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MAT-SU — An overwhelming percentage of Mat-Su Valley visitors come during the busy summer season, but for residents, there’s no better time to enjoy the Valley than during the “off” season for tourism.
Deals can be had for Alaskans looking to explore and have fun prior to the arrival of tourists, and several organizations — including the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau — have established websites to inform Alaskans about deals.
“What has typically been considered the ‘off’ season has become popular with Alaskans because you can experience a lot of the things you’ve always wanted to experience, but at a discounted price,” explained Mat-Su CVB Executive Director Bonnie Quill.
For example, if a family has always wanted to do an overnight trip and rent all-terrain vehicles for a true outing, but hasn’t been able to afford it, the value-pricing during the “off” season makes it more affordable.
The Mat-Su CVB has promoted its “Valley Values” campaign (www.alaskavisit.com/valleyvalues) to Alaskans looking to visit the Valley. In a similar effort, the Alaska Travel Industry Association established www.alaskashottestdeals.com last year as a way to promote special savings for Alaskans. Deals range from snowmachine trips to overnight stays at lodges and bed and breakfasts.
While offering discounts during the winter obviously benefits residents looking to save money, business owners also win by effectively extending their season beyond the traditional “tourism” months of May through September.
The weeks before and after the busiest part of the summer have traditionally been dubbed the “shoulder season” for tourism, but more and more businesses are trying to capture the winter market by extending special rates to Alaskans.
“An empty seat on a tour or an empty bed in a hotel doesn’t help the business owner,” Quill said. “But having that seat or bed booked, even at a discounted price, helps the business owner fill in their openings when they otherwise may not be booked.”
Casey Ressler is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau.
ON THE WEB
Mat-Su CVB “Valley Values”
www.alaskavisit.com/valleyvalues
Alaska Travel Industry Association
Anchorage information
Fairbanks information
www.explorefairbanks.com/coupons
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