Summer Travel in Anchorage Shines, Winter Visits Sparkle

According to research by the Alaska Travel Industry Association, nearly 400,000 people traveled to Alaska between October 2023 and April 2024. Visitor volume from October to April increased 23% in five years. Hotel occupancy in Anchorage during the non-summer months rose nearly 2% between 2018-19 and 2022-23, the best growth of Alaska’s three largest communities.

This growth is a result of three convening factors: enhanced off-season marketing, expanded product development for season-specific and year-round travel offerings, and increased traveler interest and ability to travel in all months.

Meetings: the Original Off-season Visitation

For much of its 50-year existence, Visit Anchorage was known as the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. The emphasis on conventions has been a key goal behind the organization’s work since 1975. Meetings in Anchorage tend to skew to the non-summer months.

Conventions and meetings held in Anchorage spur direct spending in the community totaling more than $100 million every year.

“Hotels in particular saw a benefit from Visit Anchorage’s formation as a way to fill room nights in what are traditionally the quieter months of the year,” said Julie Saupe, Visit Anchorage President and CEO. “We cut our teeth bringing people up outside of summer, and we are able to put that experience to work with leisure visitors as well.”

Year-round visitation has big benefits for Anchorage. Travelers infuse cash into the economy, fill hotel rooms, keep restaurant reservations up, build new and more frequent air service Alaskans also use, and create year-round jobs for residents.

Messages that Resonate

Winter destinations have an increasing ability to very narrowly target travelers with the ability and interest in travel during the fall, winter, or spring.

“There’s a great demand for Alaska travel, but if you ask someone what stops them from visiting – at any time of the year – there’s one word that’s huge in the word cloud: cold,” said Saupe. “So, on one hand, we’re messaging a more traditional summer traveler about our 22 hours of daylight, and temperatures in the 60s. Meanwhile we’re able to make a separate connection with a more adventurous subset of travelers to say, if you like winter, we have a lot to show you.”

Better targeting via demographic attributes, through psychographic profiles, or by interest and affinity means a better, more nuanced pitch directly to the kinds of people open and excited about off-peak travel, all without alienating travelers intent on enjoying summer in Anchorage.

Seeing Anchorage in Fall, Winter, and Spring

Aurora viewing is at the top of the list for Anchorage travelers. Even those considering a summer visit rank northern lights high on their list of desires for Alaska. With the solar maximum, there are once-in-a-decade cosmic conditions to chase auroras in Anchorage and in other northern parts of the world.

“There are so many great places to see the northern lights in Alaska, said Saupe “What sets Anchorage apart is the variety of backdrops: mountains, rivers, Cook Inlet, and even a cityscape or two,” said Saupe.

The variety in landscape does more than create incredible photo backdrops. Anchorage-based aurora tours are often able to quickly reposition to find clear skies in one spot if another is socked in.

In between aurora nights, Anchorage has a lot on offer. With a full calendar of music, theater, and Broadway performances, auroras aren’t the only bright lights in the city. Cultural attractions like the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum are open year-round. Activities like flightseeing or food tours keep an itinerary interesting after sunrise as well. And it’s a prime chance to try Alaska winter pursuits like dog mushing, fat tire biking, and cross-country skiing.

Anchorage tour operators have added more year-round product and season-specific offerings as interest in these has grown.

“Everyone loves summer in Alaska,” said Saupe, “but we want travelers to understand why and how we as locals live here in all seasons.”

Winter events and promotions

Visit Anchorage times some of the work to align with Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Iditarod, and the Tour of Anchorage. It’s an ideal time to experience Anchorage with snow on the ground, the community quickly gets back more hours of daylight than many places in the rest of the U.S., and three signature events up the excitement level and activity for travelers and Alaskans.

As the two weeks framed by Rondy, Iditarod, and the Tour of Anchorage have grown in popularity, Visit Anchorage has looked to add on to the momentum in other months. In 2024, Heyi Days was a showcase of events, activities, and attractions in Anchorage from late November through the end of December.

“There are so many markets, solstice celebrations, and winter outdoor activities during late November and December, and it’s important to elevate what is already happening in the community during that time of year, said Julie Saupe. “And the name was a perfect fit.”

Heyi (pronounced “Hey yee”), means “winter” in Dena’ina Athabascan. Aaron Leggett, President of the Native Village of Eklutna and Senior Curator of Alaska History and Indigenous Cultures, provided the pronunciation and word choice.

The World Takes Note

Demand for off-peak travel, trends like “coolcations” where travelers visit spots to beat the heat at home, and evergreen desires for fun in the snow and under the stars all have more travelers adding Anchorage to their vacation considerations.

Clips from the website Popsugar and Sunset magazine each gave Anchorage the nod as a winter destination at the end of 2024. Girdwood made AAA Via’s list of top destinations for 2025 in part because of its legendary skiing, but also on the strength of local snowmachine tours and the new Alyeska Nordic Spa.

“Travel to Anchorage never hibernates,” says Saupe.