News Release

Alaska’s Tournament of Roses Parade Float Rendering Revealed

Anchorage, Alaska – Nov. 24, 2008 – Alaska’s coming up roses as it kicks off 50 years of statehood Jan. 1, 2009, with a spectacular floral float in Pasadena, Calif.’s, 120th annual Tournament of Roses Parade.

Entered by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) with partners across the state, this once-in-a-lifetime effort is six years in the making and is a golden opportunity for Alaska’s golden anniversary.

Designed by award winning float designer, Raul Rodriguez, of Fiesta Parade Floats, the fully animated, organic creation features beautiful floral renderings of five masks, each representing one of Alaska’s diverse cultural regions. The colorful design also showcases the state’s magnificent geography and abundant wildlife along with key elements influencing the state’s growth throughout the years. Adding even more depth to the 22-foot-high by 18-foot-wide by 55-foot-long float will be 10 Alaska Native dancers and drummers performing both traditional and non-traditional songs alongside the float on the 5.5 mile parade route.

Rodriguez’s vision for the float came after a visit to Alaska in late September where he had a chance to tour the vast state from the air, land and sea, as well as meet with Alaska Native cultural experts, historians, artists and tourism experts.

“Having the experience of visiting so many areas of the state and savoring so many different things, I wanted to encompass not only the incredible wilds of the state but its beautiful people as well,” said Rodriguez. “The challenge was to capture the largest state in the union on a 55-foot float.”

Referred to as the “Granddaddy of them all,” the Tournament of Roses parade is viewed by more than 1 million spectators lining the 5.5 mile parade route and a television audience of more than 40 million across the United States and internationally in more than 150 territories.

“This is a great marketing opportunity for Alaska’s visitor industry. Not only will Alaska’s float be visible to a worldwide audience during the parade, the post-parade float viewing event attracts more than 80,000 individuals from across California – a key market for visitors to Alaska – to see the floats close-up,” said Julie Saupe, president and CEO for the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Alaska’s interactive booth at this event will highlight many of the state’s recreation and cultural opportunities, and will be staffed by Alaska travel experts who will encourage participants to explore the 49th state for themselves.”

ACVB’s Tribute to Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood float financial partners include Alaska Travel Industry Association, Association of Seafood Processors, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage Statehood Celebration Committee and State of Alaska, to name a few. For a complete list of sponsors, float rendering and additional information on the Alaska float, as well as an opportunity to win a trip to see the Alaska float in the Tournament or Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., explore www.Anchorage.net/roses.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) 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 annual 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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