President’ s Letter
The 55th Annual Alaska CHARR Convention is behind us, and I ' m still reflecting on what an incredible week it was.
Fairbanks welcomed more than 100 hospitality professionals that came together from across Alaska and it reminded me why this association is so important. We spent time learning, sharing ideas, discussing challenges, celebrating successes, and most importantly, reconnecting with colleagues and friends who understand what it takes to operate in Alaska ' s hospitality industry. One of the moments we are most proud of was our Charity Auction Dinner. Thanks to the generosity of our members, sponsors, and attendees, we raised more than $ 52,000 for BCDC of Alaska. That kind of support speaks volumes about the heart of this industry and our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.
While convention may be over, we ' re already looking ahead. I ' m excited to share that the 2027 Alaska CHARR Convention will be hosted in Anchorage, October 4-7, 2027. Anchorage always delivers a great experience, and we ' re already working on ideas to make next year ' s event something truly memorable. I encourage you to mark your calendars now and start planning to join us.
During convention, the Board of Directors also met to discuss several initiatives that will shape Alaska CHARR moving forward. Among the topics were upcoming changes to hotel membership dues, the creation of a new sponsorship menu that will provide businesses more flexibility in supporting CHARR events and programs, and the continued expansion of our training offerings. One area we ' re especially excited about is adding First Aid, CPR, and Basic Life Support( BLS) training to better serve our members and their teams.
Convention also brought leadership changes as members elected new directors to serve on the Alaska CHARR Board beginning in the 2027-2028 term. Please join me in welcoming: George Easter, Borealis Basecamp Chrysta Lynch, Oasis Restaurant Natalie Neabauer, Boatel Stephen Thomas, Creekbend Café Bruce Abbott, Liquor Stores USA North, Inc. Abby Williams, Louie ' s Douglas Inn Jeremy Sullivan, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
Thank you to each of these individuals for stepping forward to serve. Strong associations are built by members willing to invest their time and energy into the future of the industry, and I ' m grateful for their commitment.