News Release
ACVB Books More than $12 Million In National and International Business
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Nov. 17, 2008 – The doors at the new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center have barely been open for a month, and already Anchorage’s expanded meeting facilities are busy. At the same time, larger groups that Anchorage can now accommodate are starting to book the Anchorage Convention Centers. The sales staff at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau has booked more than $12 million in business, including seven national and four international conventions over the last few months. That includes two large sporting events and two conferences that will bring 3,750 delegates to the city in the coming year.
“We’ve been selling the Dena’ina Center since the ballot issue passed in 2005, but it’s getting much easier to get firm commitments now that we can actually walk potential clients through this amazing building” said Julie Dodds, ACVB director of convention sales. “Being able to host larger groups, and multiple groups at the same time, is also allowing us to go after business that we never would have entertained in the past.”
Some of the larger conventions booked recently include The World Congress of Epidemiology, which will bring 2,000 delegates (Oct. 1, 2014) with an estimated economic impact (EEI) of $2.3 million. The Neighborhoods USA 36th Annual Conference will bring 1,000 delegates to Anchorage (May 23, 2011) with an EEI of $1.1 million, the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers will host 800 delegates (Sept. 10, 2012) with an EEI of $1.2 million and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery-Annual Scientific Meeting will attract 600 delegates (Sept. 25, 2011) with an EEI of $1.1 million.
In 2009, Anchorage will host the United States Ski & Snowboard Association’s U.S. Alpine Championships, which will bring 1,000 people to Alaska (March 24, 2009) and an EEI of $974,160. The Anchorage Fire Department also will host the Firefighters Hockey Tournament that will attract 450 people (April 6, 2009) and bring an EEI of $438,372. Conventions booked for 2009 include the Alpha Kappa Alpha-Chicago Leadership Conference with 2,000 delegates (July 9, 2009) and an EEI of $2.9 million, and the Association of State Floodplain Managers’ Northwest Mitigation Workshop with 300 delegates (Sept. 13, 2009) and an EEI of $292,248.
In total, ACVB has booked seven national and four international meetings that will bring 9,350 delegates to Anchorage and an EEI of $12,012,837.
At the same time, local and statewide bookings for the new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center remain strong. Meetings or special events are booked in the Dena’ina Center for 28 of 30 days in November. Some of the bigger events scheduled in the new building this month include the Department of Education & Early Development Education Summit (Nov. 13-14, 2008) with 450 delegates and an EEI of $211,842 and the Resource Development Council’s Alaska Resources 2009 Convention (Nov. 19-20, 2008) with 600 delegates and an EEI of $418,134. The Holiday Food and Gift Festival was held at Dena’ina Center last weekend and the Christmas Arts & Crafts Show (Nov. 22-23, 2008) will feature 250 exhibits and an EEI of $605,705.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB’s) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, a contribution established in 1978, and one-third goes to the construction and maintenance costs of the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center and the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.
# # #Media Contacts:
Jeanette Anderson Moores
Public Relations
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
jmoores@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
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