Business Expansion: Toast of the Town Buys Out Alaska Event Management Firm
Toast of the Town Acquires Alaska Event Services, Expanding Event Solutions for Alaskans
In a move that solidifies its position as Alaska's largest event planning, decor, and rental entity, Toast of the Town has acquired Alaska Event Services (AES). This merger, effective from September 2025, brings together two complementary companies, each with a rich history and a commitment to delivering exceptional event experiences.
Founded in 2015, Toast of the Town is a women-owned Anchorage event planning firm that has coordinated over 1000 local events in the past decade. Their clients include ConocoPhillips Alaska, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Visit Anchorage, Alaska Airlines, GCI, our website Publishing Company, The Odom Corporation, and many of Alaska's leading nonprofits.
On the other hand, AES, established in 2004, produces more than 150 events annually. The Anchorage-based company was acquired by Ivar’s in 2025, and AES was founded in 1972. Joe McLallen, previous majority owner of AES, expresses excitement about the growth of AES with a broader vision.
The merger of Toast of the Town and AES offers clients the advantages of combined scale, expanded services, and the state's largest event rental inventory. According to Toast of the Town COO Martha Keele, the merger will provide clients with more creative possibilities, smoother logistics, fresh ideas, and cost savings.
The acquisition of AES builds on Toast of the Town's foundation, further expanding its reach and offering more efficient, creative, and accessible event solutions to Alaskans. The combined entity will continue to be a women-owned Anchorage event planning firm, with Toast of the Town President Crystal Biringer and COO Martha Keele at the helm.
Toast of the Town has positioned itself for growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the hardest times for the event industry. Through smart planning, innovative ideas, and efficient use of resources, the company has managed to navigate the challenges and emerge stronger.
Both AES and Toast of the Town anticipate job growth in the year ahead, a positive sign for the recovering event industry in Alaska. The combined entity becomes Alaska's largest event planning, decor, and rental entity, poised to lead the industry into a bright future.
As Toast of the Town expands into a one-stop event-management agency, clients can look forward to a seamless and enjoyable event planning experience, backed by the state's largest event rental inventory and a team dedicated to delivering excellence.
