Anchorage visitation saw modest gains for the month of February, building on off-season travel and taking advantage of time-tested traditions to round out the month.
Passenger counts at the Anchorage airport were up 11% for February compared to the same month in 2023. More than 146,000 people passed through security at Anchorage's airport, the most of any February since at least prior to 2019. While the count includes residents as well as visitors, it's a good benchmark for visitation to Anchorage and for travel as a whole.
Meetings & Conventions
Fur Rondy is an annual tradition that draws Alaskans and visitors alike at the end of the month, yet February also saw other large gatherings. Meetings, conventions, tradeshows and events brought more than 5,000 people to Anchorage, with an estimated economic impact of more than $9.3 million in the community. Spending is modeled using a national formula developed by Destinations International, and incorporates variables like number of out-of-town participants, dedicated room block, size of the event, hotel rates, and other factors.
Hotels See Improvement in Demand and Rate
Monthly hotel demand grew year over year, the second consecutive month of demand growth for Anchorage. According to STR, a national firm tracking hotel performance, hotel occupancy for the month averaged 61%, buoyed by solid weekend bookings and stronger demand towards the end of the month. Rate also increased, averaging $153 in the municipality. Hotel gross revenue for the month totaled $21.1 million, up 16% compared to the same time frame in 2023.
Not sure what these terms mean? Check the guide to hotel performance.
Anchorage.net Performance
In February, Anchorage's official online travel information source, Anchorage.net, saw a modest, single-digit percentage increase in users compared to the year prior. Top pages included regular favorites like the Official Guide to Anchorage order page and events calendar but also included season-specific views seeking out info for Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, the Iditarod, and aurora viewing.