1/20/05 - News Release - 2004 ACVB Report to Commu
News Release
Anchorage, AK – (January 20, 2005)
Report to Community Shows Increases in Visitors, Bed Tax Revenues
Anchorage collected a record $11,533,790 in bed tax revenues in 2004, more than $600,000 higher than any other year. The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) released its annual “Report to the Community” today, which is a gauge of how many visitors came to Anchorage in 2004 and a look at trends to expect in the coming year.
“Unlike other tourism economies across the country, Anchorage has seen a quick recovery,” said ACVB President and CEO Bruce Bustamante. “Our ability to offer a cultural experience and an exotic, yet safe and remote destination, will continue to put Anchorage in the forefront for attracting business and leisure travelers.”
A recovering economy, coupled with hosting several large conventions, pushed the bed tax revenues up to more than $11.5 million, compared to $10.4 million in 2003 and $10.9 million in 2002. Half of the bed tax revenues go to the municipality’s general fund to pay for city services, while the other half is used by ACVB to market Anchorage as a visitor destination. A total of 237,000 visitors were assisted in ACVB’s Visitor Information Centers (VICs) in 2004, thanks to the 9,857 hours donated by VIC volunteers.
Occupancy in Anchorage hotels was up 3.6 percent and room revenues rose by more than 4 percent. Other sectors reporting increases include airport arrivals, rental car revenues, and total cruise ship passengers (all up 9 percent between May and September 2004).
A total of $89.7 million worth of conventions and events were held in 2004, compared to $74.4 million in 2003. ACVB exceeded its goal of selling $75 million in meetings in 2004, turning in $80.7 million in sales. That compares to $71.8 million of meetings sold in 2003. Some of the big conventions Anchorage was successful at booking include the National Congress of American Indians with 1,400 delegates and an Estimated Economic Impact (EEI) of $3.3 million in June 2007 and the International Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Robotics & Automation with 1,000 delegates and an EEI of more than $1 million for May 2010. IEEE is the largest international meeting of robotics experts in the world. ACVB’s Tourism Development Sales (TDS) staff reported completion of more travel trade trainings in 2004 than every before, while traveling out-of-state 60 percent less. TDS also partnered more effectively with major cruise clients to do more joint destination trainings and generated 75 tour operator leads. Anchorage hosted more than 100 tour operators from Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S. for on-site familiarization tours in Anchorage and doubled its ski group business during the last two years.
Some of Anchorage’s most successful tourism events in 2004 included the hosting of the Chevrolet U.S. Alpine Ski Championships at Alyeska Resort and the filming of the Celebrity Sports Invitational, which continues to give an estimated 130 million television viewers on both network and cable stations nationwide a look at the Southcentral Alaska visitor experience. At the same time, ACVB hosted more than 45 networking and educational events for its membership and celebrated an 88 percent member retention rate.
Anchorage will hold fewer large conventions in 2005 during the spring months, but the fall calendar is full. September 2005 is shaping up to be a huge month, when the city will host several large events including the American Fisheries Society Convention with 1,800 delegates and $1.7 million in EEI, the International Association of Assessing Officers with 1,800 delegates and $1.5 million in EEI, and World Wilderness Congress with 1,200 delegates and an EEI of $1.3 million.
The Travel Industry Association of America is forecasting a 5.3 percent increase in domestic and international visitor spending and a 3.6 percent increase in business travel in 2005. Early independent travel bookings and cruise tour bookings in Alaska are already ahead of the 2004 pace. Other trends expected to impact Anchorage favorably include baby-boomer and Gen X travelers who are booking more leisure room nights and who are looking for the untouched, exotic, authentic and remote destinations. In a survey of 400 associated travel agencies across the U.S., Carlson Wagonlit Travel reported that as of the 4th quarter of 2004, Alaska was the second most popular cruise destination.
ACVB will continue its efforts in the coming year to promote winter marketing and to help sell Anchorage/Southcentral Alaska activities and packages. ACVB will also pursue conventions, mainly during the shoulder season, as well as smaller meetings during the summer months. The Internet continues to grow as a way for visitors and travel planners to research and book their vacations. ACVB’s own award-winning Web site reflects that trend with more than 368,000 visitors in 2004 at www.Anchorage.net and a 10 percent increase in pages viewed.
Infrastructure, Bustamante says, will be important for ACVB to continue to drive Anchorage’s success as a visitor destination including development of the E Street Corridor, Girdwood 2020, and a new Anchorage Civic & Convention Center. A recent economic impact survey by Northern Economics found that Anchorage will lose out on as much as $133.2 million per year and 1,925 additional jobs by year five, unless new convention facilities are built.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by half of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. The other half goes to the Municipality’s general fund. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net # # #
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
