Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 24/01) - Fraser Tower isn't what it used to be. What began as a 14-floor apartment building has morphed into residential units combined with hotel suites.

Named for former NWT commissioner Fred Fraser, the building is a piece of Yellowknife history. Dedicated in April 1970, it was the first highrise in the North.

Kristen Cook, general manager of Fraser Tower, reviews photographs of the building before and after the renovations. About half of Fraser Tower's apartments are now hotel suites. - Sarah Holland/NNSL photo

History is one thing, but marketplace reality is another. Renovations on the tower, which is owned by Maclab Hotels and Resorts, began in November 2000. Tenants living in suites destined for hotel status were relocated.

Strong business pressures prompted the change, said Marc Medland, vice-president for Maclab Hotels and Resorts.

"We liked the property in Yellowknife and thought it had a strong future. We thought, 'What can we do with this property?'" said Medland. "It (the hotel) fits in well with our Edmonton and Jasper properties."

Those properties include two hotels in Edmonton and another two in Jasper.

Although it's too early to predict the specific demographics of the hotel's clientele, Medland said he expects most customers will be government and business travellers.

Building clientele is also important to the success of the hotel. "We have lots of repeat business," said Kristen Cook, general manager of the complex.

The view from inside

The hotel's entrance is nestled between the front desk and a lounge, which includes a fireplace and dining tables.

The renovations are about 95 per cent complete, said Medland.

Photographs from the Yellowknife archives decorate the walls of the rooms. "We wanted to keep as much of a Northern feel as we could," said Cook.

The property employs 18 people, and offers a fitness room and kitchens in every suite.

"I think of it as an oversized bed and breakfast," said Cook.

Since Sept. 11, the travel and tourism industry has taken a downturn.

"We've certainly seen some effect," said Medland.

"In Yellowknife, I'm not sure because we have no previous years to compare it to," he said Medland. "In Edmonton we're behind last year's numbers. In Jasper, the mix has changed. Before there were more European and American travellers. Now it's very rural."

People are less inclined to fly internationally, and are taking their vacations closer to home. Jasper remains a popular destination.

"People are worried about being stuck," said Medland. "We've been full (in Jasper) every weekend since Sept. 11."

Many people in Yellowknife are optimistic about the future, however, and Cook is one of them.

"I think the first portion of the season will be soft, but things will get back to normal, especially in the new year," she said.

Edmonton-based Maclab Hotels and Resorts employs 200 people.