We invite you to VISIT ALASKA with HR HOUSTON!

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2 November 12, 2015 PO Box 4240 Houston TX direct fax Whether you re a new member or a long-time member, you probably know that HR Houston is committed to providing KNOWLEDGE, RELATIONSHIPS and SOLUTIONS to the HR community. We re always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver on our mission. With that being said. We invite you to VISIT ALASKA with HR HOUSTON! Imagine the trip of a life-time shared with your HR Houston colleagues. Imagine forging life-time connections with the friends you make on the trip while seeing one of the most amazing destinations in the US. Now.recognize that we ve planned this trip at the end of July 2016, because many people told us that they would like to make it a family trip and create deeper relationships. Alaska in July is at the height of their tourist season, so it s not inexpensive. This vacation package includes glacier tours, Iditarod kennel visits, wildlife sightings, Native American history, a reception with the Alaska SHRM chapter and lots of opportunities to connect and have FUN! We re even working on some ideas for recertification credits. We don t know of any other SHRM chapter that has offered this kind of experience Let s set the bar! Woodlake Travel has expertly packaged this fabulous trip for HR Houston. Our Travel Consultant, Linda de Sosa, is an award-winning Senior Travel Consultant and the Vice President of Woodlake Travel. She shares a passion for travel and creative itineraries and is happy to help you with any questions about pricing or registration. Her contact information can be found on the last page of the registration form in this information package. We encourage you to read on to learn more about the wonderful things Alaska has to offer and hope you can join us on this spectacular adventure! There are only 50 spots available make sure you reserve your place in this unique vacation opportunity. Let s do this! Mitch Beckman, SHRM-SCP, SPHR HR Houston President, Vice President Human Resources, Health, Safety & Environment Webber, LLC

3 TRAVEL ITENERARY July 23-29, 2016 STANDARD ALASKAN LAND TOUR Saturday, July 23, :15 pm Depart Houston, Texas from Intercontinental Airport 7:35 pm Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska Sunday, July 24, :00 am Free Day to Explore Anchorage, Alaska 7:00 pm Casual Group Dinner Included at The Flying Machine Restaurant Monday, July 25, :00 am Guided Tour of Seward, Alaska Nature walk & Glacial Ice Viewing at Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park Hearty Lunch Included at the Resurrection Roadhouse Seavey Homestead IdidaRide s Wilderness Dog Sled Ride, Tour & Kennel Vist Tuesday, July 26, :00 am Explore Alaska Native History at the Alaska Native Heritage Center 7:00 pm Private Evening Reception with Anchorage s HR Management Association at the Captain Cook Hotel s Quarterdeck Room, wine and hors d oeuvre s included Wednesday, July 27, :00 am 26 Glaciers Tour aboard the Luxurious M/V Klondike Express Catamaran Lunch Included on the M/V Klondike Express Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Thursday, July 28, :00 am Free Day to Explore Anchorage, Alaska 7:00 pm Group Dinner Included at the landmark Simon and Seafort s Restaurant Friday, July 29, :35 pm Depart Anchorage, Alaska Saturday, July 30, :45 am Arrive at Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas DENALI NATIONAL PARK TOUR EXTENSION Friday, July 29, :00 am Transfer from Hotel Captain Cook to Train Rail Depot 9:15 am Travel in the Luxury Dome Rail from Anchorage, Alaska to Denali Park 4:40 pm Arrive in Denali Park Village Saturday, July 30, :00 am Depart Denali Park Village and travel to Toklat River Rest Area Guided Tundra Wilderness Tour, including spectacular mountain views and native wildlife 2:00 pm Return to Denali Park Village Sunday, July 31, :00 am Depart Denali Park Village to Anchorage, Alaska by Motorcoach 1:30 pm Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska and depart for airport 2:00 pm Arrive at airport and prepare for flight to Houston, Texas Depart Anchorage, Alaska Arrive at Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas 2

4 STANDARD ALASKAN LAND TOUR July 23-29, 2016 Saturday, July 23, Travel Day Depart Houston Intercontinental at 3:15 pm. Upon arrival in Anchorage at 7:35 pm, collect your luggage and find your driver in the baggage claim area. Enjoy six nights in a Deluxe room at the Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage s only true luxury hotel. You will enjoy the great downtown location and majestic views of the Cook Inlet, Chugach Mountains, or Anchorage cityscape, depending on your room. Sunday, July 24, Free Exploration Day Today is a free day to explore Anchorage. Preview descriptions of possible activities in the following pages. Throughout the summer every Saturday and Sunday, downtown Anchorage takes on a festival atmosphere with over 300 vendors offering art, food, photography, jewelry and clothing. Music and dance performances add to the fun. Group Dinner. Casual group dinner at The Flying Machine Restaurant. Watch the floatplanes land and take off against the backdrop of the majestic Chugach Mountains. (DINNER INCLUDED) Monday, July 25, Exit Glacier, Dog Sled Tour, and Kennel Visit Take in the fascinating history and breathtaking beauty as your guide shows you the sights of Seward, known as the Gateway to Alaska and Mile 0 of the Iditarod Trail. See first-hand the effects of the 1964 Earthquake and stand in awe of the mountain that is home to the second oldest foot race in the United States. Then, head out to Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park. A short walk along the nature trail takes you to the face of the glacial ice. Watch for mountain goats, moose or bear on the mountainside. During the salmon runs, see salmon swimming upstream to spawn. Group Lunch: A hearty lunch will be served at nearby Resurrection Roadhouse before you travel to the Seavey homestead and experience IdidaRide s 1.5 hour Wilderness Dog Sled Ride and Tour. (LUNCH INCLUDED) Tuesday, July 26, Alaska Native Heritage Center Private tour of this fascinating gathering place that celebrates, perpetuates and shares Alaska Native culture, language, heritage and tradition. Your visit today will take you on a journey through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history and culture through art, dance and Native games demonstrations, exhibits, traditional Native dwellings, movies and more. Evening Reception: Tonight enjoy a private reception with the Anchorage HR Management Association at the Hotel Captain Cook s Quarterdeck Room with panoramic views of Anchorage. Wine and hot/cold hors d oeuvres are included. (RECEPTION INCLUDED) 3

5 STANDARD ALASKAN LAND TOUR July 23-29, 2016 Wednesday, July 27, Glaciers Tour & Visit to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Travel to the Kenai Peninsula for glaciers and animals. A journey into Prince William Sound is unforgettable. Explore the serenity of Esther Passage. View the majestic alpine and tidewater glaciers in College and Harriman Fjord while traveling in luxurious comfort aboard the M/V Klondike Express, the fastest catamaran in Alaska. Our No Seasickness Guarantee, complimentary hot lunch and customized narration are just a few of the many reasons why Phillips is recognized for operating the best glacier cruise experience in Alaska. On our return from Whittier, we will stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is dedicated to conservation, education, and quality animal care of Alaska s wildlife. We will see the injured and orphaned animals for which they care. (LUNCH INCLUDED) Thursday, July 28, Free Exploration Day Today is a free day to explore Anchorage. Preview descriptions of possible activities in the following pages. Dinner at Simon and Seafort s: Tonight enjoy your final evening together for a group dinner at Simon and Seafort s, a landmark Anchorage restaurant with panoramic views and a classic American dining experience. (DINNER INCLUDED) Friday, July 29, Travel Day You will be transferred to the airport as you say goodbye to Alaska and hello to Houston! Not ready to end your trip just yet...check out the add-on trip to Denali National Park, described in the following pages, and extend your stay. 4

6 DENALI NATIONAL PARK TOUR EXTENSION July 29-31, 2016 Friday, July 29, Travel Day to Denali Park Transfer from the Hotel Captain Cook to Rail Depot by Alaska Yellow Cab (cab included in package). Luxury Dome Rail Travel from Anchorage to Denali Park. Departs 9:15am arrives 4:40pm. Package includes overnight for two nights in standard room (including transfers) at the Denali Park Village. Saturday, July 30, Tundra Wilderness Tour Traveling 53 miles into the park to the Toklat River rest area, the Tundra Wilderness Tour offers a wonderful diversity for visitors. Incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road and some of the best opportunities to view the park s wildlife inhabitants await you on this tour. While we can t promise or predict when wildlife will show, the tour allows plenty of opportunity to look for Dall sheep, moose, caribou, wolves and grizzly bears. On days when Denali (Mt. McKinley) is visible, it may be possible to travel to Stony Hill Overlook (another eight miles down the road) and view the entire mountain from base to summit. You will marvel at the beautiful braided rivers and learn about the tundra. 6:00 am departure; 2:00 pm return. Sunday, July 31, Travel Day Travel by Motorcoach from Denali Park to Anchorage. Departs 7:00am arrives 1:30pm. Arrive at the airport in Anchorage by 2:00 pm for the flight to Houston. 5

7 THINGS TO DO IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA July 24 & 28, 2016 Anchorage Museum - ($15 Adult; $7 Child) The Anchorage Museum is a world-class museum located in the heart of Alaska s largest city. It welcomes over 180,000 annual visitors from Alaska and from around the world and serves as a cultural center for the community. The museum is repeatedly ranked among Alaska s top ten visitor attractions. Each year it presents changing exhibitions complemented by education programs and activities. Permanent exhibits include an Alaska history gallery, Alaska art galleries, the Imaginarium Discovery Center science galleries and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, which features Alaska Native artifacts on long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution. To order tickets in advance, call or you may purchase them upon your arrival at the museum. Bear Viewing (FULL DAY) - ($947 pp) (Includes tax NPS fee and state aviation fee) 8 am departure -10 hours Visit Brooks Falls, which is world-renown for Alaska bear viewing. From elevated viewing platforms and boardwalks near Brooks Falls, watch brown bear fish for spawning salmon. National Park rangers give a safety briefing on arrival at Katmai National Park. Trip time includes a scenic 2 to 3 hour flight each way. Bear viewing includes walking on relatively flat paths; this is a self-guided trip and National Park Rangers are readily available for questions. (BOX LUNCH INCLUDED) Bear Viewing (HALF DAY) - ($733 pp) (Includes tax NPS fee and state aviation fee) 8 am; 12:30 pm departures - 6 ½ hours Travel deep into the wilds on a fly-out Alaska bear viewing trip. Fly 70 miles southwest of Anchorage to Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve, site of Redoubt Bay Lodge. Here you will view Alaska brown and black bear by boat with experienced natural history guides. These magnificent Alaska bears are captivating to watch. Roaming free along the coastline, munching on berries, snagging salmon, frolicking and splashing in the water or settling in for an afternoon siesta it s all in a day s work! Bear Viewing is on a lake from a covered boat with a guide. (LIGHT MEAL INCLUDED) Canyoneering - ($329 pp) 11:30 am departure - 5 hours Experience a true taste of the Gold Rush. You ll prospect into a remote dry creek canyon from a trailhead at the Historic Crow Creek Gold Mine. Along the way you ll use harnesses, ropes, gloves, helmets and ladders to overcome some truly rough country. Experience a beautiful waterfall, mossy canyons, and hidden caves in the spruce and hemlock stands of this northernmost reach of the Pacific coast s temperate rainforest. Together we ll rappel fifty feet into a canyon, using harnesses, belay devices and ropes to descend to the lush canyon floor. Be prepared for stream crossings! Dress warm on this tour. Long pants and sturdy shoes required. 6

8 THINGS TO DO IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA July 24 & 28, 2016 Discover Denali Flightseeing - ($448 pp) (Includes tax NPS fee and state aviation fee) 10 am; 1:30 pm departures - 3 hours Soar to new heights on this intimate, 3-hour Discover Denali Flightseeing Tour. You will fly over vast Alaska wilderness untouched by modern man and look down upon Denali, North America s tallest mountain. Here you will see where climbers summit McKinley s massive south face, chase the ebb and flow of ancient glacial ice and marvel at Ruth Glacier, a 40-mile-long glacier that flows through the granite-walled Great Gorge the world s deepest trench. Along the way you will view cascading icefalls and plummeting avalanches, soar above open alpine tundra and glacier-fed, braided rivers, and possibly spot moose, bear, swans and the occasional wolf or coyote. Dog Sled on Colony Glacier - ($608 pp) (Includes tax state aviation fee and DNR fee) 9 am departure 2½ hours Today enjoy an incredible Alaskan adventure! Take off by ski plane and travel deep into the Chugach Mountains over rivers of ice with azure pools. Soar over snowcapped mountains, braided rivers and beautiful Lake George before landing on the magnificent Colony Glacier. As you exit the plane, you ll spend a whole hour with a team of real Iditarod sled dogs and their veteran musher. Enjoy some time with the new puppies, listen to stories from the trail and watch the excitement of harnessing a dog team. Board the dog sled, feel the breeze on your face, and view spectacular wilderness; accessible only by air. You ll have plenty of opportunity to take photographs as you glide across the glacier; inspired by the dogs excitement and unique bond with their musher. You ll even have the opportunity to stand on the runners of the sled and mush the team. On your return flight you ll enjoy more stunning views of the Chugach range as you spot for wildlife. Downtown Bike Rentals - ($20 pp) 3 hours See more of Anchorage while riding a bike! There are a number of bike rental locations offering a Bike/Hike Split and Bike/Hike Combo for local area attractions, such as Flat Top Mountain. In addition, there are four paved greenbelt trails that ring the city. The 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is the best. Together with the Chester Creek Trail, the meandering Campbell Creek Trail and the new Ship Creek Trail, they create a bike beltway. Most renters encounter moose on the Coastal Trail in the woods between the airport s fenced runways and the ocean. Reservations are not required to enjoy this activity. Flat Top Mountain Hike - ($23 pp, round trip) 3½ hours Flattop Mountain Shuttle provides round-trip van transport between down town Anchorage and Flattop s trailhead; a quick thirty minute drive away. The Shuttle will remain parked at the Glen Alps trailhead in Chugach State Park for 2.5 hours while you hike on your own. On average, it takes one hour to hike from the parking lot to the summit. This allows most people 30 minutes to walk around the mountain s flat top and photograph the great views. It takes about 45 minutes to descend. No guide is needed on this popular, easy to follow trail. Regardless of your pace the great views provide a reward for every footstep. It s a scenic, safe, affordable, independent outdoor afternoon excursion. To reserve your seats, call

9 THINGS TO DO IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA July 24 & 28, 2016 Fly Out Fishing (FULL DAY) - ($613 pp) (Includes tax & aviation fee, license and tags additional) 7:30 am departure On your Alaska fly-in fishing trip with Rust s Flying Service, you will fly out to remote Alaska backcountry and cast a line for wild Alaska king salmon, silver salmon, rainbow trout and grayling. Rust s has been safely carrying anglers far away from combat fishing crowds since Their specialized small bush planes fitted with floats can take off and land on small lakes across Alaska, allowing you to fly you to some of the world s most secluded fishing hot spots. On your Alaska fly in fishing trip, you will be hooked up with complete fishing gear, an experienced Alaska fly in fishing guide, and meals. The cost of a one day fishing license is $20, payable there. Note that the king salmon season ends on July 13, but the fish projection is below. The lodge works with a local fish processor, who can process your fish and then ship it home for you. PROJECTED FISHING AVAILABILITY JULY AUGUST week 1 week 2 week 3 week 4 week 5 week 1 week 2 week 3 week 4 King Salmon X X Red Salmon X X X Silver Salmon X X X X X X Chum Salmon X X X X X X X Pink Salmon X X X X X X Arctic Grayling X X X X X X X X Northern Pike X X X X X X X X Rainbow Trout X X X X X X X X Kincaid Park Kincaid Park is situated among 1,400 acres of rolling, forested hills and beautiful scenery a spectacular view of Mt. Susitna across Cook Inlet; Fire Island to the Southwest; both Mt. Denali and Mt. Foraker to the North; and arguably, the best sunsets in Anchorage! Many species of wildlife roam free within the park. Reservations are not required to enjoy this activity. 8

10 THINGS TO DO IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA July 24 & 28, 2016 Matanuska Glacier Walk - ($299 pp) 8:30 am departure - 8 hours Try a local favorite! The Matanuska Glacier is a frozen 27 mile long river of ancient ice. Thousands of years old, this massive glacier is tucked up into the head of the Matanuska Valley. You will spend over 2 hours directly on the glacier with a glacier guide by your side, learning how the Matanuska Glacier was born and how it shaped the landscape in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. Explore blue meltwater pools, the ice formations and deep crevasses. Walking on ice is slippery fun, so our guests are equipped with a helmet, a walking stick and crampons that attach to your shoes. We require our guests to bring sturdy footwear (hiking shoe, waterproof shoe, boot) and suggest that you bring an extra pair of socks. Don t be surprised that your shoes get filthy dirty with glacial flour. This glacial till is finely ground rock the glacier has created - it makes for great facials! This tour does require walking for about 2 hours as we will be with our glacier guide outside for this period of time! Our fully-guided transportation includes a pick up at your hotel in Anchorage as well as water and snacks in the touring vehicle. We will also stop for lunch where we ll overlook the glacier while enjoying some yummy Alaskan fare. (LIGHT SNACKS INCLUDED) Scenic Anchorage City Tour - ($60 pp) 8:30 am departure - 2 hours A lovely city tour highlighted by stunning city views from atop the Chugach Mountains! Start with a pickup from your hotel. Then it s off to the historic Port of Anchorage and Ship Creek area where our city was born. Here you ll learn about Anchorage s colorful pioneer history, our early tent city, what life was like here before the age of modern conveniences and how Anchorage got its name. Next we ll travel past Bootleggers Cove, stopping for a visit to Earthquake Park where you ll learn about the perils of living on the Pacific Ocean s Ring of Fire and see places where the ground liquefied and massive landslides occurred during the biggest earthquake in US History and 2nd largest earthquake ever recorded worldwide. Next we ll visit Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world - watch some of Alaska s finest bush pilots splash land and then take to the sky outbound for nearby wilderness areas. The Chugach Mountains are our last and finest stop. Here you ll experience Anchorage from the place locals go for stunning vistas and beautiful sunsets. Flat Top Scenic Overlook is home to many Alaskan animals including our favorite, here at Salmon Berry Tours, the Alaska Moose! A short walk to the overlook provides beautiful views of the city of Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains, where more snow falls than anywhere else in the world. 9

11 REGISTRATION FORM Traveler 1 Legal Name (must match driver s license): Nickname: UA Mileage +: Date of Birth: Weight*: Known Traveler Number: Traveler 2 Legal Name (must match driver s license): Nickname: UA Mileage +: Date of Birth: Weight*: Known Traveler Number: Traveler 3 Legal Name (must match driver s license): Nickname: UA Mileage +: Date of Birth: Weight*: Known Traveler Number: Traveler 4 Legal Name (must match driver s license): Nickname: UA Mileage +: Date of Birth: Weight*: Known Traveler Number: SELECT YOUR PACKAGE Alaska Tour reservations are handled on a first come, first served basis. Please reserve early to secure your fabulous vacation! Flight Arrangements Option 1: Use group air rates of $ pp for people. (Taxes/fuel surcharge subject to change. Transfers only for those on these flights.) Sat 23 JUL16 UA 1291 HOUSTON, TEXAS 3:15PM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 7:35PM Fri 29 JUL16 UA 1969 ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 8:45PM HOUSTON, TEXAS 6:35AM Option 2: Help me use my miles for people. This includes: 1) Woodlake Travel fee of $20.00 per ticket; 2) No guarantee of availability or number of miles needed; and 3) PIN code: Option 3: Do your own air. If selected, please advise Linda to your flights/dates. No transfers/refunds if different flights. Request Changes to Airfare (you will be advised of the price) Change Dates for Flights: Houston to Anchorage Anchorage to Houston Change Cities for Flights: Depart From Return To Standard Alaskan Land Tour Package pricing includes: 6 hotel nights, 3 tours, 2 lunches, 2 group dinners, a reception and all transfers on tour days. (Prices subject to change until deposited or ticketed.) # People SubTotal Travelers (First & Second Person in Room) $2, pp x = Travelers (Third & Fourth Person in Room) $1, pp x = Single Traveler Supplement $1, x = Denali National Park Tour Extension Travelers (First & Second Person in Room) $ pp x = Travelers (Third & Fourth Person in Room) $ pp x = Single Traveler Supplement $ x = Things to Do in Anchorage Add-On s Bear Viewing (FULL DAY) * $ pp x = Bear Viewing (HALF DAY) * $ pp x = Canyoneering $ pp x = Discover Denali Flightseeing * $ pp x = Dog Sled on Colony Glacier * $ pp x = Fly Out Fishing (FULL DAY) * $ pp x = Matanuska Glacier Walk * $ pp x = Scenic Anchorage City Tour $60.00 pp x = Total Land = Date (24th / 28th) AM / PM * Activities marked with an asterisk (*) require an individual s weight to participate. Note: activity add-on prices are subject to change. 10

12 TRAVEL INSURANCE SPECIAL NOTE: Insurance is NOT included because of the variety of package prices. If you are interested in purchasing insurance, would you like to be contacted? Yes No SLEEP ACCOMODATIONS Bedding Preference King Two Beds MEAL ACCOMODATIONS Special dietary needs or special occasion requests: DEPOSIT SCHEDULE PAYMENTS DEPOSIT FINAL PAYMENT DUE Land Tour $ pp Balance Due May 5 Air $ pp Credit Card for Full Amount Due June 19 These deposits are nonrefundable, but can be transferred to another person. If you are cancelling for a reason covered under the optional (but highly advised) insurance policy, you may submit your claim for reimbursement. Please contact Linda with Woodlake Travel for help. Please charge my card now for the Land Tour deposit in the amount of $ I will be sending a check payable to Woodlake Travel in the amount of $ CREDIT CARD INFORMATION Name On Credit Card: Billing Address: City: State: ZIP: Phone (Day): Phone (Evening): Address: Credit Card Number: Expiration: Security Code: Signature: IMPORTANT DUE DATES ASAP April 19, 2016 May 5, 2016 June 19, 2016 KEY DATES AMOUNT DUE Check or credit card for deposit Last date to request or cancel airfare Final payment for land tour due Last date for any name or air credit card change CONTACT INFORMATION For all travel questions, please contact the following Travel Consultant for assistance: Linda de Sosa, Travel Consultant Woodlake Travel lindad@woodlaketravel.com 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 6130 Houston, TX Phone Fax Woodlake Travel Services, Inc., acts only as agent for the client in acquiring transportation, hotel accommodations, sightseeing and other privileges, or services for the clients benefit, and on the express condition that Woodlake Travel Services, Inc. shall not be responsible for any loss, accident, injury, delay, defect, omission or irregularity which may occur or be occasioned, whether by reason of any act, negligence or default of any company or person engaged in or responsible for carrying out any of the arrangements, or otherwise in connection therewith. 11