Between then and now, closures due to rodent infestations and bar closures have become more and more frequent.
A Freedom of Information Act requested by SFGATE was granted, revealing a performance review from 2024 that granted Yosemite Hospitality an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating. For those unaware, this rating is the lowest possible that a hotel can receive, and it was granted to them just last year. Considering the experiences that patrons have been having at the hotel as of late, I can’t imagine that this will change for their 2025 performance review.
After this major reveal, Aramark’s senior vice president of corporate affairs, Debbie Albert, sent in a statement that said, “We take this rating seriously, and in working closely with the NPS, we have and continue to make improvements at Yosemite to ensure high standards are met for park guests.”
