News Release
Anchorage, Alaska – (May 25, 2005)
Meetings And Conventions In May Have $6 Million Impact
It’s early in Alaska’s visitor season, but Anchorage hotels, restaurants and meeting facilities are already busy. During the month of May, Anchorage will host 40 meetings and conventions, bringing more than 8,400 delegates to the city with an Estimated Economic Impact of $6 million.
“May is a strong month for national groups taking advantage of spring weather, as well as state and regional business,” said Bruce Bustamante, President and CEO of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). “The past several years have shown a trend of the early season beginning sooner each year.”
Some of the large groups holding meetings in Anchorage this month included The Watch Tower Society, a religious conference for Jehovah Witnesses, that brought 1,500 Alaskans to Anchorage in mid-May and the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental & Water Resources Institute with 1,200 delegates, May 15 – 19, 2005.
All together, 28,586 convention delegates will attend meetings in Anchorage in May, booking 4,545 room nights. Total EEI for meetings and conventions in May is estimated at $6,063,610.
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
