News Release
Anchorage.net Users Build Their Trips Online: New ACVB Itinerary Builder Makes Travel Planning Easy and Personal
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – June 28, 2007 – Alaska travel planning just became a little more personal thanks in part to the new interactive Itinerary Builder recently launched by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.Anchorage.net. The Itinerary Builder engages site visitors with tailored options of what to see and do while in Anchorage.
“Alaska is big with an endless array of adventures,” says Julie Saupe, president and CEO for the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB.) “Our visitors may want to experience area culture and heritage, explore nearby accessible wilderness, cast a line for some world-class fishing or do anything in between. Time is valuable and travelers today have less of it available for vacation planning. The Itinerary Builder provides an easy online tool to plan a personalized Alaska vacation based on interest, budget and trip duration.”
The user-friendly Itinerary Builder allows visitors to plan each day of their Alaska adventure. The days are broken into morning, afternoon and evening segments, containing interchangeable event options that allow the user to customize their experience. Quick reference icons such as dollar signs, a sun symbol and snowflakes allow the Itinerary Builder user to plan their vacation based on season and budget. Site users are also given the option of generating a random 7-day itinerary. The Itinerary Builder can also serve users as an online “idea” instrument allowing visitors to explore the plethora of Anchorage activities, events and adventures before they arrive.
The Itinerary Builder is accessible within the “Plan a Trip” area on www.Anchorage.net or on www.Anchorage.net/mytrip. “The hardest part of vacation planning is sifting through all of the information that’s out there,” said Cathryn Posey, ACVB Web Coordinator. “The Itinerary Builder helps refine searching for travelers. They can find the information they want quickly, then use their custom built itinerary as a guide, share suggested itineraries with their travel companions by email or even book their trip.”
A site user’s personal itinerary is associated with ACVB’s Itinerary Builder through the use of persistent cookies. As long as the visitor doesn’t clear the cookies or switch computers, the itinerary will remain available for one year.
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 & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.
###
Media Contacts:
Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@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
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
