But today, the sun is shining. I need sunglasses in my office. The sky is clear and blue and the windsock on top of the Star of Kodiak is only rustling a little bit. And bonus: we have extra light at the end of the day so we can go tromp around in that snow! Light always lifts spirits.

The promise of a very good year also lifts spirits and that's what you can expect for the 2012 tourist season. Enjoy these last tranquil days of a long, cold winter because it's sure to change any day now (right?) and you'll be busy cleaning boats and painting walls and polishing up vehicles. There's little rest for successful people like you!

Looking Forward to a Great Year!

The buzz we are hearing in the visitor center is that bookings are up - way up - for Kodiak's wilderness lodges, fishing charters and sightseeing charters. This mirrors what we are hearing throughout the state, so hopefully you are getting a good break from hard work; you are going to be busy in 2012!

KUBS Bear Viewing Class Scholarship Awarded

The KICVB awarded a scholarship to the Russian Heritage Inn to attend the Kodiak Unified Bear Subcommittee sponsored course at Kodiak College on March 23-March 25. The course provides an in-depth look at bear biology, behavior, habitat and principles of commercial bear viewing. KICVB staffer Beverly Cole will also be attending. The KICVB is committed to providing accurate bear safety and viewing information that is in concert with local wildlife policies and best practices.

Great Alaskan Sportsman's Show Anchorage

The Great Alaskan Sportsman's Show in Anchorage is less than two weeks away. That is always a signal that spring is here. Do you want to reach those important in-state travelers? Sure you do! We will take your brochures with us to the booth for $25 for two inches. Please bring them to the KICVB office by Monday, March 26.

2013 Visitor Guide Advertising

Believe it or not, ComFish is almost here which means the deepest discounts for Visitor Guide Advertising. Contracts are not yet complete, but will be soon. Put it on your calendar to take advantage of discount pricing. The sale will run from April 9 through April 13.

Chocolate Lovers Fling Coming Up May 19

We are so busy getting ready for the Chocolate Lover's Fling and Humpy Salmon Auction! The selection panel has met and chosen 14 proposals from the 20 received and without giving anything away, we can guarantee you some of the most fantastic and original art you've ever seen!
Those of you who make chocolate, start thinking now about your ribbon-winning recipes because we need your best sweet stuff to fuel this fabulous night of chocolate, art, wine and music! Tickets are not yet available, but stay tuned!

Do we have your rack cards?

Get a jump on the season by getting us fully stocked in rack cards and/or business cards for the visitor center and airport. Don't know if we need your cards or not? Call Beverly at 486-4782.

Rerun: Site Visits

We would like to be able to see your B&B, lodge, vacation rental, boat, or product in order to better match visitors with your services. The more we know, the more we see, the better we can serve you. We will be calling to schedule appointments to see your road system property some time in March or early April, but feel free to call any time you have an opening and are willing to show us your property. We'd like to arrange a little familiarity tour to some of our wilderness lodges as well, so if you have any creative ideas as to how we might do that, give us a call or drop Janet an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . On occasion we have flown out and back with clients or staff and just popped off the plane long enough to see the property. Hopefully, we can figure something out. Additionally, one of our staff members has never been on a bear view or a fishing charter, one of us has never been to Frazer Lake, and another has never been to Katmai. We will do our best to make time to see your property, but we always need your assistance in terms of logistics and availability.

What's Happening With Alaska Tourism Marketing and How Can You Help?

The Alaska Travel Industry Association has been meeting with the administration and legislature during the past several months. Two goals have been discussed - return of the program to ATIA and establishment of a long-term funding mechanism. There has been good feedback; however, at this juncture, there is not enough time left in this session to create legislation and see it passed. So here's where we are:
In December 2011, Governor Sean Parnell proposed his FY2013 budget. He included $16 million in the operating budget for the Alaska Tourism Marketing Program. In tandem with $2.7 million in contributions from the industry, a combined $18.7 million represents more than a 25 percent increase in comparison to FY2012.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association and the ATIA Board of Directors unanimously support the Governor and look forward to working with the legislature to ensure final passage of $16 million in the operating budget for FY2013.

The ATIA is encouraging tourism businesses to write the Governor and legislature for their continued support and for proposing a substantial increase for the Alaska Tourism Marketing Program in the FY2013 budget.

CALL TO ACTION

Step 1) Show your appreciation by sending the Governor a letter, card or email acknowledging his efforts and continued support of the travel industry. Thank him for increasing the proposed FY2013 Alaska tourism marketing budget by more than 25 percent.

Mailing Address:
The Honorable Sean Parnell
Governor of the State of Alaska
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Step 2) Send a letter or email to your state senator and representative. Thank them for their support of the tourism industry and for passing an operating budget that includes $18.7 million for the Alaska Tourism Marketing Program.

Click here to look up the contact information for your Senator or Representative.

Key Talking Points
1. Identify yourself as a member of the travel, tourism and/or hospitality industry. State how you and your family are impacted by a healthy visitor industry.
2. Recognize the Alaska Legislature and Administration for moving forward with a FY2013 operating budget that establishes $18.7 million in tourism marketing. ($16 million from the state and $2.7 million in contributions from the industry).

Upcoming Board Meetings

The KICVB Board of Directors meets the third Thursday of every month. From October through April, meetings are at 1:00 p.m. in the Chamber Conference Room. During season, meetings shift to 7:00 p.m., same location. The next meeting is April 19, at 1:00 p.m.

Greetings from Pier 1! Today we are watching the garbage ravens get blown sideways and backwards as they try to take off from their perch. It looks like the snow may stop and bring us a blue skies, but I'm betting it's a temporary stop. I hope you are all staying warm, cozy and loaded up on vitamin D during this exceptionally snowy, cold winter and that none of you are one of the victims of frozen pipes or broken bones. The visitor center and ferry office has been without water for a day or so as public works focuses on getting service back to residential areas. To say it's been a crazy winter would be an understatement. I travel to Chicago this week and it is probably rare to be looking forward to better weather at O'Hare airport than Kodiak! - Janet Buckingham

"Winter is nature's way of saying "up yours!" ....Robert Byrne

It's not true: Kodiak is NOT Bracing for a Downtown of Tourism

If you read in news sources that Kodiak was "bracing for a downtown in tourism," don't believe it. The fact that we are getting one less cruise ship than last year was taken out of context by the Associated Press wire service and splashed across television and the internet without interviewing anyone from the KICVB.  We absolutely expect increasing visitors to the island, inquiries are very strong, members attending shows down in the lower 48 are reporting strong interest and early bookings. The fact that we have one less ship this year is barely a blip on our radar screen. I will do my best to correct this misrepresentation.  -- JB

ANNUAL MEETING RE-CAP

Election Results

The results are in from the 2011 election. There were three openings for three seats on the KICVB Board of Directors, so the results are not really a surprise. The KICVB would like to welcome Karen Christensen Hansz of Kodiak Adventures Unlimited, James Rippey of Russian River Roadhouse and returning board member, Bob Stanford of Island Air. We look forward to gaining the experience and enthusiasm of Jim and Karen as they add to the seasoned voices of Bob Stanford, Darlene Turner, Dake Schmidt, Katie Oliver, Jan Chatto, and Chris Fiala. As we welcome our new Board members, we would also like to say thank you and farewell to our departing board members for their time and services. Cara Eastman of Mack's Sport Shop has served on the board for 3 years and is accepting additional responsibilities with Classic Alaska Trading Company and Mack's Sport Shop. Chaz Glagolich also steps down to devote more time to fishing and Navy Seals Training. We have appreciated the experience, hard work, and good cheer of these two great people!

Revisions to the KICVB By-Laws

The following changes have been made to the official By-Laws of the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. Most changes were made to clarify and codify the way business has been done for many years. Some were slight tweaks in the language to allow for more flexibility and growth in the KICVB. All of these measures passed by an overwhelming majority. Thanks for taking the time to read and vote on them.

PASSED Article III Membership. Section 1. Classes of Members: Classes of membership in the corporation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Associate, Active, Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond. (This change is being recommended to reflect the way business is currently being conducted and gives flexibility to develop new levels of membership in the future.)

PASSED Article III Membership. Section 2. Application for Membership: Any applicant that has been previously cancelled by the KICVB for cause, including nonpayment, is subject to acceptance by the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Any applicant refused membership may request a hearing before the Board of Directors. (This change is being recommended to reflect the way business is currently being conducted and gives the Board authority to review cancelled memberships.)

PASSED Article III Membership. Section 4. Suspension or Termination of Membership: Membership benefits are automatically suspended when dues are delinquent ninety (90) days and will not be reinstated until dues have been brought current. (This changes suspension of membership benefits for delinquent dues from 30 days to 90 days to reflect the way business is currently being conducted and give members more time to bring their account current.)

PASSED Article III Membership. Section 4: Suspension or Termination of Membership: Any member may be terminated by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors for cause, including but not limited to violations of professional standards pledge and criminal prosecution related to business activity that would reflect poorly on other KICVB members. (This change adds a definition of "cause" to currently existing by-laws.)

PASSED Article III Membership. Membership Meetings Section 7. Rules of Discussion: The deliberations of the Bureau and of the Board of Directors shall be guided by the most recent edition of "Robert's Rules of Order," except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or as the Board of Directors deems proper. (This change substitutes the word "guided" for the previous language of "governed" and reflects how business is currently conducted.)

PASSED Article V Board of Directors. Section 7. Special Meetings: Notice of special board meetings shall be by telephone or email to all Directors no less than three days prior to the time the special meeting takes place. (This change substitutes the word "email" for "facsimile.")

PASSED Article X Fiscal Management. Section 2. Books and Accounts: Books and accounts of the Bureau shall be kept under Bureau management and shall be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (This change recommended by KICVB CPA to reflect how business is currently being conducted.)

PASSED Article X Fiscal Management. Section 4. Fiscal reports of the Bureau shall be available at the registered office of the Bureau for inspection, at reasonable times, by any members. (This change removes the phrase "and the membership records" in order to protect the privacy of all KICVB members.)

PASSED Article X Fiscal Management. Section 5. Execution of Corporate Documents. With the prior authorization of the Board of Directors, all notes, contracts and other legal documents shall be executed on behalf of the Bureau by one authorized signatory. Checks over $5,000 shall require two signatories. Signatories will be members of the KICVB Board and/or the executive director. (This change recommended by financial advisors and bankers and reflects current best practice standards.)

And the winner is.....2011 KICVB Award Winners!

In our minds, you are all winners and each year it is difficult for the board and staff to narrow the winners down to just six or so businesses. There are always many nominations and the board gives thoughtful consideration to each one. Drum roll please.....

Bear Cub Award, which is presented to a new member of the KICVB who has shown outstanding support of Kodiak Island's visitor industry in the past year, went to Pickled Willy's. Barbara Hughes and Bill Alwert who developed a tasty & unique product that was enjoyed by locals and vistors to the island alike. This special product is already being distributed across the nation.

The Baranof Award, which is presented to an individual, business or organization for contribution to the development of the visitor industry on Kodiak Island, went to Koniag's, Inc. Kodiak Brown Bear Center. Koniag has overcome challenges of distance, geology and weather in order to be able to open the Kodiak Brown Center at the Karluk Lake this year. This will not only be an exceptional bear viewing venue, but will also serve as a center for education and research on the Kodiak brown bear.

The Puffin Award, which is presented to an individual, business or organization that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in representing Kodiak, went to A Channel View Bed and Breakfast. Ron and Mary Doubt are frequently cited for their hospitality, their outstanding service and willingness to share the beauty and history of Kodiak Island with their guests.

The Emerald Service Award, which is presented to an individual/business that consistently provides service to visitors, went to Henry's Great Alaskan Restaurant for their long-term, consistent service to the tourism industry. Henry's is enjoyed by almost every visitor to Kodiak. This past year, Henry's went above and beyond the call of duty by offering a special Bloody Mary Sunday for the early port call by Holland America. Henry's is very much a part of the fabric of our community.

The Sea Lion Award, which is selected by the KICVB staff, is given to an individual who has shown outstanding support and assistance to the KICVB. This year the KICVB staff selected Bear Becker for generously donating his time and energy to our annual fundraiser, the Chocolate Lovers Fling. Bear has been our MC and auctioneer every year & we appreciate his cheer and enthusiasm. He will be returning this year for the 4th Annual Fling!

Have You Seen that Beautiful Visitors Guide??

As you may already been blown away by our 2012 Discover Kodiak Visitor Guide, but if not, stop by the office and pick one up. This year's cover was photographed by Jerney Simkowski, a very amazing teenager with a bright career in photography ahead of him. He took this dramatic shot on the Ayakulik River last summer and continues to submit amazing photography that captures the beauty and power of Kodiak brown bear. The guide was designed by Anchorage based firm, Turning Heads Design, Heather Turning. She brought a fresh new flare to our pages and we are already receiving rave reviews. If you need copies to distribute at shows, let us know ahead of time and we will ship them for you or stop by and pick up a handful to tuck into your suitcase.

And check out the Visitor Guide online!

This year our visitor guide is available online in a stunning new format. Thanks to a program offered by our printer Journal Graphics, anyone can now view the guide on www.kodiak.org in an easy to read, full size, page turning format.

2012 Membership Directory Available

The 2012 Membership "At-A-Glance" Directory is now available. If you did not get one at the annual meeting, stop by the office and pick one up or we will pop one in the mail or email to you if you give us a call or drop us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

BIG News for Kodiak.org

This year the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau obtained full ownership of the domain name kodiak.org and will no longer be sharing the site with the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce who will switch over to kodiakchamber.org. We will, of course, continue to link to each other's sites, but this will allow the KICVB to focus wholly on the tourism component of our economic development as well as improved trip planning for our visitors. One of the main reasons we are revising an already beautiful website is to streamline the "back end" of the site where we collect demographic data for marketing purposes. The current system in place requires a lengthy, bulky procedure using a multitude of Microsoft products and doesn't currently allow us to collect the kind of demographic information we need to make informed decisions on where to advertise and who to target. The new website is being developed by a company out of Ohio, Lunar Cow, which specializes in convention and visitor bureaus across the nation. They have recently picked up three Alaska contracts and we expect an on-site visit at some point during the development. Feel free to drop Janet an email about ideas you may have for the new website. We will have the opportunity to develop some new pages and punch up the content, so if there is anything you think would be especially helpful to tourism in Kodiak, write to her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

And, while we are watching it snow....
Next year's work is already creeping up on us! As always, we offer our deepest discount on visitor guide advertising during ComFish in April. This year the ComFish special will run April 9-13, 2012. We will mail (possibly email) out contracts early, so don't miss out on this great opportunity to save money & get your pesky contracts taken care of before you get busy with summer clients.

Upcoming Shows

Janet will be traveling to the Adventures in Travel Expo Chicago this week. The show runs January 28 & 29th. and Kodiak first began attending this show in 2009, attended in 2010, skipped 2011 and are headed back this year based on two factors: Illinois is in the top 10 states making inquiries on our website, and Alaska Airlines flies nonstop to Chicago. This year Anchorage appears to be the only other Alaska representation at the show, but we will be side by side. If you are going to be in Chicago, stop by and say hello! This will be the first time back at the show in two years. We hope to spread the word in the Midwest about the simplicity of traveling from Chicago to Alaska via Alaska Airlines. Thanks to those KICVB members who have purchased the 2 inches for 25 option for brochure distribution. It helps make our booth lively and exciting when we can hand potential visitors business brochures.

The Great Alaskan Sportsman Show in Anchorage is March 29-April 02, 2012. We have contracted for our usual booth and any member interested in working a shift or two is more than welcome if you get in touch with us ahead of time so we can coordinate the schedule. If you would like your brochures distributed at the show, give us a call and we will make sure you have visibility. Our SPECIAL RATE will run from now until March 16: 2 inches for $20. After March 16 the rate will go back to 2 inches $25.

The International Sportsmen's Expo in Salt Lake City will be represented by KICVB Board Member Bob Stanford on March 15-18th. Thank you Bob for taking your time to represent Kodiak at this show!

Also in March, but on the other side of the other big pond, is the ITB Berlin International Travel Trade and Consumer Show. Marita Kaplan, a Kodiak resident and employee at the Alutiiq Museum, will be representing Kodiak in our booth share with Alaska Travel Industry Association. We are fortunate to have a German speaker willing to travel to this show for us and are anxious to hear about our first foray into the international scene.

Put this date in your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Outlook Express Calendar - and oh, WRITE IT DOWN!

The 4th Annual Chocolate Lovers Fling has been set for May 19th! Exciting news this year: We are switching species! The halibut tail is being replaced by a "happy humpy" to give artists a new challenge and our auction a new twist. We want to keep our artists and bidders engaged in this unique artistic experience and think we are definitely going to see some more amazing Kodiak style art again this year. This is always such a wonderful night packed with music, great company, beautiful art, spirits, and of course...CHOCOLATE!

If you have a Facebook page...please contact Erin in the office and she can be sure to connect you to our page. With 10,555 fans, our Facebook page has more fans than any other city in the state so be sure to let us know about your page so that we can help increase visits to your site as well!

Upcoming Meetings

The KICVB Board of Directors will be meeting again on February 16 and March 15 at 1 pm in the Chamber of Commerce conference room. Members are encouraged and welcome to join!