Yellowknife (Feb 23/05) - Hotels throughout Yellowknife are expected to be brimming with guests thanks to a busy weekend in sporting circles.

Fraser Tower Suite Hotel general manager Kirsten Cook stands in front of her establishment. Broomball and basketball tournaments, as well as coaching symposiums, has the hotel almost booked to capacity.

The Senior Cager high school basketball tournament, the NWT Broomball Tournament and Sport North's coaching symposium -- which is bringing Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Charlie Huddy and chief executive officer and president Patrick LaForge to Yellowknife - are all on tap for this weekend.

Fraser Tower Suites Hotel general manager Kirsten Cook said her operation is booked to capacity.

In addition to hosting one team for the basketball tournament, guests in the city for the coaching symposium have been booking at Fraser Tower, said Cook.

For the basketball tournament, one team has already taken five rooms alone.

For the coaching symposium, Cook says 25 rooms have been booked.

Last week's Junior Cager tournament, however, didn't have much affect on her location.

"It's the older kids or the adults that like to stay in a hotel room -- they like their comfort," she said. "Keep in mind many of these teams are very well versed in travel and a lot of them stay at the schools themselves."

Others busy, too

The Capital Suites is also expected to be packed this weekend, but it's not all about sports.

"We'll be busy with broomball, but mostly people are here for meetings and taking short courses," said front desk clerk Alice Dapilos.

Andre Lanz, the new general manager for the Explorer Hotel, said he hasn't been overly affected by the upcoming weekend events, but adds February has been a very good month for the hotel business in general.

Lanz said he's getting lots of corporate business and tour groups.