Iqaluit hospitality proposal

by Nancy Gardiner
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 04/97) - Inns North is applying for a grant from Aboriginal Business Canada to set up a hotel training facility in Iqaluit.

"It would require an expansion of the 18-room Toonoonik Hotel in Iqaluit, with an addition of 75 rooms," says Ted Bailey, division manager for Inns North.

"And there won't be any forced double-occupancy. Each person would have their own room."

The design plans also calls for a 300-person banquet hall. "Hopefully, it will be completed just before Nunavut comes into effect," Bailey says.

The training program would involve students spending six months at the new centre. One month each would be devoted to kitchen, dining room, frost desk, general office, maintenance and managerial duties.

"It would be the Northernmost host-training with certification," he said.

"The longest I can see keeping someone away from their home community is six months," Bailey says, explaining why the course wouldn't be longer.

"We're looking at a grant to do this. There would be 10 six-month courses over five years. We have until April 1998 to get our full submission in."