News Release
Find the Perfect Job at the Holiday Break Visitor Industry Job Fair
Anchorage, Alaska – Dec. 29, 2006 – Teachers, students and other job seekers home for the holiday break can nail down an exciting summer job months ahead of time at the 8th Annual Holiday Break Visitor Industry Job Fair. The hiring process starts at the beginning of the year for many tourism businesses, and employers are eager to find qualified Alaskans for a variety of exciting, fulfilling jobs.
“I absolutely love what I do,” said Jeanne Fiske, tour director at Premier Alaska Tours. “If I could do this year-round, I probably would.”
Fiske, a retired schoolteacher, landed her seasonal job at Premier Alaska Tours four and a half years ago after attending the Holiday Break Visitor Industry Job Fair.
“It was a place I could go to see what’s available,” she said. “I talked to people from different companies and decided which job was the best fit for me.”
“Jeanne Fiske is a prime example of the type of staff and quality we’re looking for,” said Stefanie Gorder, senior vice president at Premier Alaska Tours. “She’s incredible and has worked for years in this industry. If it wasn’t for the job fair, she may not have put a name to our company.”
Premier has participated in the job fair for the last five years and prefers to hire knowledgeable, long-time Alaskans who have exciting stories to share with tourists. Gorder says the fair is the best way for them to get the word out about job openings.
“We’re able to talk to people face-to-face, pick up resumes and even conduct on-site interviews,” said Gorder. “Job seekers can interview prospective employers as much as we interview them.”
The job fair will be held at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., on Thursday, January 4, 2007. Last year’s job fair was very successful with 30 employers participating and nearly 500 job seekers.
“The timing is perfect,” said Linda Brandon, customer service & sales manager with Major Marine Tours. “The job fair is one place where we know many of the people coming are college students, our target group for summer jobs.”
Several companies registered for the job fair include Alaska Airlines, Premier Alaska Tours, Alaska Coach Tours, Ciri Tourism, Nana Management Services, Princess Tours, Royal Celebrity Tours, Denali Park Resorts, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Once in a Blue Moose.
Employers are hoping to fill approximately 500 jobs ranging from office positions to jobs working on boats, airline flights and on rail tours. Some of the positions include motor coach driver/guides, boat deckhands, lodge chef, bartender, barista/espresso clerk, bell person, front desk clerk, rail services onboard server, charter tour guide and customer service and sales.
“It’s thrilling for me to go to exciting places with fun people,” said Fiske. “I tell people I’ve finally found what I wanted to do after I grew up. I have a dream job.”
The job fair is sponsored by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Travel Industry Association Anchorage Chapter.
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 Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center 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
