Chateau Nova combines old and new
Sarah Holland
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 15/00) - The past and the present come together last Friday inside the Chateau Nova.
Nov. 10 marked the grand opening of Yellowknife's newest hotel, and everyone had an opportunity to view the rooms and talk with owner Mike Mrdjenovich.
 Mike Mrdjenovich |
The suites of the hotel offer a startling contrast, supplying some of the latest business travellers' needs including high-speed Internet hook-up and voicemail.
The hotel's interior designer is Katherine Riley, and the photographs were chosen by hotel manager Danette Jaeb and historian Sandra Dolan of Fort Smith.
"We put a lot of effort into choosing the photographs," said Jaeb.
"There's humour and history in these pictures. People can walk (through the halls) and learn about the North."
Yellowknife entrepreneur Jeff Beier was impressed with the hotel.
"This is great," he said. "Yellowknife needed something like this, it's tasteful. I like the fact that there's a sense of history with the artwork."
The 60-room hotel, when fully staffed, will employ about 25 people, said Jaeb.
"Business has been terrific," she said. "We have bookings throughout the winter and we've been getting calls from across the NWT."
Mrdjenovich said he could have easily booked all 60 rooms to Japanese tourists, but wants to keep about 20 rooms free for Northern travellers.
The construction is on track and the official opening is scheduled for Nov. 20, said Jaeb.
