Alaska took center stage during the United State Tour Operators Association’s 2026 Sustainability is Responsibility (SIR) Summit. Held May 17-20, in partnership with Visit Anchorage, the summit brought USTOA members to Anchorage, Alaska, for hands-on learning experiences and to get an understanding of how the destination approaches accessibility for both locals and travelers in the wilderness.
USTOA President and CEO Terry Dale said this year’s summit spotlighted members helping drive sustainability efforts across the travel industry. “As the state of our world evolves, so does the focus of SIR,” said Dale. “Our members’ passion for responsible travel is what drives them to advance their own sustainability strategies in a way that tackles the current needs of our industry. We wanted to extend a special thanks to our generous hosts at Visit Anchorage for providing immersive off-site learning opportunities and sharing how this breathtaking destination is spearheading sustainability in travel for the future of the industry.”
The summit was facilitated by Professor Graham Miller, Chair of Sustainable Business and Academic Director for the Westmont Institute for Tourism and Hospitality at Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, Portugal, who returned for a third year to lead the event.
During the 4-day summit, attendees sat in on various sessions with topics that focused on everything from wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism to the role tourism plays in local communities. There was also a welcome reception at the Bluewater Basecamp, offsite learning experiences along Turnagain Arm and Beluga Point and a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where attendees experienced wild animal encounters. Plus, attendees visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center for an additional offsite educational program, featuring a guided village tour and a cultural briefing within an Athabascan Ceremonial House led by Kelsey Wallace, President of Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Other highlights included an experiential learning program in Whittier, in partnership with Lazy Otters Boat Tours, where attendees toured Blackstone Glacier in Prince William Sound; dinner at Bison Hall; and a presentation from Alaska Photo Treks featuring the “bore tide,” a rare phenomenon, which, said members, proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Attendees also explored industry challenges—including aviation, carbon methodology, overtourism and climate risk—through collaborative working groups focused on advancing sustainability efforts across the travel sector. These working groups, led by USTOA’s Global Social Impact Manager Molly Laycob, will continue to meet and progress their initiatives post-summit.
“Hosting the SIR Summit in Anchorage created an opportunity to bring together local voices living and working at the intersection of tourism, conservation, culture, and community every day,” said Kara Troglin, Tourism Sales Manager at Visit Anchorage. “We’re grateful to the many local organizations and speakers who shared their time, knowledge, and lived experience, giving attendees a deeper understanding of Alaska through meaningful conversations and place-based learning.”
David S. Kasser, Visit Anchorage’s Sr. VP of Sales, added, “Visit Anchorage was honored to be asked to host this international group of forward thinkers by USTOA. It was wonderful to support the attendees working together to pioneer solutions to sustainability issues facing tourism businesses around the globe.”
