Mat-Su CVB celebrates 30 years

This year, the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrates 30 years of marketing the Mat-Su Valley to potential visitors around the world. Throughout those 30 years, both the CVB and the Valley in general have grown and evolved, but the core mission of attracting visitors and positively impacting the local economy has been a constant.

In 1986, a dedicated board of directors came together to form the CVB with humble beginnings. Thirty years later, the CVB’s impact can be felt throughout the local economy, as tourism numbers have continued to grow, and with that, new businesses have opened to meet the demand, creating opportunities that didn’t previously exist.

The Mat-Su CVB uses a targeted marketing strategy to reach potential visitors from a number of different sectors, to maximize the return on investment. We reach local Alaskans, domestic and international visitors, travel trade (group tours and agents) as well as travel media, through a variety of marketing efforts. The Mat-Su CVB’s mission statement is applicable throughout all these different sectors – “grow tourism.”

By growing tourism, we help grow the local economy. When visitors come to the Valley, they obviously spend money on hotels, bed and breakfasts, attractions and tours. They also frequent restaurants, shopping centers and more. That is money that stays in our community. Restaurants, for example, use those visitor dollars to not only pay their staff, but also to purchase more products from local farmers, keeping visitor industry expenditures circulating. As a result, a healthy tourism industry truly is everyone’s business.

Thirty years ago, investment in a Web site would have sounded ludicrous. Today, it’s a necessity, and one that changes at a lightning pace due to technological advancements. In conjunction with the 30-year anniversary, the CVB is investing in a completely redesigned Web site that will give visitors even more tools and functionality to explore the Mat-Su Valley – and spend their visitor dollars here. Online marketing efforts have increased steadily the last several years, and the Web site and digital marketing remain the CVB’s top investment. The redesigned site is expected to launch in May.

The last 30 years have brought many changes in how we market the Mat-Su Valley to visitors, and I’m sure the next 30 will bring new challenges as well. One constant, however, is our community. Locals are our greatest ambassadors. This year, invite your friends and relatives to visit Alaska and the Mat-Su Valley. Encourage them to experience our beautiful state, our scenic beauty, our glaciers, our wildlife, our wilderness. Chances are, they’ll go home amazed and awed, and turn into another advocate for our tourism industry.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau.