Do I need a Special Event Business License?

• All vendors planning to sell products or services at the event must be licensed with the City of Palmer.  The easiest method is to obtain a Special Event Business License.  
  • You can file the application directly to the City of Palmer by following the linke below
    • https://palmerak.munirevs.com/
• If your booth exhibit is informational only, no application is required.  You will be covered under the license obtained by the Alaska Airmen’s Association.  
• If your business is already licensed in the City of Palmer, no additional licensing is required.  

Do I need to collect sales tax?

• The City of Palmer requires sales tax be collected on products and services sold within the city limits. The first $1,000 of any sale/transaction is taxed at 3%. You will never collect more than $30.00 per transaction.
  • Certain types of transactions are excluded.  Examples are shown below and a full list can be found in the municipal code: https://palmer.municipal.codes/PMC/3.16.030
  • Examples of exclusions: 
    • Dues or fees to nonprofit clubs, labor unions or fraternal organizations.
    • Sales, rentals and services by or to the United States government, the state of Alaska, or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or any political subdivisions and federally recognized Indian tribes
    • Sales of newspapers or other periodicals.
    • Sales of air, train, boat, cruise line or bus tour transportation, car rentals, accommodations, or admission to entertainment events, where the service is provided outside the city, and fees or commission related to such sales.
    • Sales of aviation fuel (Jet A, Jet B, low lead and others) at the Warren “Bud” Woods Palmer Municipal Airport.

How do I collect sales tax?  

• Sales tax can be added as an additional line item or included in the price of an item.  If included in the price, it should be noted on the invoice and any signage.  See official verbiage from the City of Palmer below: 
  • Sales tax may be collected in one of two methods and notice of the sales tax collection must be posted at seller’s premises:
    • The seller shall add the sales tax to the price or charge for the sale, rental or services, showing the tax as a separate and distinct item on any receipt, invoice, statement of account, or other records of transaction. The sales tax on more than one separately priced item may be shown as a total on the aggregate price of all items sold or rented, or services rendered, in a single transaction.
    • The seller shall include the tax in the sale or purchase price and remit to the city an amount equal to the seller’s gross receipts divided by 1.0 (sales tax number) and multiplied by the sales tax percentage in lieu of stating sales tax separately and adding it to the sales price. If a seller chooses this method, a notice to customers must be displayed, stating, “All prices include the (percent) city of Palmer sales tax.”

How do I remit sales tax?  

• A Sales Tax Remittance Form will be provided in your Exhibitor Packet or can be found here:  https://www.palmerak.org/finance/page/special-event-sales-tax-remittance-form
• Sales Tax Remittance Forms and payment are due in the city office by 5pm on the last business day of the month following the month being reported. They must be in the Palmer office, not just postmarked. For example, Sales Tax from this event would be due in Palmer no later than 6/30/23.  
• Sales tax has to be paid to the city with cash or check only, no credits or debit cards.

More information: 

• The complete Sales Tax Code for the City of Palmer: https://palmer.municipal.codes/PMC/3.16.030
• Contact Information for the City of Palmer Finance Department
  • Phone: 907-745-3271
    Fax: 907-745-0930
    Email: financedepartment@palmerak.org
  • Hours:
    Monday - Friday
    8:00am - 5:00pm AKST

The Alaska Airmen’s Association is here to assist you!  If you have any additional questions or need help processing forms, please contact us at 907-245-1251 or accounting@alaskaairmen.org

WE RECOMMEND FEDEX.  IF YOU USE FEDEX, EXHIBITORS CAN SHIP DIRECT TO THE ALASKA STATE FAIRGROUNDS VIA THE ADDRESS BELOW!  Freight will be held in Anchorage by FedEx and then delivered to the venue immediately before the event.

*Your shipment may say that it was delivered or on hold in Anchorage. THIS IS NORMAL, and means it was received at the FedEx facility. Your freight will be placed in a shipping container to be consolidated and delivered to the Fairgrounds on the Thursday before the event.

DO NOT SHIP ITEMS TO THE ALASKA STATE FAIR ADDRESS IN PALMER, AK.  THERE IS NO STAFF TO RECEIVE THEM.  

Please arrange for your shipment to arrive April 22nd - April 29th, 2024.  All freight shipped via FedEx will be held at the FedEx Anchorage Hub and delivered directly to the Alaska State Fairgrounds by container on May 2nd. There is no forklift available at the Alaska State Fairgrounds so you must package your freight so that it is able to be moved by pallet jack and hand truck. If you are shipping large freight, you need to use Alaska Event Services as your freight forwarder, (907) 345-8789 or info@alaskaeventservices.com .

Freight shipped through Alaska Event Services must be delivered by Friday, April 26th. 

​Specify on the Air bill: "NO SIGNATURE REQUIRED."   List your company name and booth number as the recipient, in conjunction with the Gathering FedEx shipping address.

​Example:      Company Name - Your booth number

                        Great Alaska Aviation Gathering

                        6050 Rockwell Avenue

                        Anchorage, AK  99502

Is that the right shipping address?!

YES! 6050 Rockwell Avenue is the correct address to ship to. Your freight will be placed in a holding container at FedEx until it is transported to the Alaska State Fairgrounds

Please also include a point of contact on the outside of your shipment. If you are using FedEx Ground, allow 10 working days for your delivery to reach Alaska.  This means you must ship by April 15th at the latest.

VERY IMPORTANT!  If you are using another freight company or shipping large freight, you need to use Alaska Event Services as your freight forwarder, (907) 345-8789 or info@alaskaeventservices.com.  This ensures that your freight will arrive and depart without getting lost.   Show management and FedEx will not be responsible for your lost shipments.  No shipments will be accepted at the Alaska State Fairgrounds unless special arrangements have been made prior to the show.  Please email us at gary@alaskaairmen.org with any questions.

Return shipping by FedEx will be available to exhibitors at the close of the show. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR RETURN LABELS PRINTED. There is NO printer available at the show.

Finding Lodging for the 2024 Gathering - 

The 2024 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering will take place in Palmer at the Alaska State Fairgrounds and the Palmer Municipal Airport. 

The closest lodging can be found in Palmer and Wasilla, but Anchorage is only a 45-minute, scenic drive from the event. 

We suggest the following establishments - prices vary: 

Palmer 

• Alaska’s Harvest Bed and Breakfast – 3 miles from venue 

• 2252 N. Love Drive, Palmer, AK 99645 
• Offering a 10% discount to 2024 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering exhibitors (no code needed) 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-232-8783 to reserve 

• Alaska Backcountry Cottages – 6.5 miles from venue  

• 3901 South Lindsey Cir, Palmer, AK, 99645 
• Offering a 10% discounted nightly rate, contact info@alaskaairmen.org for discount code 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-746-2225 to reserve 

• The Pioneer Motel – 1.8 miles from venue 

• 124 West Arctic Ave, Palmer, AK, 99645 
• Offering a 10% discounted nightly rate for exhibitors booking through May 2nd-6th, contact info@alaskaairmen.org for discount code 
• CLICK HERE or call (907)745-3425 to reserve 

• Colony Inn – 2.1 miles from venue 

• 325 E Elmwood Ave, Palmer, AK 99645 

• Offering a 10% discounted nightly rate booking through May 2nd-6th (no code needed) 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-745-3330 to reserve  

Wasilla 

• Best Western Lake Lucille Inn – 14.9 miles from venue 

• 1300 West Lake Lucille Drive, Wasilla AK, 99654 
• Offering a 10% discounted nightly rate booking through May 2nd-6th (no code needed) 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-373-1776 to reserve 

• Grand View Inn – 11 miles from venue 

• 2900 East Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK, 99654 
• Offering a nightly rate of $190 for a single, $210 for a double.   
• CLICK HERE or call 907-352-1700 to reserve 

• Alaska's Select Inn Hotel – 12.4 miles from venue 

• 3451 East Palmdale Drive, Wasilla, AK, 99654 
• Offering a 10% discounted nightly rate 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-357-4768 to reserve 

Anchorage 

• Courtyard Anchorage Airport - 45 miles from venue 

• 4901 Spenard Road Anchorage, AK 99517 

• Offering a discounted nightly rate 
• CLICK HERE to reserve 

• SpringHill Suites Midtown Anchorage - 41 miles from venue  

• 3401 A Street Anchorage, AK 99503 
• Offering a discounted nightly rate 
• CLICK HERE to reserve 

• Residence Inn Anchorage Midtown - 42 miles from venue  

• 1025 35th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99508 
• Offering a discounted nightly rate 
• CLICK HERE to reserve 

• The Lakefront Anchorage - 45 miles from venue  

• 4800 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99517 
• More information coming soon. 
• CLICK HERE or call 907-243-2300 to reserve 

• Aloft Anchorage - 43 miles from venue 

• 310 W 36th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503 
• Offering a discounted nightly rate 
• CLICK HERE to reserve 

Camping or Parking your RV? 

• The Springer RV & Campground (previously named Paradise RV Park) 

Located at 16199 East Outer Springer Loop Palmer AK 99645 – 1.75 miles from venue 

Springer Campground will be taking reservations January 2024 with large sites and pull throughs including electric, water, and sewer. Ranging from $40-60 a night. CLICK HERE to reserve. Contact them HERE or by calling 907-982-7077. 

There are RV sites with 20/30/50-amp full hookups. Showers and laundry for $5, free wifi and dumping with a water fill for $10. 

• Great Alaskan Holidays 

Great Alaskan Holidays is the largest RV rental company, providing comfortable touring and lodging solutions to travelers visiting Alaska from around the world for over 36 years now. 

Park it at the show and live in it.  Travel through Alaska before the event or extend your stay to take full advantage of an opportunity you may never have again…. tour Alaska in the safety, privacy, and comfort of your own RV rental. CLICK HERE or call 907-248-7777 to reserve. 

CANCELLATION AND REDUCTION POLICY – Cancellation of exhibit space must be made in writing. Exhibitor cancellation notices received by Alaska Airmen’s Association before March 15th, 2024, will be processed promptly and paid exhibitor fees will be refunded. Cancellations made on or after March 15th, 2024, are subject to the Alaska Airmen’s Association approval and will be issued a maximum refund of 80%. NO REFUNDS will be made if cancellations are made within 10 days of event.

If you have any questions Call us at 907-245-1251  or email as at gary@alaskaairmen.org