Alaska Business Monthly's 2005 Convention and Facilities Directory: Alaska's lure draws convention attendees to the state.(2005

Advertising campaigns about Alaska's beauty and exciting activities are reaching millions, and drawing more and more conventions and meetings to the state. This is good because voters passed in April 2005 a measure to build a new convention center that will cost $93 million, but not cost Anchorage property taxpayers anything. Most money raised will be through an increase of hotel, motel and B&B room tax.

There are more than 1 million meetings/conventions held nationally each year. Anchorage gets its fair share. The number of conventions/meetings/trade shows held in 2004 (505 total) grew 20 percent over the last year, with $89.7 million worth of meetings. That's a significant increase from 2003, when conventions/meetings/trade shows held totaled $74.4 million (406 total). In 2005, the sales goal is $79 million. In 2004, the sales goal was $75 million, and ACVB went beyond its original goal.

But Anchorage is only a part of the picture. Meetings and conventions are held statewide. Our directory includes 84 hotels and other facilities from around the state that provide meeting space, and include amenities such as an airport shuttle, restaurant, room service, lounge/bar, fitness center, pool and in-room data phones.

Meeting facilities are also located in Chena Hot Springs, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor, Fairbanks, Girdwood, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, King Salmon, Kodiak, Nome, Palmer, along the Parks Highway (Denali), along the Richardson Highway (Copper River), Seward, Sitka, Soldotna, along the Sterling Highway, Talkeetna, Valdez, Wasilla, Wrangell and Wrangell St. Elias.

But our listing would not be complete without a list of convention and visitors bureaus, chambers and meeting planners. Our special section has everything anyone needs to plan a meeting/convention in the state, and even includes an article on themed corporate meetings.

If your facility, CVB, chamber or business is not included in this special section and you would like it to be next year, please contact us. You can e-mail the information to Stacie Hamill at circ@akbizmag.com; fax it to 279-2900; mail it to 501 W. Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite 100, Anchorage AK 99503; or phone it in at 276-4373 in Anchorage or 1-800-770-4373 statewide. Info is also included in the 2006 Power List, which comes out in January. So for updates to your listing or to add your company to the Power List, contact Hamill.

2005 MEETING PLANNERS LISTING

Alaska Display & Retail Supply Inc. 710 Bonanza Ave. Anchorage, AK 99518-1705 Phone: 563-7504 Fax: 563-7899 E-Mail: alaskadisplay@alaska.net Top Executive: Laura Hermansen, Pres. Estab.: 1984 AK Empls.: 3 Services: Decoration, Equipment Rentals.

Art Services North 1100 E. Third Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501-2775 Phone: 279-7500 Fax: 279-7600 E-Mail: artsvc@ak.net Top Executive: Darl Schaaff, Pres./Owner Estab.: 1980 AK Empls.: 5 Services: Decoration, Entertainment/Speakers, Equipment Rentals, Event Consultation, Event Management, Trade Show Management.

Aurora Inn P.O. Box 1008 Nome, AK 99762 Phone: 443-3838 Fax: 443-6380 E-Mail: aurorainn@gci.net

Aurora Productions Inc. 3401 Denali St., Suite 202B Anchorage, AK 99503-4001 Phone: 562-9911 Fax: 562-9889 E-Mail: showpros@ptialaska.net Web Site: auroraproductions.net Top Executive: Steve Shepherd, Pres. Estab.: 1984 AK Empls.: 3 Services: Event Management, Trade Show Management, Corporate Sponsorship.

Big Cabbage Swing Band 634 S. Bailey, Suite 201 Palmer, AK 99645 Phone: 745-3206 Fax: 746-2662 E-Mail: wftull@mtaonline.net Top Executive: Dr. Bill Tull Estab.: 1986 AK Empls.: 7 Services: Entertainment/Speakers, Guest Programs,

Creativation Event Planning 4335 Manor Ave. Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 321-3094 Fax: 790-3949 E-Mail: creativation@ak.net Web Site: mycreativation.com Top Executive: Melissa McCormick, Event Mgr. Estab.: 2000 AK Empls.: 4 Services: Audio/Video Coordination, Budgeting, Catering Coordination, Decoration, Equipment Rentals, Event Consultation, Program Development, Negotiation, Marketing/Promotion, Lighting Design, Invitations, Guest Programs, Gift Bags, Event Management.

Event Specialists Inc. 1415 Bannister Dr. Anchorage, AK 99508-3927 Phone: 276-2087 Fax: 276-5579 E-Mail: lchase@alaska.net Top Executive: Linda Chase, Pres. Estab.: 1981 Services: Corporate Sponsorship, Decoration, Entertainment/Speakers, Event Consultation, Event Management, Gift Bags, Guest Programs, Invitations, Marketing/Promotion, Program Development, Program Evaluation, Public Relations, Reservations/Registration.

Executive Events 216 Sacia Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99712 Phone: 458-2008 Fax: 458-2008 E-Mail: eventplanning2004@hotmail.com Top Executive: Susan Kramer, Owner/Mgr. Estab.: 2004

KO Productions 3019 Riverview Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99709-4736 Phone: 474-9082 Fax: 474-8368 E-Mail: koinc@ptialaska.net Web Site: fairbanksevents.com Top Executive: Kris Knutzen, Pres./Owner Estab.: 1990 AK Empls.: 1 Services: Trade Show Management.

Logistics LLC 329 F St., Suite 206 Anchorage, AK 99501-2202 Phone: 276-6060 Fax: 276-6061 E-Mail: toni@logisticsllc.com Web Site: logisticsllc.com Top Executive: Toni Walker, Pres. Estab.: 1995 AK Empls.: 6 Services: Audio/Video Coordination, Budgeting, Catering Coordination, Corporate Sponsorship, Decoration Entertainment/Speakers, Equipment Rentals, Event Consultation, Program Development, Negotiation, Marketing/Promotion, Lighting Design, Invitations.

Majestic Destinations 4230 Tahoe Dr. Anchorage, AK 99502-7822 Phone: 245-7477 Fax: 245-2051 E-Mail: nelida@alaskamajesticdestinations.com Web Site: alaskamajesticdestinations.com Top Executive: Nelida Irvine, Owner Estab.: 2000 AK Empls.: 4 Services: Audio/Video Coordination, Budgeting, Catering Coordination, Corporate Sponsorship, Decoration, Entertainment/Speakers, Equipment Rentals, Event Consultation, Program Development, Negotiation, Marketing/Promotion, Lighting Design, Invitations.

The Coordinators Inc. 329 F St., Suite 208 Anchorage, AK 99501-2202 Phone: 646-9000 Fax: 646-9001 E-Mail: info@thecoordinatorsinc.com Web Site: thecoordinatorsinc.com Top Executive: Arthur Roraff, Pres. Estab.: 2001 AK Empls.: 4 Services: Event Consultation, Entertainment/Speakers. Catering Coordination, Audio/Video Coordination, Budgeting, Event Management, Gift Bags, Invitations, Negotiation, Program Development, Program Evaluation, Reservations/Registration, Site Selection.

Visions Meeting & Event Management 1415 E. Tudor Rd., Suite 102 Anchorage, AK 99507-1033 Phone: 786-0141 Fax: 562-2016 E-Mail: kzak@visionsak.com Web Site: visionsak.com Top Executive: Karen Zak, Gen. Mgr. Estab.: 1998 AK Empls.: 4 Services: Event Consultation, Equipment Rentals, Entertainment/Speakers, Decoration, Corporate Sponsorship, Catering Coordination, Budgeting, Audio/Video Coordination, Program Development, Negotiation, Marketing/Promotion, Lighting Design, Invitations.

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