CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp. celebrates three awards

CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp. (CATC) ended the 2010 summer season on a high note, celebrating three awards and reporting improved summer tourism numbers. CATC is the umbrella company for Alaska Heritage Tours, Kenai Fjords Tours, Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, Mariah Tours, Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and Seward Windsong Lodge.

For the eighth year in a row, Wine Spectator’s restaurant wine list awards program has honored Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge as an Award of Excellence winner. The Award of Excellence honors a wine list of at least 100 well-chosen selections that are clearly presented and appropriately paired with the restaurant’s cuisine. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge has been honored with this award every year since 2003.

Graphic Design USA presented Gere Donovan Creative, the designer of CATC’s websites, with three American Graphic Design Awards. The websites for Kenai Fjords Tours, Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises and Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge were honored for their outstanding design.

Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises received the service award for the seventh year in a row based on positive written comments from Princess Cruises passengers. C.R.U.I.S.E., which stands for “Courtesy, Respect, Unfailing In Service Excellence,” honors CATC subsidiaries that demonstrate a commitment to excellence and customer service.

Wayne C. Long, a visitor and ham radio enthusiast from Wisconsin wrote to CATC after his visit to the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge in mid-August:

…”Synergy is that rare, almost mythical, moment when things or people work together and attain something greater than themselves. It has been my observation that there is a lot of synergy going on within the CIRI organization, something that each and every one of you can take great pride in, for it is rare indeed.”…”Your “can do” attitude showed me right away that it would be a real pleasure to work with you and your Kenai Fjords Tours team.”… “It is no small task to plan an Amateur Radio DXpedition, as we call it, from nearly 3000 miles away.”…”With immense appreciation for all that you have done for me and my wife, and in behalf of all the appreciative island chasers I satisfied with a precious Fox Island contact, I am in awe of you all.”