There’s more reason than ever for your clients to plan an Alaska adventure in 2009. The state is celebrating its 50th anniversary of statehood all year long and, judging from state and industry plans, this will be a year to remember.
According to the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), more than 1.7 million travelers visited Alaska in the summer of 2008, remaining consistent with 2007 traffic. ATIA says travelers can expect to see Alaska businesses offering travel specials as a way to spur reservations for the upcoming summer season. This will make an Alaska vacation less expensive than it has been in years.
Alaska hosted more than 1.7 million visitors in 2008, according to the ATIA.
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"A lot of Americans are tightening their belts this year, but our research shows most are still planning some leisure travel," said Ron Peck, president and COO of ATIA. "Alaska is a great value because it offers a rich cultural experience along with amazing scenery. On top of that, many Alaska destinations and attractions will be on sale in 2009 in honor of the state’s 50th anniversary of statehood. Now is definitely the time to visit."
With that in mind, TravelAge West has scoured the state to find the best deals, new attractions and most notable updates for you to share with your clients.
Anchorage
The 90,000-square-foot expansion project at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center will open its first phase on May 30. Visitors can expect a cafe, an expanded gift shop, a Chugach Mountains viewing gallery, a children’s gallery and new exhibits. www.anchoragemuseum.org
The 90,000-square-foot expansion project at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center will open its first phase on May 30. Visitors can expect a cafe, an expanded gift shop, a Chugach Mountains viewing gallery, a children’s gallery and new exhibits.
The new Rainbows and Corn tour is now a permanent offering at Chugach Powder Guides. The six-day, rainbow-trout fishing and corn-snow skiing experience departs from Anchorage in early June. Helicopters are used to access the prime areas for both skiing and fishing, which are some of the best Alaska has to offer during the most pleasurable month of the Alaska summer. www.chugachpowderguides.com
Perfect for the adventurous at heart, the new Bear and Raven Adventure Theater offers a unique Alaska experience through locally produced movies about Alaska. Visitors will "travel" from Anchorage to Nome in 30 minutes on the Iditarod Trail experiencing blizzards, fog banks and the aurora borealis. Clients can also hook a virtual fish, mush a team of virtual sled dogs or take a virtual hot-air balloon ride. www.bearsquare.net
Fairbanks
In 2009, Fairbanks debuts the 30,000-square-foot Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, featuring more than 60 carriages, steam cars, brass-era autos, luxurious 1930’s sedans and oddities such as early electric cars, midget racers and cycle cars. This museum is a must-stop for the antique car enthusiast. www.fountainheadhotels.com/auto
In 2009, Fairbanks debuts the 30,000-square-foot Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, featuring more than 60 carriages, steam cars, brass-era autos, luxurious 1930’s sedans and oddities such as early electric cars, midget racers and cycle cars. This museum is a must-stop for the antique car enthusiast.
One of my favorite Fairbanks hotels, the Alpine Lodge, has completed its cafe and is now offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Within two minutes of Fairbanks International Airport, this modern hotel aims to please with quality service and well-furnished rooms. www.akalpinelodge.com
Fountainhead Hotels will begin offering guests a new trolley service around the Fairbanks area — a once-around should give any client a good sampling of Fairbanks life and attractions. Stops include downtown Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Museum of the North, Pioneer Park and the Alaska Salmon Bake, as well as the three Fountainhead properties: Sophie Station, Wedgewood Resort and the Bridgewater Hotel. Guests of the Wedgewood Resort will find a new trail to explore at the Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary this summer following completion of a model wetlands restoration project. The Wander Lake Trail is slated to open in August and will include a photography blind near the lake. www.fountainheadhotels.com
RV enthusiasts can now fly into Fairbanks and enjoy new, no-hassle guided caravan tours with Adventure in Alaska RV Rentals. The tour operator is offering a special price on a $4,300 tour package for only $1,500 for a motorhome rental from Alaska to anywhere on the West Coast. www.adventuresakrv.com
Starting this fall, Warbelow’s Air Ventures will begin offering guided polar bear viewing flights to Kaktovik on Alaska’s Arctic Ocean. A rare experience for most individuals, studying polar bears in their natural habitat is a real treat, especially when the fall colors reach their peak in early to mid-September. www.warbelows.com
Girdwood
Alyeska Resort is one of the best you’ll find in south-central Alaska, and exploring the slopes with Kim Reichhelm — the former U.S. Ski Team member, who is also Alyeska Resort’s Ski School director — just can’t be beat. Kim Reichhelm’s Ski Adventures is offering a five-day camp for experienced skiers. Hosted by the ski-in, ski-out Hotel Alyeska, the camp includes guided skiing and instruction, six nights’ accommodation, three lift tickets, one day of snowcat skiing, one day of helicopter skiing, a welcome reception, two dinners and daily apres-ski parties with a video analysis. If clients wish to take it easy, they have the option to ski the resort exclusively rather than embarking on a snowcat or heli-skiing adventure. www.skiwithkim.com
Alyeska Resort is one of the best you’ll find in south-central Alaska, and exploring the slopes with Kim Reichhelm — the former U.S. Ski Team member, who is also Alyeska Resort’s Ski School director — just can’t be beat. Kim Reichhelm’s Ski Adventures is offering a five-day camp for experienced skiers. Hosted by the ski-in, ski-out Hotel Alyeska, the camp includes guided skiing and instruction, six nights’ accommodation, three lift tickets, one day of snowcat skiing, one day of helicopter skiing, a welcome reception, two dinners and daily apres-ski parties with a video analysis. If clients wish to take it easy, they have the option to ski the resort exclusively rather than embarking on a snowcat or heli-skiing adventure.
Nome
Visitors to Nome can now view one of the world’s most unique mammals — the shaggy-haired musk ox — in comfort with Nome Discovery Tours’ new snowcat adventure. The eight-passenger track vehicle provides access to remote locations during the winter to view wildlife and learn about Nome’s colorful history. www.nomechamber.org
Seward
In June, Alaska Wildland Adventures unveils its latest endeavor, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Located inside the park borders, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is nestled near a wildlife sanctuary with panoramic views of Pedersen Glacier. New accommodation options are available at Angels Rest on Resurrection Bay with the addition of a new waterfront cabin and a new four-unit cabin slated to open this summer. www.angelsrest.com
www.kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com
In June, Alaska Wildland Adventures unveils its latest endeavor, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Located inside the park borders, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is nestled near a wildlife sanctuary with panoramic views of Pedersen Glacier. New accommodation options are available at Angels Rest on Resurrection Bay with the addition of a new waterfront cabin and a new four-unit cabin slated to open this summer.
Sitka
Exploring some of the inside coves or the entrance to Glacier Bay is great from a cruise ship, but even more spectacular with wildlife, whales and icebergs practically in your face when viewed from a smaller yacht. Parker Guide Service is inviting travelers to tailor an adventure cruise aboard the Alaskan Harvest. The new, 80-foot luxury yacht can accommodate groups of up to 12 and features five private guest cabins. Excursions depart from Sitka, Juneau or Petersburg. www.alaskaboatcruises.com
Exploring some of the inside coves or the entrance to Glacier Bay is great from a cruise ship, but even more spectacular with wildlife, whales and icebergs practically in your face when viewed from a smaller yacht. Parker Guide Service is inviting travelers to tailor an adventure cruise aboard the Alaskan Harvest. The new, 80-foot luxury yacht can accommodate groups of up to 12 and features five private guest cabins. Excursions depart from Sitka, Juneau or Petersburg.
Skagway
The White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&YR) narrow gauge railway was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush and is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with icons like the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. The WP&YR is one of Alaska’s most popular cruiseship shore excursions and North America’s busiest tourist railroad, carrying 437,660 passengers in 2008. This is a must-experience tour if your clients are visiting Skagway, especially with the railroad upgrading its engines this year. www.wpyr.com
The White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&YR) narrow gauge railway was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush and is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with icons like the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. The WP&YR is one of Alaska’s most popular cruiseship shore excursions and North America’s busiest tourist railroad, carrying 437,660 passengers in 2008. This is a must-experience tour if your clients are visiting Skagway, especially with the railroad upgrading its engines this year.
Cruise and Tours
Fantasy Cruises is introducing a newly remodeled vessel to its fleet of small-ship cruises. The eco-friendly vessel runs on batteries at night and is the only ship of its kind to sleep more than 30 passengers. Also new is a 360-degree, top-deck viewing lounge, offering guests panoramic views of coastal Alaska. www.smallalaskaship.com
Fantasy Cruises is introducing a newly remodeled vessel to its fleet of small-ship cruises. The eco-friendly vessel runs on batteries at night and is the only ship of its kind to sleep more than 30 passengers. Also new is a 360-degree, top-deck viewing lounge, offering guests panoramic views of coastal Alaska.
Phillips Cruises offers one of the best day-cruise tours of Prince William Sound’s magnificent hanging and alpine glaciers, wildlife and ocean beauty found in south-central Alaska. It even guarantees its boat won’t make clients seasick. The claim proved valid for me — Phillips Cruises’ catamaran did a great job of taming the waves, and I didn’t get the slightest bit queasy. www.26glaciers.com
Be sure to check out Gray Line of Alaska’s new self-drive tours to Homer and Valdez and its escorted land tours. Responding to an evolving market, the tour operator has introduced customizable itineraries to suit each traveler’s schedule and desired sightseeing agenda. www.graylinealaska.com
Get ready to get carded if you turn 50 years old this year. Throughout 2009, the Alaska Railroad is offering a free day of rail travel to anyone born in 1959, the same year Alaska became a U.S. state. The Alaska Railroad 50th birthday offer is valid for travel in Adventure Class Service on Denali Star, Coastal Classic, Glacier Discovery, Hurricane and Aurora Winter train. The offer is good for roundtrip or one-way travel, as long as the trip occurs over the course of one day. To qualify for the promotion, the birth date must fall on or between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1959. www.alaskarailroad.com
Only Online
Scroll down to read about Holland America Line's new Alaska tours and Group Sales e-kit
Highlights of HAL
The line’s new tours and online sales kit garner attention
By Christopher Batin
Travel professionals can access Holland America Line’s (HAL) new Alaska Group Sales e-Kit online. The kit includes a number of selling tools to help maximize group sales on HAL’s cruises and cruise tours in Alaska and the Yukon.
"These materials have been developed to help travel professionals successfully communicate the benefits of booking a group tour to Alaska with Holland America Line." said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Many of the tools can be customized, and group benefits, such as dinner in the Pinnacle Grill and tour conductor credits, can be just the right incentive to help close the sale."
Travel Agent Headquarters (HollandAmerica.com/travelAgentHQ/Main.action) is the line’s resource center for travel professionals. Agents can sign up online and receive sales tools, email promotions, training and other information.
Agents should also note that clients can now add a few more days onto their trip in 2009, with six new Express Tours. Express Tours combine a weeklong cruise through the Inside Passage with two or three nights in Anchorage and Talkeetna, Alaska. While there, visitors can take in a quaint town and its moose dropping festival, as well as take exciting riverboat tours up to Devil’s Canyon via Mahay’s Riverboat Service.
Considered a leader in Alaska tourism with more than 60 years experience in the region, HAL’s 2009 Alaska cruise lineup includes eight ships sailing three different itineraries with 158 total departures. The premium line’s three major cruising itineraries — Glacier Bay Inside Passage, Glacier Discovery and Alaskan Explorer — showcase the highlights of Alaska gleaned from decades of experience.
A longtime tour operator, HAL has again been awarded the most Glacier Bay permit entries of any cruise line. On many travelers’ must-see lists, Glacier Bay is a 65-mile long fjord with spectacular tidewater glaciers.
www.hollandamerica.com
