Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jun 12/98) - A tourist boom could be on the horizon if Inuvik residents mirror Muriel Klengenberg's efforts.

The 16-year Inuvik resident has worked at the Mackenzie Hotel for five years as a front desk agent.

In November, she took a three-hour exam to demonstrate her knowledge of how to treat visitors.

To follow up that gruelling exam, a NWT tourism officer made a secret visit to observe Klengenberg checking in guests -- an inspection she passed with flying colors.

And to mark Klengenberg's dedication to the tourism industry, NWT tourism training group co-ordinator, Christine Ming, came all the way from Yellowknife to present Klengenberg with a certificate noting how she passed national standards.

"It is an accomplishment for one thing," Klengenberg said of the certificate.

"When I started the job five years ago I had absolutely no experience in the field at all. All I brought to it was my genuine like of people, so now (the certificate) verifies that I do have experience and it's down in writing."

The exam Klengenberg took covered all she does during the day: checking in people, checking out people, taking reservations and helping visitors with tours. It also covered fire codes, the Tourism Act and the Discrimination Act.

Though Klengenberg meets people from all over the world through her job, she said two Dutch visitors last year were particularly memorable.

Everything seemed to be going wrong on their trip, including lost luggage.

"I spent quite a bit of time on the phone trying to track down their luggage and making different flight arrangements for them," she said.

"And when they left they gave me a nice gift of windmills in a kind of porcelain that is famous in Holland, and a packet of Tulip seeds."

As Klengenberg reflected on her new certificate, GNWT regional tourism officer Judith Venaas was busy stressing the importance tourism plays in the regional economy.

"Tourism basically is our only industry here," Venaas said.

"We're trying to put across to people the importance of tourism and what the visitors are expecting when they get here, what they are looking to do and how hospitality plays a big role in it."