The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce "Make It Monday" Forum presents Ron Peck from the Alaska Travel Industry Association and representatives from Holland America, noon to 1 p.m., Dena'ina Convention Center. They will discuss what local businesses and government are doing to help bring visitors back to the 49th state. RSVP by 9 a.m. Monday, 272-2401 or www.anchoragechamber.org.
Energy talk deals with challenges ahead
Former RCA commissioner Dave Harbour presents "An Ex-Regulator Confronts Alaska's Energy Challenges" at Monday's meeting of the Anchorage Chapter of the International Association for Energy Economics. He will describe the complex chess game in motion among producers, consumers, government, utilities and regulators. The group meets at noon at the BP Energy Center, and the public is welcome. RSVP, Jennifer Duval at 269-1025.
Pogo gold mine a rare bright spot for Teck
Teck, the Canadian operator of two large Alaska mines -- Red Dog and Pogo -- reported a $607 million loss on its global operations in the final months of 2008.
The Pogo gold mine is among few Teck mines that generated an operating profit in the fourth quarter. Pogo, near Delta Junction, had a $5 million operating profit, according to a Teck financial report.
Pogo's gold production ramped up dramatically last year over the previous year. The mine, opened in 2006, produced 351,000 ounces of gold in comparison with the 260,000 ounces produced in 2007.
The huge Red Dog zinc and lead mine near Kotzebue had an operating loss of $71 million in the final quarter, the Teck report said. The losses were due to a steep decline in zinc prices and other factors, the company said.
Teck said the global economic recession led to a "significant and rapid decline" in the price and demand for its metals. Prices had fallen 45 percent for copper and 55 percent for zinc since the final quarter of 2007, Teck said.
Alaska Air Carriers to convene in Anchorage
The Alaska Air Carriers Association's 43rd Annual Convention will be March 3-7 at the Hotel Captain Cook. The association is bringing speakers from across the United States and Canada for its convention and trade show. More than 40 safety and management training sessions will be taught by 53 speakers Tuesday through Friday. The trade show with 40 aviation vendors is free to the public each day. Details are at www.alaskaaircarriers.org.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge opens May 31
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, a lodge under development near Aialik Bay inside Kenai Fjords National Park, is scheduled to open May 31. It will be open seasonally each year until mid-September. The lodge is a venture of Alaska Wildland Adventures, which will run it, and Port Graham Corp., which owns the land, an inholding within the national park, said Heather Dudick, marketing director for Alaska Wildland.
The lodge consists of a main building that contains a lobby, library, bar and dining area, plus 16 cabins that have plumbing, heating and electricity, she said. It's located at Pedersen Lagoon near Pedersen Glacier, which is visible from the lodge, and is about 50 miles from Seward. Alaska Wildland will run shuttle boats between Seward and the lodge for its guests, she said.
Alaska Wildland is owned and run by Kirk Hoessle and has been in business since 1977, Dudick said. It owns Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge and offers a variety of tour packages, from two-hour float trips on the Kenai to two-week ecotours, she said.
The new lodge is in the 1,700-acre Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. Activities will include guided hiking, sea kayaking and glacier and wildlife viewing, she said. For more information, go to www.kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com.
Copper River Seafoods buys marketing firm
Anchorage-based Copper River Seafoods has acquired Shadow Marketing Inc. of Gig Harbor, Wash., to boost its sales team, pursue more markets and develop new products. Copper River was started by Alaska fishermen in 1996 to provide premium wild seafood products, said Scott Blake, president. Shadow started in 1989 and specializes in brokering, marketing and distributing premium seafood products, said David Stafford, who owned Shadow. Shadow's name has changed to Copper River Seafoods Sales and P rocurement, and it will remain based in Washington, Blake said. Before this sale, Copper River was a supplier to Shadow.
-- Anchorage Daily News
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