Speaker points to tourism

Feb. 13, 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

PALMER - Bill Geist, owner of Zeitgeist Consultants, brought his finger to the Mat-Su Valley Wednesday.

And with his finger, which he normally keeps firmly pressed to the pulse of the country's tourism industry, Geist pointed out to Mat-Su business owners that tourism effects everyone.

All businesses need to work together to make the Valley a tourism haven in Alaska, Geist said.

Andy Couch, owner of Fish Tail River Guides agreed.

&#8220The tourism industry has far-reaching effects. It touches every business in the borough,” Couch said.

And tourism affects all Valley residents, business owners or not, Couch said. He said he liked a particular statistic of Geist's: Revenue from tourism in Illinois saved homeowners there $550 in yearly taxes. Wisconsin homeowners saved $950.

Tourist destinations need to recognize and present their unique resources, Geist said.

For example, Couch, who guides fishing trips on the Little Susitna River, said generous salmon limits in the Valley help attract visitors to his business.

Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau's main marketing effort is to make the Mat-Su a base camp for Alaska travelers, said Bonnie Quill, executive director of Mat-Su CVB. A day's drive can get visitors to Knik Glacier, the musk ox farm and Denali National Park.

&#8220You can get the whole Alaska experience from the Mat-Su,” Quill said.

The bureau wants its marketing to set the Valley apart from other destinations in Alaska.

&#8220Sell the uniqueness that Bill (Geist) was talking about,” Quill said.

The Mat-Su is authentic Alaska, Quill said. Visitors can go to Talkeetna, fly out and land on a glacier and be on Mount McKinley. They can go to Matanuska Glacier and walk on glacier ice, or stop by a sled-dog kennel and hold a husky puppy.

Quill thinks the Mat-Su's role in Alaska tourism is changing.

&#8220The Valley used to be considered a pass through, but that idea is outdated,” Quill said.

Rose Ridge Bed and Breakfast owner Diane Rose has run her Valley business since 1999. Rose Ridge is near Hatcher Pass, so Rose tries to market her lodging to outdoor enthusiasts, although she said she is always changing, advertising and figuring out how to do things differently.

Rose Ridge is &#8220in between somewhere and somewhere else,” Rose said, which can be a problem.

Travelers stop at her bed and breakfast on their way, say, from Denali to Seward or Homer. These stop-overs usually last only one night and Rose said she tries to figure out &#8220how do we get people to stay in the Valley longer?”

Rose said she'll try to keep lodgers by offering packaged trips to visitors with several days of activities and nights at her lodge.

Rose said Geist's presentation was good and that his ideas brought from outside Alaska were helpful.

&#8220We don't often host national speakers,” Rose said.

For more information about trends in tourism, interested people can visit www.zgeist.com.

Contact Russell Stigall at

352-2267 or russell.stigall@

frontiersman.com.