2002 SEASON AND LOOKS TOWARD FUTURE
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Since entering the Alaska tourism industry in 1997, CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp. has grown from operating one sightseeing cruise company in Seward to owning and operating two sightseeing cruise companies, two lodges, and an RV park, all located throughout Southcentral Alaska. Looking ahead, the company will focus all of its Alaska tourism operations on summer business while building out its "shoulder" seasons of fall and spring, according to CIRI's vice president of tourism, Dennis Brandon. |
 The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge will focus on summer business. |
"Although tourism in Alaska has faced a challenging year, due to the effects of September 11th and the desire of travelers to stay closer to home, CIRI Alaska Tourism products experienced only a slight decrease overall in the number of visitors we saw this summer," said Brandon.
This season, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Seward Windsong Lodge, and Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours' Whittier operation had increased business, while Kenai Fjords Tours experienced flat growth, and Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours' Valdez operation experienced a decrease in business.
The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is the only property that has offered winter operations since it opened in May 1999. With the completion of the 2002 summer season on Sept. 30, the lodge will move to a summer operating schedule, as CIRI's other Alaska tourism operations, and reopen on May 1.
"Now that CIRI Alaska Tourism has completed a fairly substantial and rapid build-out of properties and offerings over the past five seasons, it's time to analyze how we best move forward strategically to take advantage of our producing markets," said Brandon. "Our strategic plan is to focus on the season we know best, which is in the summer, and to build on the shoulder seasons. Soft-adventure tours will continue to be offered for the day as well as one- to several-day visits to Talkeetna, Seward, Whittier and Valdez. We showcase some of the best of Southcentral Alaska - including the Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound, and Mt. McKinley," added Brandon.
CIRI shareholders receive a 30-percent shareholder discount on CIRI Alaska Tourism products. Mention the CIRI shareholder discount when calling to make reservations toll-free at (877) 258-6877 or in Anchorage at (907) 265-4500. For more information about CIRI Alaska Tourism products, visit www.ciritourism.com. CIRI shareholders also receive a special CIRI rate at the Hyatt Regency at Lake Las Vegas Resort. Shareholders must ask about special rates, including the CIRI rate and provide the contract number 62348 when making reservations toll-free at (800) 55-HYATT or through the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Reservations Department at (702) 567-1234, ext. 4111.
