Balloon Fiesta to hire concession manager, again

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - They got heat for it last year, but Balloon Fiesta officials are willing to give it another shot this year.

For the 2013 Balloon Fiesta, officials are looking to hire an outside company to oversee food vendors.

Last year more than 20 long-time vendors threatened to pull out , including some fiesta favorites.

"It's not good," Carl Motley of BBQ Pit Express said in October. "Our bottom line is going to be cut considerably."

Vendors complained Ovations, the Balloon Fiesta's first-ever food concession manager, was charging too much taking 30 percent of every $1 made.

According to Balloon Fiesta officials hiring Ovations turned out for the best.

It was so good that the officials want to go with a food concession manager once again.

"Part of the request for proposal is that we're asking the bidders is to tell us what is the best way of doing every aspect of the concessions," Balloon Fiesta Executive Director Paul Smith said.

In a "request for proposals," fiesta officials cite a 48 percent drop in health code violations from 133 in 2011 to 70 in 2012.

They also cite an increase in food sales from $715,000 in gross revenue during the 2011 Balloon Fiesta to $1.2 million in 2012 with Ovations overseeing everything.

The increase in revenue could be because some vendors increased their prices.

"We did have to go up on our prices some to cover the amount that they're collecting from us for the vendor fee," Motley said.

Fiesta officials say there were other factors at play.

"I think it was just better reporting on part of the individual concessions," Smith said.

Last's contract with Ovations was just for the 2012 Fiesta. Six companies have already expressed interest including Ovations.

"We became aware last summer that there's a lot of people and a lot of companies in Albuquerque are qualified and would like to make a proposal to do that work," Smith said.

More than 20 vendors threatened not to do business at Balloon Fiesta last year.

But in the end all but four ended up doing business there anyway.

No word yet on what they think about the fiesta's decision to once again hire a food concession manager.