Mat-Su CVB celebrates 25 years

MAT-SU — The Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau celebrated its 25th anniversary with a community barbecue on Thursday afternoon, with more than 100 people turning out for a free lunch and live music from The Glenn Highway Girls.

The Mat-Su CVB markets the Valley as a visitor destination and was formed in 1986 through a grassroots effort that included current Mat-Su Borough Assemblywoman Cindy Bettine and longtime Valley residents Suzi Bock and Helga Larson.

“It was a great chance to reflect on the last 25 years, and more importantly think about what the next 25 years will bring,” said Mat-Su CVB Executive Director Bonnie Quill. “We’ve done big things in the past 25 years as an organization, and we’re excited about what we can do in the next 25.”

What started out as a volunteer board-run organization with one employee has evolved into an organization that markets the Mat-Su both nationally and internationally, as well as to Alaska residents. The organization attends national tour operator conventions, hosts travel writers, produces a visitor guide and takes part in cooperative marketing opportunities through the state’s tourism office. Among its other marketing efforts, the CVB has also invested in a new website, alaskavisit.com, which gives visitors a bevy of options to research trips.

“We market to Alaskans, of course, but we also use a targeted marketing approach to reach tour operators, independent visitors, highway travelers and international visitors,” Quill said. “I’m proud of the way we reach each segment of the tourism market with a limited budget.”

The CVB employs four full-time staff members, as well as a seasonal visitor center staff of eight.

The Visitor Information Center, located in front of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, assists travelers with information, tips and more throughout the summer months. The CVB is in the process of trying to secure property and construct a new visitor center in the future.

“With the development of our current area, as well as with the routing of the highway, people can’t get to our center, and we miss a lot of folks,” Quill said. “Our vision for a new visitor center is not only to assist visitors, but also to be a community gathering place that will benefit the entire Mat-Su Valley.”

The process began with the awarding of a National Scenic Byway grant three years ago. Currently, site selections are complete and the organization is in the process of gathering support, partnerships and applying for grants for the next step in the project.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su CVB.