Less than two months after it was implemented, the Department of Parks’ online reservation system already has yielded strong results, Governor Ernie Fletcher announced today.

    The department has booked 1,480 room nights through its reservation service, representing nearly $118,000 in room sales. Reservations have been taken from 28 states and three foreign countries.

     “I’m delighted with these results,” Governor Fletcher said. “I’m pleased that it was our administration that promptly instituted online reservations. Internet bookings have been a standard service in the hotel industry for years, so our park system had been operating at a competitive disadvantage.”

    This summer, the department contracted with VIP International to sell parks accommodations online. VIP is one of only a handful of companies in the world whose inventory is available to travel agents through databases such as Sabre and through Internet travel booking sites like Expedia. The web address for online parks reservations is http://www.kystateparks.ky.gov/reservations.htm.

    Governor Fletcher said the reservations system is just one of many recent actions that have transformed the state park system.

    “Under the leadership of  Parks Commissioner George Ward, we are seeing progress in a variety of administrative and marketing functions in the Department of Parks,” Fletcher. “We are attacking a $29 million deficit through prudent fiscal management, we are conducting innovative marketing such as a Tee’s and Zee’s golf package, and we’re protecting our environment by cleaning up several long-standing illegal dumps.”

    The governor also noted that more than $450,000 in funds saved from the past fiscal year is being reinvested in park guestrooms and cottages to buy new mattresses, replace television sets and install hair dryers, irons and ironing boards.