ACVB Takes Home Top Award For Best Trade Show Booth
News Release
Anchorage, Alaska – Sept. 28, 2005 – The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) presented the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau with the top award for having the best trade show booth at its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee last month. ASAE awarded the ACVB with “Best in Show – 1st Place In-Line Booth”. The competition was fierce with more than 5,000 delegates showcasing more than 600 global destinations.
“This is a tremendous complement to our convention sales staff and ACVB members that worked in Nashville at our trade show booth,” said Bruce Bustamante, ACVB president and CEO. “ASAE membership represents numerous associations and customers in their biggest gathering. To have the best trade show performance in front of our biggest collection of customers is great for our business members and the city of Anchorage,” he said.
This year, ACVB used an Iditarod theme to help sell Anchorage to association executives. The bureau incorporated a game show feel by asking those attending to spin a giant wheel, allowing them to make their way up a simulated Iditarod Trail to Nome. ACVB displayed a large map of the Iditarod Trail and used video and other props to explain what the Last Great Race is all about. ACVB’s Vice President of Convention Sales, R. J. (Jim) Henderson dressed like a musher and attracted attention by encouraging everyone to join in the game.
“All this work definitely paid off”, said Julie Dodds, ACVB Convention Sales Manager. “The uniqueness of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the growing interest people have in learning more about the sport gave Anchorage that extra edge that every city is looking for.”
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.
Laura Tanis
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
ltanis@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
nlarsen@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118 direct
