Planning Bucket-List Worthy Events in Anchorage, Alaska

Planners looking to create memorable meetings that go beyond gathering in cookie-cutter conferences should select host cities with unique experiences and carve out time in the agenda for attendees to get outside and explore.

Northstar's Small & Boutique Meetings — Alaska event did just that, bringing together more than 100 event professionals for three days of learning and networking in Anchorage on May 28-30. In addition to one-on-one appointments where planners met with suppliers to discuss business opportunities, the event also featured a variety of outdoor excursions.

At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, attendees got to see and learn about bears, moose, muskox, bison and other animals that are native to the area. Afterward, the group enjoyed a site tour of the Alyeska Resort and a tram ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska, which offered sweeping views of snow-capped mountains. But perhaps the most memorable excursion was a dinner cruise that passed by glaciers, sea lions and otters. While cruising through Prince William Sound, attendees were treated to live music while sipping cocktails made with glacier ice.

The final day included a keynote session from Martin Buser, a four-time champion of Alaska's annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Buser explained the history of the 1,000-mile race and shared lessons learned from the 39 competitions in which he completed. To cap it off, he brought out sled-dog puppies for attendees to hold and cuddle.

The generous sponsors who helped make this event possible included Visit Anchorage, Marriott Anchorage Downtown, Alyeska Resort, Awesome Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cedar Rapids Tourism, Discover Durham, Explore Fairbanks, Hotel Captain Cook, Silver Reef Casino Resort, Travel Juneau, Madison Avenue and PC Nametag.

The following photo highlights were taken by Ketara Gadahn of Studio Alani.

Visit Northstar's calendar to view upcoming events and register your interest.