The contract was awarded to Denison Parking, Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind. It includes options for renewal that, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to approximately $7.2 million over a period of five years.

"Having a contractor manage ticket sales and parking services at Hoover Dam allows us to dedicate our staff to water management, power generation, and guided tours," said Ken Rice, Manager of the Lower Colorado Dams Office, which includes Hoover, Davis and Parker Dams. "This increases our ability to provide the best experience for the more than 800,000 visitors who take the guided tour of Hoover Dam each year, and to also meet the dams primary water delivery and power generation functions."

The contractor will provide on-site and web-based tour ticket sales for individuals and groups; staff the Hoover Dam parking garage and Arizona spillway parking lot; and collect and remit fees for all tickets and parking sold.

Sales of tour tickets and parking at the dam have been managed by a contractor since 2000.

Admission tickets for the Hoover Dam Visitor Center and tours are sold at the dam seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Pacific Time), excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas days, when the dam is closed to tours.