Meeting Planners Looking for Winter Businesses
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is offering a customized Web site for select conventions that will allow members a new avenue to market directly to delegates. The pilot Web site – www.Anchorage.net/aapt – will be launched for the
American Association of Physics Teachers Winter Meeting in Anchorage in January 2006. ACVB is extending an invitation to select member categories to offer a discount at their discretion, base on the specific needs of meeting delegates.
For details, click here.
Anchorage to Play Host
to 8th World Wilderness Congress
Anchorage will be in the worldwide spotlight for global wildlands and wilderness issues this fall when it hosts the 8th World Wilderness Congress (8th WWC) at the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center. One of the largest meetings to be held in Anchorage this year, the Congress will bring more than 1,000 delegates from more than 55 nations – including Native leaders from at least 25 nations – to Anchorage, Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2005, with an estimated economic impact (EEI) of $1.3 million.
The 8th WWC is about integrating nature conservation with the needs of human communities. Wilderness, Wildlands and People: A Partnership for the Planet is the theme of the Congress, which will generate the most up-to-date and accurate information on the benefits of wilderness and wildlands to contemporary and traditional societies. Those attending the Congress include high-level representatives from government, private sector and non-profit organizations as well as Native peoples, conservationists, scientists and academia. The agenda includes technical working sessions, public workshops, a global wilderness forum, field trips, cultural and arts events and a gathering of conservation writers and photographers.
Alaskans are welcome to register for the 8th WWC. In addition to meetings, there are two events that are free to the public: The WILD World Expo, a public exposition of all aspects of using and experiencing wilderness and wildlands (at the Egan Center during the Congress’ opening weekend, Oct. 1 – 2, 2005); and an environmental film festival, Nature Screen, at the Public Lands Center, Sept. 25 – 29, 2005. One of the best ways for ACVB members to showcase their tour products to delegates attending the Congress is to have a booth at the WILD World Expo. For as little as $190 tourism companies can have an 8X10 booth to showcase their tourism products to Congress delegates, as well as the general public.
The World Wilderness Congress convenes every three or four years, and this is the first time in more than 20 years that it has been held in North America. Previous hosts of the event have included South Africa, Australia, Scotland, Norway and India. Co-chairs of the Alaska event include former Alaska Governors Jay Hammond and Walter Hickel, First Alaskans President Byron Mallott, Alaska State Senate (retired) Clem Tillion and Providence Foundation’s Susan Ruddy.
Logistics LLC has been hired as the management firm for the Congress, and most of the meetings will take place at the Egan Center. Official hotels for delegates include the Hotel Captain Cook, Hilton Anchorage, Sheraton Anchorage Hotel, Ramada Inn, Westmark Anchorage Hotel, Comfort Inn and Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites. A variety of pre and post tours have been organized for delegates including wildlife tours, hiking trips, flightseeing, wildlife photography, and fishing excursions.
Start planning now for ways to show international visitors the best that Anchorage has to offer during the Congress. For more information, visit www.8wwc.org or call Krista or Anne at Logistics at (907) 276-6060.
Membership Survey Results Revealed
This spring, the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) mailed a survey to members asking for feedback on everything from whether or not they attended the monthly networking events, to how they used www.Anchorage.net.
The goal was to gain a better understanding of member needs and expectations, as well as measure satisfaction with ACVBs marketing and educational programs. The survey also gathered member opinions about participation in events, level of satisfaction with services, interest in new services, as well as how effectively the bureau communicates with its members.
Of those who returned the survey, 83 percent directly serve Alaska’s visitors, with two-thirds of respondents located in the Municipality of Anchorage. Length of membership averaged eight years.
Overall, respondents valued their membership with nine of 10 stating they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with ACVB’s brochure distribution, ads in the Visitors Guide and listings on www.Anchorage.net. Eighty-six percent rated the benefits they receive from ACVB as “good” or “excellent.”
The vast majority of members (89 percent) found the Web site useful, followed by Wild Review (85 percent), and direct contact with their sales representative (83 percent). Regular e-mail blasts came in fourth at 77 percent.
While just 21 percent of respondents said they attended ACVB’s luncheons regularly, those who did not attend stated “busy schedule” as the reason. Networking was rated as the No. 1 reason for attending ACVB functions.
Members were also given the opportunity to express concerns, which are being reviewed by the ACVB management team. The process includes asking staff to provide ideas for expanding communication with members, as well as improving access to various leads. The feedback will be used to address challenges and streamline access to benefits.
ACVB would like to extend its thanks to those who participated in the survey.
Keep Employees Safe from Identity Theft
A group of Michigan employees were recently awarded $275,000 when their union neglected to safeguard their Social Security and driver’s license numbers and their identities were stolen. In 2003, identity theft translated into nearly $48 billion in losses to businesses, nearly $5 billion in losses to individual victims and almost 300 million hours spent by victims trying to resolve the problem, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In response to the escalation of identify theft, the FTC effective June 1, 2005, implemented a rule on properly disposing sensitive financial and personal information. Any business with one or more employees obtaining a consumer report or information derived from a consumer report is covered by the rule. Such personal information could be a telephone number, address or Social Security number.
Failure to comply could result in federal fines up to $2,500 per violation and state fines up to $1,000 per violation. In addition to federal and state law enforcement, employees or identity theft victims can file a private or class action lawsuit against the employer.
Keep all personal information in secure areas with limited access – locked offices or file cabinets at a minimum. Also, disposal of personal information should entail mechanical shredding of the information.
A company policy regarding disposal of employee’s information personnel files, applications, etc., should include a statement regarding proper disposal procedures. If your business doesn’t have a document retention and disposal policy, create one. As always, prior to implementation, have an attorney review any policy or procedure for the workplace.
