Logistics LLC increases visitor impact: high-end corporate client incentives pay off.

AuthorO'Connell, Dianne
PositionCONVENTIONS/MEETINGS: SPECIAL SECTION

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It's convention season again, and 2010 looks promising. While past years have seen a slowdown, this is one of Alaska's best.

Logistics LLC, a destination management and meeting and event planning company based in Anchorage, also with an office in Seattle, has eight major incentive programs in the planning for this summer. For one, Brother International, the provider of home and office printers, electronic stationery and sewing machines, is bringing 80 members of its Presidential Club to Alaska for a five-night program at the Alyeska Resort that will include a chartered train and glacier cruise experience, private dinner event at the Alaska Native Heritage Center and many exclusive activities.

"It's the top incentive trip they offer in the company and Logistics will be handling all the details from the time they arrive until they depart," says Toni Walker, owner of Logistics LLC.

"A regular convention brings an economic impact to the city and/or state of about $700 to $900 per participant into the local economy," Walker says. "But a high-end, corporate incentive event or program brings in three to four times that amount per person. These companies spend a great deal to provide a unique, high-quality, once-in-a-lifetime experience for their top-producing employees, important clients and associates."

Allstate Insurance is sponsoring three different incentive programs in Alaska through Logistics, for a total of 1,600 participants. Three hundred participants will spend tour days at the Alyeska Resort and 600 participants will spend three days there, where they will enjoy a private train charter, private glacier cruise, exclusive hosted activities and dine-arounds that have bought out eight restaurants in the Girdwood and Seward areas. The 700-person group will then join the 600 participants on a private seven-day Inside Passage Cruise departing from Seward to Vancouver.

"It should be a very good year," Walker says. "Even years are always better than odd years for some reason. But even so, I've been in business for 15 years and 2009 was the worst year of those 15 and 2010 is promising to be the best.

"Companies are not sending their people to overseas destinations right now because of the higher costs, poor exchange rates and the negative perception. This makes Alaska a very attractive alternate overseas destination."

When a company contracts with Logistics for an incentive event, the program might include a customized...

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