News Release

Bed Tax Revenues Exceed $18 Million: ACVB Reports Unprecedented Year in 2006

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Jan. 18, 2007 – Anchorage received an unparalleled $18 million from hotel and motel bed taxes collected in 2006, just one of visitor industry’s record-breaking economic contributions to city last year. The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) released 2006 visitor industry economic impact figures and its 2007 goals today at the annual “Report to the Community” membership luncheon at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center.

“Last year was an exciting, unprecedented year for Anchorage and ACVB. In addition to the $18 million raised in bed tax, the visitor industry provided more than $248 million in estimated economic impact to the city,” said Nance Larsen, ACVB’s vice president of communications and marketing programs and this year’s Report to the Community presenter. “We surpassed goals in every area, from convention sales to communications, membership and tourism development sales.”

ACVB’s convention sales team sold or booked 739 meetings with an estimated economic impact (EEI) of more than $112 million. Four large national conventions chose Anchorage as a future meeting site due to the increased convention space afforded by the new Dena’ina Center, including USA Canada Lions Leadership Forum, National Defense Transportation Association, National Association of Postmasters of the United States, and IEEE Systems, Man & Cybernetics Conference.

There were 633 conventions held in 2006, with an EEI of more than $97.7 million. Among these were the Wildlife Society, Alaska Federation of Natives, National Indian Education Association and The American Association of Physics Teachers. The 26th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games was among the large events the city hosted, bringing more than 600 athlete and 2,000 family members to Anchorage.

More than one million tourists explored Anchorage and surrounding areas for an EEI of $151 million. The ACVB Tourism Development Sales team provided training to more than 2,500 travel agents and tour operators on what Anchorage has to offer visitors. Educating travel trade is a critical component to increasing visitor numbers.

In 2006, Anchorage received top destination rankings. Orbitz Insider Index ranked the city ninth, as the perfect summer city getaway. VirtualTourist.com listed Anchorage as number nine in the VirtualTourist Up-and-Comers Index. Anchorage was voted number eight in a list of top 10 U.S. walking cities by “Prevention” magazine in a joint study with the American Podiatric Medical Association. “Field & Stream” magazine’s 2006 list of America’s top 20 best fishing cities rated Anchorage as 10th in the country. For 2007, Anchorage came in at number six as part of Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associations top 2007 domestic destinations, and second in the organization’s list of top cruise destinations.

ACVB’s communications department pulled in top awards for its marketing and public relations efforts. Anchorage.net was presented with a 2006 Web Award for outstanding achievement in Web site development from the Web Marketing Association. ACVB’s “Flat Seymour” was honored with a Best Idea program outstanding achievement award by the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. ACVB’s public relations and marketing programs received first place in five categories in the Public Relations Society of America’s Alaska Chapter Aurora Awards program.

Traffic on Anchorage.net increased significantly in 2006 as follows: More than 669,000 unique Web visitors per month; 4.6 million page views in the year; more than 846,000 visits.

ACVB’s Visitor Information Centers saw 214,130 visitors, assisted by volunteers who contributed more 9,811 hours. The ACVB Community, Member & Visitor Relations department introduced several new products to entice visitors and generate visibility for its members, including a menu dossier, Web advertising options and e-marketing opportunities. Last year 107 new members joined ACVB, bringing the total to 1,205 members.

The 2007 nationwide travel forecast indicates that flights, hotel rooms and rental cars will cost more – domestic coach airfares up 3 - 5 percent, mid-range hotels up 2 - 6 percent and luxury hotel rates up 3 - 8 percent. The American airline industry will turn a profit, and more than 54 million foreign travelers will visit the United States, a healthy 5.5 percent growth in international air travel. Other trends indicate that demand for leisure travel will outpace business travel, family travel will continue to grow and incidence of Internet travel planning will remain flat, packaging will grow in popularity, and cruise industry will enjoy remarkable growth.

ACVB outlined its 2007 goals, which include booking $90 million in meetings and conventions, maximizing attendance for meetings booked in 2007 and 2008, increasing Web-based training for travel trade, developing niche markets, generating advertising equivalence of $8.5 million in national print, television and electronic editorial, securing 925,000 visitors to Anchorage.net, retaining 90 percent of ACVB’s members and increasing Visitor Information Center numbers by 8 percent.

“Visitors from around the globe are drawn to Anchorage for its nature, wildlife, and variety of easily accessible year-round adventure and cultural activities,” said Larsen. “First-class restaurants and lodging and the availability of direct flights from across the country make Anchorage a perfect destination for travelers looking for something out of the ordinary.”

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

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