Idaho’s camping, cabin, and yurt reservation system is set for a major overhaul as the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) prepares to transition to a new software provider. According to a report by Idaho Dispatch, all reservations for the 2025 calendar year will be temporarily paused from August 1, to January 6, 2025, to facilitate this change.
The IDPR board, during their quarterly meeting in April, unanimously approved the staff recommendation to award the reservation system contract to Brandt Information Services, LLC (Brandt). This decision comes after a thorough evaluation of bids from four companies: Aspira, Brandt, Camis, and Tyler Technology.
The staff report stated, “IDPR uses a Software as a Service (SaaS) contractor to manage operational items including camping reservations, moorage reservations, permit sales, and point of sale services. IDPR began using the current SaaS contract in 2008 and has continued renewing the contract without a new price negotiation. The latest contract renewal in 2019 included the addition of online permit/sticker sales and a five-year contract term. The current contract will expire on December 31st, 2024.”
Brandt’s proposal stood out for several reasons. The staff report noted, “Brandt has a noticeably better customer and staff interface for their system. Brandt’s dynamic pricing capability meets the board’s intent. Brandt’s proposal also solves some financial backend issues and smaller operational issues that staff currently address.”
Importantly, Brandt is already familiar with Idaho’s outdoor recreation landscape, as it currently provides software services to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). During the IDPR board meeting, Amber Worthington, Deputy Director of IDFG, shared her department’s experience with Brandt.
“Our experience with Brandt has had some challenges, but they have made every effort to fix any issues that they come across. We have had some issues with big sales this year and Brandt has done a good job providing improvements. Brandt is very responsive,” Amber said.
The new contract is expected to result in significant cost savings for IDPR. The staff report stated, “IDPR would save approximately $331,906.50 per year from what we are paying now.” These savings could potentially be reinvested in park improvements or other services for visitors.
The transition to Brandt’s system presents some challenges for IDPR staff. Seth Hobbs, Reservation & Registration Program Manager for IDPR, explained, “There will be a blackout period (August 1, 2024, to January 6, 2025) and retraining with the vendors. The vendors make up about 50 percent of our sales.” However, Hobbs expressed confidence in his team’s ability to manage the change.
The new system promises to bring several improvements to Idaho’s outdoor recreation management. Brandt’s announcement of the contract win outlines their vision for a comprehensive statewide recreational vehicle/vessel registration, campground reservation, and retail management system, leveraging a centralized database to oversee Idaho’s thirty (30) park locations, historical sites, and facilities statewide.
Travis Warren, Brandt’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about deploying their reservations platform in Idaho, stating, “We are thrilled to have been chosen to deploy our reservations platform in the beautiful state of Idaho. Our mission is to transform the outdoor recreational experience for all.”
For campers and outdoor enthusiasts planning trips to Idaho’s state parks, it’s important to note that while 2025 reservations will be paused during the transition, bookings for the 2024 calendar year will remain unaffected. Existing reservations for 2025 will be automatically transferred to the new system.
The new system, set to launch on January 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, is expected to offer improved user interfaces, more efficient booking processes, and potentially dynamic pricing options. It will also feature easier navigation, better tools, new functionality, and more information about parks and events, as well as additional pictures of facilities, enhancing the overall experience for visitors to Idaho’s natural wonders.
