News Release
We’re In - ACVB Showcases Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood in Rose Parade
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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Aug. 21, 2008 – The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) in conjunction with partners across the state, will highlight Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood with a spectacular floral float during the premier, pre-game event of collegiate football season – the Tournament of Roses Parade - slated for Jan. 1, 2009, in Pasadena, Calif. Viewed by a television audience of more than 40 million people, the event will be broadcast across the United States, as well as in more than 140 territories around the world by ABC, NBC, Univision, HGTV, Travel Channel, and Discovery HD, as well as KWHY and KTLA in the Los Angeles area. Another 80,000 visitors will get an up-close look at the extravagant floral creations during the two and one-half day post-parade viewing event.
Since the late 1800s, the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl have been institutions in American culture. Known as the “Granddaddy of Them All,” the parade features elaborate floral floats that include high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials in breathtaking, visual designs that push the envelope of creativity. Elite marching bands and one-of-a-kind equestrian groups add to the event’s unique visual flavor. In a recent consumer survey, the Tournament of Roses Parade ranked in the top 20 events people want to experience in their lifetime.
“The Tournament of Roses Parade is an unprecedented opportunity to market Alaska by capturing the imagination of a global community. The float will be a tribute to Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood and supports the multiple efforts being presented by the Anchorage Statehood Celebration Committee,” said Nance Larsen, ACVB’s vice president of Communications & Marketing Programs. “This year’s theme, ‘Hats off to Entertainment,’ allows designers to showcase our state’s own unique form of entertainment and our ‘stars’ – Alaska’s abundant natural beauty, stunning scenery, copious wildlife, rich history and indigenous cultural traditions.”
A number of organizations have partnered with the ACVB to showcase Alaska including the Alaska Railroad Corporation, Association of Seafood Processors International, Inc., Anchorage Statehood Celebration Committee, and the Municipality of Anchorage. The minimum float entry fee is $200,000, which includes design and construction of the floral float, approximately 60 feet in length, innovative animation, thousands of flowers, and other natural materials. Alaska entertainers will add to the mix.
“In addition to the broad television audience and more than one million spectators lining the parade route, Alaska’s float will be on display at the post event for two and a half additional days, where it will be viewed by more than 80,000 people,” said Larsen. “This is an unparalleled opportunity to market Alaska to a large audience, including one of the Alaska tourism industry’s most lucrative markets – California. Alaska experts will be on hand during the post event to engage potential future visitors.”
“The Tournament of Roses Parade is an excellent addition to the weekend of statehood celebration activities happening New Years Eve through Statehood Day on Jan. 3, 2009. It allows us another venue to present Alaska’s story to local, national and international audience,” said Tennys Owens, planner and coordinator for the Anchorage Statehood Celebration Committee.
Members of the ACVB Roses committee, which includes financial partners, recently reviewed materials from several top float designers associated with the Tournament of Roses parade and selected four organizations to interview. Fiesta Parade Floats, featuring internationally renowned designer Raul Rodriguez, has been chosen as the float designer. Fiesta is a an award-winning float builder in the Tournament of Roses Parade with a 67 percent winning rate average for the past 20 years, the highest award rate in the Rose Parade industry. Fiesta has built 15 consecutive Sweepstakes Trophy winners in the Rose Parade. Other Fiesta clients include AT&T, New Mexico Tourism Department, Rand McNally Company, Macy’s, Target Stores, and Kaiser Permanente, to name a few. The company also designed the Rose parade centennial celebration floats for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Oklahoma Tourism, and Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (North Carolina).
“Fiesta Parade Floats is proud to be selected to build the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s salute to Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood float for the upcoming 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade,” said Rodriguez. “What a memorable way to kick off the state’s 50th year. We look forward to the awesome challenge of interpreting the history, people, and beauty of Alaska into a floral tribute for the world to enjoy!”
Fiesta will provide several designs from which the committee will choose. Natural materials, including many indigenous to Alaska, will be collected and the building process will begin in October, with the bulk of the work taking place during December.
“This is an event that the entire state can embrace,” said Larsen. “Promotions both in and out of state are currently in development and will be announced in the next few weeks.”
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:
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
Jeanette Anderson Moores
Public Relations
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
mooreswj@gci.net
(907) 229-6925 (cell)
