7th Annual Holiday Break Visitor Industry Job Fair Seeks Summer Employees

Anchorage, Alaska – Dec. 21, 2005 – Teachers, students and other job seekers home for the holidays can find exciting summer jobs within the tourism industry at the 7th Annual Holiday Break Visitor Industry Job Fair. Many Alaska tourism businesses are starting the hiring process this month to fill positions for the busy tourist season. The job fair is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Egan Civic & Convention Center.

“All the major players within the visitor industry will be there,” said John White, president of Nenana Raft Adventures and Denali Paddle Sports. “People who enjoy working outdoors, surrounded by beautiful scenery, can find great jobs within the tourism industry.”

Last year, more than 500 job seekers interviewed with 30 employers at the Visitor Industry Job Fair. This year, employers registered for the event include Royal Celebrity, Ciri Alaska Tourism, Princess Tours, Phillips Cruises and Tours, Major Marine Tours, Once in a Blue Moose and Webb’s Consulting and Management Services, Inc.

“We start recruiting early and like to have our hiring done by March, “ said Kelly Bender, general manager with Ciri’s Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours. “We make a concerted effort to hire Alaskans. They know what it’s really like to live here and can share that information with tourists.”

The job fair will also feature “Day in the Life” speakers. For example, employees from the tourism industry will discuss what it’s like to be tour escorts or rafting guides.

“There are some cool flightseeing, rafting and boat deck hand jobs,” said Bender. “People can also find interesting jobs dealing with computers, graphics or accounting within the visitor industry. But the jobs aren’t just for high school and college students. These jobs are also perfect for teachers because their summer break coincides with our tourism season,” she adds. “These jobs are also great for senior citizens. Who better to represent the state than the people who have lived here for years and have wonderful stories to tell?”

The job fair is co-hosted by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alaska Hospitality Alliance and the Anchorage Chapter of the Alaska Travel Industry Association. For more information, contact Kelly Bender at (907) 777-2822, Kathleen Ashton at (907) 550-7752 or Julie Saupe, vice president, Community & Visitors Relations at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau at (907) 276-4118.

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.

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Media Contacts:

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