News Release

ACVB Promotes Julie Dodds to Director of Convention Sales

Anchorage, Alaska – May 11, 2006 – Julie Dodds has been promoted to Director of Convention Sales for the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Dodds began her career with the Bureau in 1989 as a membership and advertising sales manager. In 1995, she moved into convention sales, focusing on the state market. Two years later, she took over the Washington, D.C. territory.

“During the past 18 years, Julie Dodds has evolved as a leader in the ACVB Convention Sales Department, and in the industry as well,” said Jim Henderson, vice president of ACVB’s Convention & Meeting Sales & Service Department. “When Association Magazine called her "Little Miss Dynamo," they couldn't have said it better,” he added.

During the past 11 years, Dodds has been instrumental in bringing a large amount of convention business to Anchorage. Those conventions include the American Fisheries Society (Sept. 11 - 15, 2005) with 2,800 delegates and an estimated economic impact (EEI) of more than $3 million; the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (July 3 - 11, 2006) with 1,000 delegates and an EEI of $974,160; Ducks Unlimited (May 23-27, 2007) with 1,600 delegates and an EEI of $1.5 million; and the Aerospace Medical Association (May 7 - 13, 2011) with 1,600 delegates and an EEI of $1.5 million.

“Tourism is a large economic engine for the city and conventions are a big part of the equation,” said Dodds. “It is exciting to be able to bring groups to Anchorage and introduce the Alaska experience.”

Dodds’ experience will be tapped to train new sales managers being brought on board to support Anchorage’s expanded Civic & Convention Center. She will also help ACVB to grow its customer base to fill both the expanded facility and the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. In addition, Dodds will act as a department liaison, providing input on specific programs targeted at increasing convention and meeting sales.

Living in Alaska for 27 years and being part of the visitor industry has given Dodds an extensive background in tourism and the meetings and convention business. She lives in Anchorage with her husband. She has one son, who is finishing his second year of college at Princeton University.

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 one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention construction project. 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