Monday, November 01, 2010

This just in from Ontario Parks

In case you don't subscribe to the Ontario Parks Insider,  I've taken the liberty to re-post a very important news flash for anyone who camps in a provincial park in our fair province. As I'm sure many of you will agree, there were a few hiccups in the new park reservation service this summer and the Ontario Parks management folks seemed to have listened:

We have heard from many Ontario Parks customers that our reservation service needs to improve. As of November 1, 2010, we have obtained a new reservation service provider and are taking action to improve the service to the standard of excellence that you have come to expect from Ontario Parks. We expect to have the new reservation system operational in early 2011.

During the transition period to the new reservation service, there will be some limitations with our system.

Here’s what you need to know:

All existing reservations for arrivals between November 1 and March 31 will be honoured and processed when you arrive at the park.


You will not be able to book reservations five months in advance during this period. This means there will be no reservations processed for arrival dates after April 1, 2011 until we go-live with the new service provider. This applies to reservations for campsites, backcountry and roofed accommodations.
Park users will not be able to make a reservation through our Internet or call centre for any car camping or interior sites. All campsites will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis when you arrive at the park. We anticipate plenty of sites will be available.

You may book roofed accommodation at those parks open during the fall/winter period by calling the park directly. Reservations will be accepted for arrival dates up to March 31, 2011 only. Reservations can be made by phoning the park directly, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The parks that offer roofed accommodation are:

  • Algonquin (705) 633-5572
  • Killarney (705) 287-2900
  • MacGregor Point (519) 389-9056
  • Pinery (519) 243-2220
  • Sandbanks (613) 393-3319
  • Silent Lake (613) 339-2807
  • Quetico (807) 597-5021

No toll free numbers are available. Please note, callers may get a busy signal when staff are servicing other customers. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

For information regarding the status of refunds please contact 705-326-1521.

Please visit this web site for updates on the new reservation service.

We appreciate your loyalty and are making these changes in order to serve you better. Ontario Parks is committed to providing world-class recreational opportunities for our visitors through excellent customer service.

We welcome your feedback.

Adair Ireland-Smith
Director
Ontario Parks

2 comments:

  1. Great minds think a like, Just posted the very same story to our other Blog

    http://ao-sales.blogspot.com/2010/11/ontario-parks-reservation-service.html

    Then I spotted this one too.

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  2. I don't know about the great minds part, but you do think alike.

    So we have to keep checking to find out if we can actually make a trip reservation for our late May trip and the summer visit since the new system may or may not be actually implemented in time?

    OK, there's a roll of the dice for those of us who drive a long way. Wait! This is a plot to keep the riff raff from south of the border out of your hair for at least a partial season.

    Just because I complained that the park moved Acme Lake when the created the first Canoe Routes Map and I want it moved back. Geeeshh!

    Jester

    ReplyDelete