Anchorage serves as Alaska’s primary hub for commerce, travel and tourism. Several ongoing and planned improvements are strengthening the city’s appeal for both business and leisure visitors, positioning Anchorage for renewed growth and broader opportunities.
“Anchorage is a great destination for business travelers, but some of the city’s future plans could make this great destination even greater,” says Christopher M. Schutte, director of the Office of Economic & Community Development for the Municipality of Anchorage.
After several years of job declines, 2019 marked a turning point with a modest projected rebound in employment. Anchorage’s economy is showing early signs of stabilization and diversification, with a forecast that includes growth in visitor services, construction and health care. Average hourly earnings in the region are now among the highest in the nation, an encouraging signal for workers and employers alike.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport remains a major economic engine and the city’s first impression for many travelers. Serving more than 5.6 million passengers a year, the airport ranks second in the United States for landed weight of cargo aircraft and is among the world leaders in cargo throughput, moving more than 2.79 million metric tons of air freight annually. The airport supports thousands of jobs—about 15,577 positions directly and indirectly—representing roughly one in ten jobs in Anchorage, and contributes over $1 billion in annual earnings to the regional economy.
On the leisure front, several park and trail upgrades will enhance recreational access and visitor experiences. Improvements to the popular Campbell Creek Trail include better wayfinding signage to help locals and visitors navigate the city’s trail system. Additional park upgrades are planned for Elderberry Park in downtown Anchorage, Dave Rose Park in the city’s east side, Cuddy Family Park in midtown near the hotel corridor, and Tikishla Park near the University-Medical District.
Business travelers will benefit from expanding lodging options. Midtown has welcomed two new hotels: the 148-room Hyatt Place Anchorage—Midtown and the 144-room Hyatt House Anchorage. A downtown renovation project includes updates to the Transit Center and the addition of a 120-room boutique hotel attached to an existing eight-story public parking garage, increasing accommodations convenient to meeting venues and corporate offices.
Dining in Anchorage is also evolving. The Anchorage Museum’s full-service restaurant and café, Muse, will be overseen by Laura Cole, a Top Chef alumna and a 2019 James Beard Award semifinalist. Her leadership is expected to bring elevated regional cuisine to the museum’s visitors and strengthen Anchorage’s culinary reputation.
Neighborhood-level developments are making Anchorage’s communities more vibrant. South Anchorage is experiencing a resurgence driven in part by a growing craft-brewery scene. King Street Brewing Co. recently expanded into a larger facility with an on-site restaurant, while Turnagain Brewing opened as the municipality’s 12th brewery, offering Belgian-style ales that range from raspberry lambics to saisons and Flanders-style reds.
Bear Tooth Theatrepub exterior © THEATREPUB
Spenard has seen cultural additions such as Writer’s Block Bookstore, conceived as a gathering place for local readers and writers, and a forthcoming food hall from the owners of the beloved Bear Tooth Theatrepub. These venues contribute to a lively streetscape where dining, entertainment and community intersect.
The Alaska Public Lands Information Center completed a thoughtful remodel this spring, adding permanent exhibits on the state’s flora, fauna, geology and human history. The updated displays simulate glacier travel and offer immersive, educational experiences. National Park Service rangers staff the center to help visitors plan outdoor adventures across Alaska’s public lands.
Tour operators around Anchorage have broadened their offerings to highlight land and water experiences. Snowhook Adventure Guides expanded its winter options with new snowmobile and fat-tire bike tours to complement its dog-mushing excursions. In Prince William Sound, Phillips Cruises and Tours launched a new high-speed catamaran, Bravest, expanding day-cruise capacity from Whittier. Lazy Otter Charters also added Voyager, a 46-foot catamaran for half- and full-day excursions, providing more choices for scenic wildlife and glacier-viewing tours.
SCENIC DRIVES
Anchorage is an excellent base for road trips that showcase Alaska’s varied landscapes. Heading north, travelers can visit the Eagle River Nature Center for interpretive programs and a variety of hikes, where boardwalks offer chances to spot moose, beavers and spawning salmon. Nearby Arctic Valley provides short day hikes with panoramic views of the city, Denali and the Eagle River Valley, and late summer brings abundant wild blueberries.
To the south, the Seward Highway follows Cook Inlet and is designated both an All-American Road and a National Scenic Byway. This route treats drivers to dramatic mountain and water vistas, including wildlife viewing opportunities along Turnagain Arm for beluga whales, Dall’s sheep and bald eagles. Stops in Girdwood reward visitors with temperate rainforest trails and waterfall vistas or flightseeing and glacier-trekking opportunities. At Portage, the Trail of Blue Ice offers easy glacier viewpoints, while the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center showcases native species. From Whittier, day cruises on Prince William Sound provide another perspective on Southeast Alaska’s coastal splendor.