Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 15/02) - Managing a small hotel is about a dozen jobs rolled into one.

Charles Jeon is the bookkeeper, quality control specialist, human resources department, business planner and maintenance supervisor for the Igloo Inn.

From his upstairs office overlooking Franklin Avenue, Igloo Inn manager Charles Jeon oversees the operation of the 43-room hotel. - Richard Gleeson/NNSL photo

"The busy season is always changing," said Jeon. "It depends on what conferences and activities are going on in town."

The Igloo Inn, one of the least expensive places to stay in town, is a home away from home for businessmen, miners, exploration and construction workers.

The tourists that larger hotels and bed and breakfasts rely on make up only a small portion of the guests at the Igloo Inn.

Government makes up a sizeable chunk of his business, but Jeon said one of the Igloo Inn's main marketing points is not as big a draw to government travellers as you might think.

"I find a low rate is not enough to always beat (the competition)," he said.

With as many jobs as he has, Jeon, who is also co-owner of the hotel, puts in some extremely long hours.

Jeon said he usually arrives at work at six or seven in the morning and stays. He scans the parking lot and makes sure everything is in order before the guests wake up. His day continues until midnight. Seven days a week.

Making sure the rooms are cleaned properly is a priority for Jeon -- "Once guests complain about it, it's too late."

Built in 1977, the Igloo Inn has 43 rooms, 30 of them with kitchenettes. Jeon has been co-owner and manager since 1993.

The conversion of a number of apartment units in the city to hotels put the squeeze on smaller operations such as the Igloo Inn, Jeon said.

As it is for many Northern businesses, the toughest part of managing the hotel is keeping staff. He said he has a few employees who have been with him for a long time, but keeping a full staff is an ongoing chore.

"Small business is the backbone of society," said Jeon. He noted that while large companies get most of the attention from government, it is small businesses that collectively keep the city's economy going.