As an association, the Alaska Travel Industry Association has been in existence for over four years. It is a trade and marketing trade association representing over 1000 large and small tourism and travel-related businesses throughout the state of Alaska. Alaska Travel Industry Association offices are located in Anchorage, Alaska, with a staff of 19 who work under the guidance of a board of directors comprised of 23 tourism and travel business leaders who represent and work for its 900 businesses.
The Alaska Travel Industry Association Foundation offers a scholarship program that assists Alaskan students who are pursuing post-secondary training specifically in our industry. Annually, more than twenty students receive financial awards to help them pursue higher education. Only support from the industry enables the Travel Industry Association Foundation to offer these scholarships.
Alaska Travel Industry Association staff works with other tourism industry stakeholders, such as Convention and Visitors Bureaus, other Alaska travel related industry associations, online travel corporation and neighboring governmental tourism jurisdictions in the development of the worldwide marketing campaign. In cooperation with the State of Alaska, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, AlaskaTravel Industry Association marketing efforts have been industry lead, market driven and research based.
Alaska Travel Industry Association Board of Directors establishes overall policy, gives budget approval and provides oversight for all programs. The Marketing Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and is charged with the responsibility of developing the annual marketing plan. The role of the Marketing Committee is to plan and execute a global marketing campaign promoting Alaska as a prime visitor destination that will increase the economic impact of tourism throughout Alaska. Professional staff and contractors, under the direction of the Board of Directors and its Marketing Committee, implement the marketing plan.
As an organization, the Alaska Travel Industry Association needs a sense of direction. The Alaska Travel Industry Association Board of Directors provided this vision: Alaska Travel Industry Association will be the leading industry organization promoting Alaska as a top visitor destination, communicating and promoting the Alaskan tourism industry as one of the state's major economic forces, and will be the respected voice of the industry for the growth of the industry, while remaining attentive to care for the environment, recognition of cultures and Alaska unique quality of life.
As a trade association, Alaska Travel Industry Association strives to work for and understand the needs of Alaska tourism businesses. As the statewide tourism association, Alaska Travel Industry Association monitors and tracks tourism issues that may impact tourism businesses in Alaska.