Slow business prompts perks in Denali park
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Visitation is down 13 percent so far this year at Denali National Park, prompting some businesses to offer major bargains in hopes of sparking in-state travel.
According to the park public affairs office, 143,514 visitors entered Denali so far this year, compared to about 164,324 at this time in 2007. Even camping reservations declined 17 percent through June 22, said Kris Fister, park public affairs manager.
Attributing the decline to a slow economy and rising gas prices, Denali Park Resorts is offering half-price bargains on two-night stays through Sept. 17 — plus a $100 gas card. More two-for-one specials are available on tours and activities hosted by the company.
“We are really having to provide tremendous value for the gas dollar,” said Bob Concienne, vice president for Alaska operations for Aramark Parks and Destinations, which owns Denali Park Resorts.
Traffic is down at Denali Park Resorts’ four lodging facilities near the park, Concienne said. At the same time, changes in consumer spending patterns indicate people want more value for a dollar — and that they are willing to forego far-off vacations in favor of staycations, or vacations taken at home or close to home to save money.
“The incentive is gas,” he said. “If we can incentivize folks to come visit our properties if we pay for their gas, all the better.”
Aramark wanted to capitalize on the momentum of staycations. Staycations will be a key component of Denali Park Resorts’ business for the next few years, he added.
“We’ve got to provide that sort of option and make it attractive,” he said.
Denali Park Resorts’ focus on staycations could boost business at independent businesses serving tourists around the national park — some of whom say they’re unable to offer such drastic cuts as the national chain Aramark.
Instead, they are relying on word-of-mouth advertising and loyalty, offering discounts for return customers and military, and hoping this tourist season picks up.
Joanna Cockman is co-owner of Denali Outdoors Center, a Healy business that pairs a campground and cabins with raft trips, kayak tours and mountain bike excursions.
Tourism is definitely slow this season, she said, although the pick-up in German-speaking travelers has helped offset the overall decreases.
That’s because the center caters to independent travelers, rather than those on package tours, and German-speaking guests are more likely to see Alaska on their own.
The center always offers discounts for locals, she said.
The slow-down has also hit high-end tourist services, such as flightseeing. Tim Cudney, director of business development for Era Helicopters, said he and others in the business have noticed declines this year.
He said Era is taking the slowdown in stride, managing better instead of laying off staff or making other cuts. A cushion is softening the situation — Era raised rates significantly last year to reflect higher fuel costs, and is somewhat offsetting declines in numbers through those fee increases, Cudney explained.
While Era isn’t trying to lure more business with deals, people can typically save money by buying tickets direct, Cudney said.
Community Discussion
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Seems to me I remember not too long ago that our very own Jay made a comment along the lines that businesses could always raise their rates to make up for the lost traffic. Wonder if he still feels that way.
Don't feel sorry one bit for any of these businesses that turned Denali into Disneyland of the Sub Arctic.
We who live in this state should boycott this "special;" enough said.
I'll second that comment, woodman! Two reasosn come to mind: 1) so much of the money from tourism leaves the state. 2) I watched Juneau and Skagway turn into theme parks full of fake Alaska while I lived down there, saw it totally ruin the quality of life in the summers. Industrial-strength tourism is like a cancer in Southeast Alaska now. We don't notice it so much with Denali because so few live in that neck of the woods but it's not a pretty sight. The thing that I find interesting is that so many Outside tourists seem to love all the glitz and artifice. It seems like they'd rather see Alaska through the windows of a bus, a train, a fancy restaurant... anything except having to get out in it. But that's OK by me: keeps 'em out of "OUR Alaska."
When are the traffic control lights coming down?
Ulises
Not nearly soon enough
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