12/01/04 City Hosts SATW Western Chapter in May/Ne
News Release
Anchorage, Alaska – Dec. 1, 2004
City Hosts SATW Western Chapter in May
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) and Alyeska Resort have teamed up to hold the 2005 Western Chapter Conference of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Themed, “Discover Your Adventure,” leading travel journalists from across the nation will gather in Anchorage for a week-long conference complete with professional development seminars, tourism related research tours, and skill competitions including an Alaskan Photo Safari.
ACVB and Alyeska Resort collaborated and won a joint bid to hold the event in Anchorage, May 2 – 7, 2005, at the 2004 conference in Richmond, VA.
“This is an amazing opportunity to showcase our state to qualified travel writers,” says Melissa Stanley, director of marketing for Alyeska Resort. “Our goal is to highlight the diversity of Anchorage and encourage travel that is anchored in the region.”
The group will be experiencing the Southcentral region with a trip on the Alaska Railroad to Grandview, a cruise on Prince William Sound Cruises, and activities ranging from skiing, snowboarding, flightseeing, to art walks and more.
The community is invited to see the Alaska Photo Safari winners at Snow City Café’s May First Friday reception. Photographs taken by award-winning travel photographers during their visit will be on display for the month.
The group will also be offered pre and post media familiarization trips throughout Alaska organized by a partnership with the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA).
SATW works to raise the standards of the travel writing profession, guard the right of freedom to travel, and encourage conservation and preservation of historic sites and natural wonders. Believing that travel is a bridge between peoples, its desire is to make and keep travel a quality experience for everyone. Members include writers, photographers, editors, journalists, lecturers, video/film producers and public relations representatives.
The Western Chapter, the largest of SATW’s five regional chapters, represents members from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Mexico.
With nearly 400 members, the Western Chapter is the most prolific of SATW’s regional groups, consistently producing more travel articles than the Central States, Atlantic-Caribbean, Canadian and Northeast Chapters.
Industry partners and sponsorships are vital to hosting a successful conference. Sponsorship opportunities are still available; contact Allison Knox at 263-5194, or aknox@ciri.com or Gary Scott at gscott@alyeskaresort.com for more information.
Media Contacts:
Erika Siegel
Public Relations Manager
toll free: (800) 446-5352 x 331
direct: (907) 257-2331
esiegel@anchorage.net
Nance Larsen, APR
Director of Communications
toll free: (800) 446-5352 x 310
direct: (907) 257-2310
nlarsen@anchorage.net
