10 Letter Writing Tips

Personalize your letter and avoid the use of form letters – write from the heart.
Maintain a respectful tone throughout your communication – never use your letter to threaten.
Identify yourself as a member of the Travel, Tourism and/or Hospitality Industry.
State how you and your family are impacted by a healthy visitor industry. Examples include your direct wages, employment opportunities for your family, prosperity for your community including offsets to property taxes.
If you own or manage a business, share your outlook for your business including changes in employment, wages and benefits dependent on the prosperity of the visitor economy.
State your support for a broad based, statewide tourism marketing program that creates a positive image and heightened awareness of our destination.
Reiterate that a minimum of $20 million dollars will allow Alaska to properly compete in the global marketplace against other long-haul destinations (Hawaii, New Zealand, Argentina, Norway etc). Point out that funding should be appropriated from existing taxes paid by the industry. (For reference, the State estimates the industry will contribute $111 million in FY12 in State taxes and fees).
If your business participates in ATIA, state that you already contribute to the required matching funds. If you are comfortable stating that amount, please do so.
Keep your communication open. Ask their opinion. Ask for their support. Ask to be added to their district newsletter. Sign up to be a friend of theirs on Facebook, Twitter etc. Anything you can to do maintain contact will pay dividends down the road.