Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1526693
56 B M & T ••• September/October 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com AREA GUIDES A L A S K A GATHERING IN "THE LAST FRONTIER" WILL SEND YOUR GROUP'S MEMBERS HOME IN AMAZEMENT B Y C L E T U S R A M S Y Alaskans believe in the power of nature to restore and inspire. To reconnect with yourself, your family, your co-work- ers and your friends – and to make new friends along the way. There's no better place for this than in Alaska. Whether you want to bring your staff to a business retreat in one of the state's luxurious lodges or hold a class reunion "The Last Frontier" is sure to accommodate your guests' needs. Peak season is June to August. By mid- June, it's as warm as it's going to get. All summer activities are available, including bus tours on the Denali Park Road which begin around May 15. Cruise Season is also May through September. Small ship cruises start as early as mid-April. • • FAIRBANKS • • Fairbanks is a perfect destination for planners and attendees from around the state, the region and the world. Excellent infrastructure with more than 2,800 guest rooms, 175,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and professional confer- ence services make Fairbanks an out- standing choice for your next conference or meeting. In a community of just under 100,000 people, the area offers amenities comparable to most urban destinations. Impress your attendees with a location that combines professional venues with extraordinary activities like aurora view- ing, late night events under the midnight sun, cultural experiences and artistic offer- ings - all surrounded by the grandeur of Interior Alaska. Centrally located in Fairbanks, Raven Landing Center features five unique rental rooms. The quaint venue serves meetings or events up to 350 and is equipped with full-service catering from the DEC approved kitchen featuring farm to table entrees including vegan and vegetarian options. Alaska's Interior provides the perfect backdrop to year-round adventure. Let Fairbanks be your playground as you explore everything from the Chena River running through the heart of downtown to the landscape that surrounds it. Fairbanks-based businesses can help get you into remote areas, guide you through town, help you plan your adventure, or provide the equipment you need to accomplish all of the above. Book you're meeting here and see why Fairbanks, on the banks of the Chena River, has been a gathering place for over one hundred years. See for yourself what Fairbanks can offer you and your atten- dees. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? explore fairbanks – (800) 327-5774 www.explorefairbanks.com • • JUNEAU • • Tired of meeting in cookie-cutter loca- tions? For a refreshing, unique destination that melds business with adventure, Alaska's wilderness capital has it all. Centennial Hall Convention Cen- ter boasts 17,000 square feet of rent- able meeting space inside the 39,600 square foot facility. Take advantage of the full commercial kitchen, lobby areas, and a professional service staff eager to help you plan your meeting, convention, or conference. Located on Juneau's down- town waterfront, Centennial Hall's prox- imity to hotels, restaurants, and shop- ping makes it ideal for medium- to small- sized meetings. Centennial Hall's seven meeting rooms range from 300 square feet to the 12,389 square-foot, column-free Sheffield ball- room that can be divided into three sepa- rate rooms. All spaces are equipped with high-quality light and sound systems. The Hall's two adjoining lobbies provide an additional 2,900 square feet for recep- tions, vendor booths, networking and relaxing between sessions. And don't be tied to a single source for your convention catering: Centennial Hall maintains a list of several approved caterers to choose from. Rich and varied, the historic district has more than a few sights to offer in a small, walkable stretch. Don't forget to give yourself time to take in one of the many rotating museum galleries. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Travel Juneau – (907) 586-2201 (u)www.traveljuneau.com Aurora Borealis skies, Fairbanks