Anchorage: a winter tourism destination: Alaska's largest city has a lot to offer winter guests, and tourism agencies are working hard to market it.

• Author: Pardes, Joan

Let's face it. Alaska was built on sheer moxie. Whether it was the gold, oil or simply the call of the wild that lured people north, it was the dream of the future that made them stay. Despite formidable obstacles (weather, location, logistics, etc.), determined individuals have continually staked their claim in America's far north and built what many thought were impossible. So when Alaskans seem to have some crazy ideas, it's best to remember that it's the wild ideas that actually created the Alaska of today.

For example, a few years ago, Alaska's attempt to position itself as a year-round destination market was met with wide-scale skepticism. But by combining the pioneer spirit of yesteryear with modern-day business practices, Alaska's winter tourism numbers are growing. So, before you laugh at the idea of marketing Alaska's largest city as a winter destination, just remember--what may seem like a wild idea in the rest of the world, may very well be the blueprint of the future [or the Last Frontier.

SELLING WINTER--ANCHORAGE STYLE

With 42 full-time employees, a dancing moose as its mascot and an operating budget fueled by a portion of the city's bed tax and member dues, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau is wild about tourism--especially winter tourism.

"The winter market has a huge potential for us," said ACVB's Communication Director Nance Larsen. "We're actively trying to grow our winter tourism numbers by focusing on attracting conventions and world-class events, as well as offering great recreational activities."

According to Larsen, research shows that travelers who head north during the winter months follow the national trend of adding vacation days to business trips.

"We're seeing an increase in pre- and post-tours around large conventions, and because travel trends are showing a shortage of time for travelers, many people take the opportunity to bring family members to exotic locations in conjunction with a conference. Anchorage definitely fits that trend," explained Larsen. "The opportunity to visit Anchorage in the winter is definitely a draw to convention delegates.

"As for events, more and more people are vacationing around an event. So they might come up for a festival or the Iditarod, but then they will tack on a few days on either side to take advantage of the other cultural or recreational activities that the city offers."

While the statewide winter tourism numbers for the 2002/03 season total out to 250,000...