Hotel business: up and down for 2010: loss of cruise ships to Alaska reason for decline.

• Author: Saunders, Barbara
• Position: TOURISM

Is the economy affecting hotel business this year? What impact are we feeling from cruise line cuts, about 140,000 visitors total? What are we going to see in 2011?

Anchorage's Captain Cook and Embassy Suites; Fairbanks' Pike's Waterfront Lodge; and Juneau's Baranof management and sales directors reveal the answers.

CAPTION COOK DIVERSIFIES

At the Hotel Captain Cook, Chris Block, director of sales, says getting bookings is more of a struggle this year.

"We are constantly worried about the economy and the changes in state and out of state," he said. "Tourism has suffered due to the economy and we are constantly working with partners to fill occupancy."

With the hotel portfolio diversified between leisure travelers, tourism, airline components and government travel, to name a few, bookings remain at a more consistent level. Small business owners may be feeling the impact of this year's economy moreso, but a larger hotel has business travelers from many sectors--the legal industry, oil, construction, medical, engineering, architectural. If one sector is down, another may be thriving.

"It's long-standing customers, such as Arctic Slope Regional, Doyon, Calista, Wells Fargo and ConocoPhillips, to name a few, that we value and truly appreciate and consider family here in the hotel," says Darren Hubbard, national corporate sales manager.

The hotel has placed more focus and concentration on travel business from Juneau, Fairbanks, Seattle, Dallas and Houston.

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"We have also added more value within our guest room rates with specials that incorporate such traveler needs such as breakfast, parking or use of the athletic club and always complimentary WiFi," says Hubbard.

Every year, as part of its philosophy, the hotel has continual upgrades to the tune of $1 million to $1.3 million in the budget. This year it may be new flat screens, remodeling the athletic club, new flooring--another year it may be new linens and bedspreads.

That's why Hubbard, who has 18 years experience at the hotel, is proud to say the Captain Cook is one of the best hotels in Alaska. "We sell service and that's why we are able to retain and attain new clients."

Another fact Hubbard feels has added consistency to its service: Walter Hickel Jr., president and CEO of Hickel Investments and the Hotel Captain Cook, has been running the hotel for 38 years.

SUITE BUSINESS UP

Bill Remmer, general manager for Embassy Suites of Anchorage, says travel has been strong...