Meetings and Events City Profiles

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Population: About 35,000

Nearest airport: Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)

Conventions centers/Large event spaces:
Carlson Center
2010 2nd Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Overview and highlights:

North of the Alaskan range, Fairbanks is tucked neatly between Denali National Park and the Arctic Circle, near the Chena and Tanana rivers. The perfect blend of modern times and a rich historic past, Fairbanks was founded in the early 1900s by gold miners. Today the city's economy and growing population have turned it into the second-largest city in Alaska.

Meeting planners seek out Fairbanks, which locals refer to as "Authentic Alaska," to experience the small-community hospitality and breathtaking scenery the state is famous for.

Beyond meetings, attendees indulge in the many sights and activities that Fairbanks has to offer. Summertime brings riverboat tours on the Chena River, gold mining camps, hiking and canoeing. In the winter months, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, festivals and dog sledding competitions are just a few of the fun activities offered.

>> The Carlson Center boasts a 35,000-square-foot arena and three meeting rooms that provide more than 10,000 additional square feet when combined. Located on the banks of the Chena River, the center features a 40-by-50-foot main stage, on-site catering and an experienced, professional event staff.

>> Built with meeting planners in mind, the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center is home to the largest hotel meeting space in Fairbanks. Situated downtown, the towering eight-story hotel offers a total of nine meeting spaces ranging from a classroom to the spacious 5,400-square-foot Westmark Gold Room.

>> For smaller retreats, the Pike's Waterfront Lodge is a favorite location. Nestled on the edge of the Chena River, the lodge offers 208 guest rooms, two restaurants and a combined meeting space of 4,500 square feet. The Binkley and Copper rooms are the primary event spaces, along with the smaller Alyeska Board Room.

For more information:

Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau

This article has been re-edited for the Web. Article originally by Lindsay Larin.