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  • Small & Boutique Meetings — Alaska
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ABOUT SMALL & BOUTIQUE MEETINGS

Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar's premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.

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Learn
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Learn from, and be inspired by, our guest speakers who will provide targeted education specific to your needs as a meeting and incentive planner.
Connect
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Connect with premier suppliers from helping you with your successful during pre-scheduled one-on-one business appointments and unique experiential activities.
Enjoy
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All qualified buyers will be fully hosted by Northstar Meetings Group, including airfare allowance, accommodation, meals and planned activities.
SPEAKERS

Martin Buser

Iditarod Champion and Owner of Happy Trails Kennel

Martin Buser is a four-time champion of the annual 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. His team was the first to complete the race in under nine days, and he is currently the musher with the most consecutive Iditarod finishes. He has competed in a total of 39 Iditarod races and has 37 consecutive finishes. Buser was inducted in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, as well as the inaugural Iditarod Hall of Fame in 2025. He and his wife, Kathy Chapoton, own and operate Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake, Alaska.

HOSTED BUYERS

ALL QUALIFIED BUYERS WILL BE FULLY HOSTED BY NORTHSTAR MEETINGS GROUP, INCLUDING AIRFARE ALLOWANCE, ACCOMMODATION, MEALS, AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES. QUESTIONS ABOUT HOSTED-BUYER EVENTS? CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.


Those who are selected to attend will participate in:

• Two productive days of pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with suppliers ready to welcome your smaller event
• Insightful educational presentations from inspiring speakers
• Networking opportunities with other elite buyers and suppliers

To learn more why past buyers say Northstar events are the most productive, please contact Dana Kallman.

SUPPLIER INFO

Showcase your destination, CVB, DMC, hotel, resort, venue or related service or activity for successful small and boutique-sized meetings and incentive programs. Meet with elite planners and buyers who are currently sourcing suppliers for their upcoming small meetings (100 room nights on peak and below) this year and beyond.

Supplier registration includes 1:1 pre-scheduled appointments, all event networking activities and education.

Please contact your business development director or Shalise DeMott for pricing and sponsorship opportunities.

2026 EXHIBITORS
  • AIC Hotel Group
  • Alyeska Resort
  • Awesome Alpharetta
  • Boise Centre
  • Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cedar Rapids
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Destination Cleveland
  • Destination Durham
  • Destination Irvine
  • Discover Flagstaff
  • Discover Puerto Rico
  • East West Hospitality
  • Explore Fairbanks
  • Fargo-Moorhead CVB
  • Gila River Resorts and Casinos
  • Gravity Haus
  • Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
  • Hotel Jackson
  • Jeremiah Lodge & Garden
  • Marriott Anchorage
  • Scrub Island
  • Silver Reef Casino Resort
  • Snowmass Tourism
  • Sonoma County Tourism
  • Tempe Tourism
  • The Sanctuary Resort
  • The Sebastian Vail - A Timbers Resort
  • The Westgate Hotel San Diego
  • Travel Costa Mesa
  • Travel Juneau
  • Travel Salem
  • Travel Santa Ana
  • Tulalip Resort
  • Virgin Voyages
  • Visit Anchorage
  • Visit Berkeley
  • Visit Boulder
  • Visit Ketchikan
  • Visit Laguna Beach
  • Visit Lake Tahoe
  • Visit Marin County
  • Visit Ogden
  • Visit Oxnard
  • Visit Pasadena
  • Visit Rancho Cordova
  • Visit Riverside
  • Visit Santa Cruz
  • Visit Santa Rosa
  • Visit Ventura
  • Visit Walnut Creek
  • Visit Yolo County
  • Wild Birch Hotel
  • Xcaret
AGENDA
Thursday 28 May
Thursday, May 28
All Day
Planner & Supplier Hotel Check-In
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Registration
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Supplier tabletop set-up (optional)
6:00pm – 6:30pm
Planners: Site Inspection of Marriott Anchorage Downtown
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Welcome Reception

Sponsored by Marriott Downtown Anchorage

Friday, May 29
8:00am – 8:30am
Breakfast and Opening Remarks

Sponsored by Explore Fairbanks

8:45am – 11:45am
One-on-One Meetings (break at 10:15am)

Break sponsored by Explore Fairbanks

11:45am - 12:30pm
Lunch To Go and Free Time
12:45pm
Gather for Departure
1:00pm
Depart for Afternoon and Evening of Adventure (1 hour drive)
2:00pm
Alyeska Resort - Tram ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska and Site Tour
3:30pm
Gather for Departure
3:45pm – 5:00pm
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Tour and Reception
5:00pm
Depart for Dinner Cruise
6:00pm – 8:45pm
Dinner Cruise on Prince William Sound

Sponsored by Visit Anchorage

9:00pm
Departure back to hotel (1 hour drive)

Sponsored by Visit Anchorage

Saturday, May 30
7:30am – 8:00am
Breakfast
8:00am – 9:15am
Educational Session: Lessons From an Iditarod Champion

Presented by Martin Buser
Sponsored by Visit Durham

More Detail

What do dogsled racing and event planning have in common? More than you might think, including long hours, unpredictable conditions and the need for a strong, collaborative team to make it to the finish line — or closing ceremony. 

In this keynote, Martin Buser will share stories and lessons learned from the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, which he has competed 39 times with four wins.

Attendees will learn:

  • The history and legacy of one of Alaska's most iconic events
  • How to overcome obstacles and stay motivated under pressure
  • Best strategies for building, leading and supporting high-performing teams
9:30am – 12:30pm
One-on-One Meetings (11 with break at 11am)
12:45pm
Gather for Departure (2 block walk)
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Lunch and Planner Site Tour

Sponsored by Hotel Captain Cook

2:30pm
Departures From Anchorage Marriott Downtown
CONTACT
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR:
Suppliers Contact

Shalise DeMott

Vice President, Sales

[email protected]

Buyers Contact

Dana Kallman

Director of Buyer Development

[email protected]

Event Logistics Contact

Samantha Hammer

Event Director

[email protected]