VOL 26 ISSUE 32, Aug. 11, 2025
Main caption: Delaware North CEOs Lou Jacobs (far left) and Charlie Jacobs (second from right) hosted a CEO Town Hall on July 30 at Yellowstone National Park that featured special guests Ana Rodriguez (far right), EVP and chief human resources officer; Scott Socha (center), group president; and Erin Benike (second from left), general manager of Yellowstone General Stores.
Delaware North CEOs Lou Jacobs and Charlie Jacobs on July 30 hosted the second CEO Town Hall of 2025 at Yellowstone National Park, a historic setting known for its natural wonders, incredible wildlife and one-of-a-kind views.
Watch the CEO Town Hall
In addition to providing important updates on Delaware North’s Transformation and highlighting recent successes across the company, the CEO Town Hall included a glimpse into summer at Yellowstone, which is bustling with visitors from around the world.
Erin Benike, general manager for Yellowstone General Stores, introduced the CEOs and highlighted Delaware North’s lodging, dining, retail and recreation services in and around the national park, including:
- The management of 11 Yellowstone General Stores: retail, food and beverage outlets within the national park
- Three hotels and 50 Explorer Cabins just outside the national park in West Yellowstone, Mont.
- A hotel, Yellowstone RV Park and nine Explorer Cabins in Gardiner, Mont.
- Yellowstone Vacation Tours
Recorded in front of a live audience with the largest and busiest Yellowstone General Store at Old Faithful Geyser as the backdrop, Ana Rodriguez, executive vice president (EVP) and chief human resources officer (CHRO), and Scott Socha, group president, served as special guests during the presentation.
The CEOs shared updates on the company’s financial performance and macroeconomic trends, in addition to recent highlights and major events from across the company, including:
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida being named No. 1 U.S. attraction in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards and opening a new attraction, The Gantry at LC-39.
- Truist Park in Atlanta hosting a successful MLB All-Star Game.
- TD Garden Boston hosting another sold-out WNBA game.
- Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, Ark., being awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award.
The Town Hall also touched on new business, including the opening of Hundredfold, operated by Patina Group with Chef Tim Hollingsworth at Belmont Park in Long Island, and last month’s announcement that Delaware North U.K. will serve as hospitality partner at the Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland Football Club, which competes in the Premier League.
The CEOs also discussed the recent announcement that Areas will acquire Delaware North’s Travel operations in the United States, a deal that is still subject to regulatory approval in the U.S. and other customary closing conditions. Charlie Jacobs said the acquisition was difficult decision given the company’s 85-year history in airport hospitality; Lou Jacobs added that Areas will be the right culture fit for Delaware North’s Travel team members and clients and ultimately the transaction will position the company to grow in other areas.
The CEOs welcomed Delaware North’s newest EVP and CHRO, Ana Rodriguez, to reflect on her last eight months with the company and share some of her personal background, including how she speaks four languages and is soon relocating to East Aurora, N.Y, a suburb of Buffalo.
Rodriguez also joined the CEOs in a discussion about Delaware North’s ongoing Transformation, and the company’s focus on putting the right people, processes and technology in place to drive this strategy.
Continuing with the theme of Transformation, Socha discussed Delaware North’s investment in alternative lodging as a critical vertical for Parks and Resorts’ future growth. Socha urged team members to get excited about this foray into the alternative lodging space, emphasizing the intent to redefine lodging beyond the four walls of a hotel.
The CEO Town Hall ended with a video of the Delaware North leaders visiting several tourist attractions around the park, including the Old Faithful Geyser and two of the general stores operated by Delaware North. They even experienced a “one-man jam” during which a lone bison caused a traffic slowdown, a common occurrence at Yellowstone National Park.