4/4/05 - More Than 50 Meetings, Conventions, Trade
News Release
Anchorage, Alaska – (April 4, 2005)
More Than 50 Meetings, Conventions, Trade Shows In April
Anchorage, Alaska – (April 4, 2005) – More than 50 meetings, conventions and trade shows will be held in Anchorage in April. But that’s not enough for the sales staff at Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Fresh off of a big win – to host the Ninety-Nines (99s) International Women’s Pilots Association conference – an ACVB sales team will head to Copper Mountain, Colo., this week to bid on the United States Amateur Snowboarding Association (USASA) National Championships.
“We’ve proven Anchorage is a great site to host national sporting events such as the U.S. Alpine Skiing Championships and Special Olympics World Winter Games,” said ACVB President and CEO Bruce Bustamante. “Our past experience can only help as we try to convince the USASA board of directors that Alyeska Resort is the best place to hold the snowboard championships in 2007 and/or 2008.”
ACVB’s sales staff is riding high as they just landed the Ninety-Nines (99s) International Women’s Pilots Association conference in August 2008. The conference, which Anchorage won over Bozeman, Mont., will bring more than 500 delegates to Anchorage with an estimated economic impact (EEI) of $419,765.
“The grandeur of Alaska and close cooperation between the local chapter of the 99s and ACVB clinched the deal,” said Barbara Kremer, ACVB Convention and Meeting, Sales & Service (CMSS) international sales manager.
“We chose Anchorage because of the amenities the city offers our delegates and because the membership expressed a great desire to return to Anchorage,” said Pat Prentiss, vice chair of the 99s governing board. Prentiss did an Anchorage site inspection in February. The 99s last international convention was held in Anchorage in 1984, with an attendance of more than 800 delegates and EEI of $713,601. “Participants at the ’84 convention remember it fondly, and some still have the moose nugget leis they were given as gifts,” said Angie Slingluff, 99s 2008 convention committee co-chair.
In addition to the 99s convention, ACVB also recently won the American Academy of Pediatrics Perinatal District VII Western States Meeting for June 2006, with 150 delegates and EEI of $163,421; the International Ikenobo Ikebana Society Exhibition and Conference in July 2006 with 350 delegates and EEI of $308,096 and the Western States Communication Association Annual Convention, which will bring 600 delegates to Anchorage in March 2010 with an EEI of $616,191.
This month, Anchorage will host 49 meetings and conventions that will bring 7,325 delegates to the city with an EEI of $3.9 million. Some of the larger conventions include the Alaska Dental Society Annual Conference (April 7 – 9, 2005) at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel with 250 delegates; the Learning 24-7 Education Conference (April 14 – 17, 2005) at the Hilton Anchorage with 350 delegates; the Center for Human Development Fourth Annual Full Lives Conference (April 21 – 22, 2005) at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel with 425 delegates; and the Alaska Teacher Placement Education Expo (April 21 – 23, 2005) at the Hotel Captain Cook with 600 delegates.
Nine trade shows including the Bed & Breakfast Association of Alaska Travel Tourism and Bed & Breakfast Expo (April 2, 2005) at Dimond Center, the Great Alaska Sportsman Show (April 7 – 10, 2005) and the Food Services of America Trade Show (April 27, 2005), both at Sullivan Arena, will have an EEI of more than $4.3 million.
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
