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12/9/02 - December A Record Month For Anchorage Me

NEWS RELEASE

Anchorage, Alaska – Dec. 9, 2002

"December A Record Month For Anchorage Meetings"

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) reports that meetings and conventions taking place in the Municipality of Anchorage during December will bring more than $2.5 million in estimated economic impact (EEI) to the city.

“This is the highest EEI on record for December,” said Bruce Bustamante, president and CEO for the ACVB. “Typically December is little slower meeting month due to the winter holiday season, but not this year.”

Two large state meetings took place in December: the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ “BIA Providers Conference,” which brought an estimated 1,500 meeting delegates from around the state to Anchorage Dec. 2-6, 2002, and the First Alaskans Institute’s “Second Annual Alaskan Native Education Summit,” which brought approximately 1,200 to the city Dec. 9-10, 2002. Combined EEI for the two meetings was $1.36 million. Several smaller state, regional and national meetings rounded out the month, for a total of 17 meetings.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage, which was named an All-America City by the National Civic League for the fourth time in 2002. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by half of the bed tax collected by hotels. The other half goes to the Municipality’s general fund. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.anchorage.net.

CONTACTS:

Nance Larsen
(907) 257-2310
nlarsen@anchorage.net