Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 28/02) - Last week's petroleum show was a complete success, according to the event's organizers.

Tourism and fundraising co-ordinator Brian Desjardin said the second show was "fantastic" and even better than last year's.

"A lot of companies from down south were amazed by the size and number of booths in the trade show area," Desjardin said.

"They said Inuvik was just as professional as shows in Houston and Calgary and the informality created better discussion between companies."

He said they are already planning for the next show and have received 23 bookings for next year.

Inuvik's mayor, Peter Clarkson, said the show was a great success with 600 attending and 350 people registered for the conference; 110 booths were sold representing 130 companies and organizations.

"All the comments we got from people said it was a very successful trade show," Clarkson said.

"A lot of companies that came up from Calgary said it was as good or better than any other trade show they has ever been to."

The town estimates about $1 million was brought into the local economy, with many millions more in future business resulting from the show.

"It's probably well over $1 million just in direct revenue, to say nothing of the contracts that were signed, services bought or deals made," he said.

Business booms

With an infusion of 600 people to Inuvik, local business was booming. Desjardin said much of the show's success was due to the support of local business.

"Everyone really pitched in to make the show run," he said.

Marty Verbonac, operations manager for the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group, said the hotels were sold out months in advance.

"The delegates all had to have their rooms booked by April 30," Verbonac said.

He estimates 300 guests lodged in the hotels, the MacDonald's Camp and the Arctic Star barge.

He said the hotels were braced for the push with a full contingent of staff waiting for the busy season.

Verbonac said the show seemed to bring more customers than in previous years.

"It's quite a bit busier," he said. "You can feel the buzz in town here. It feels almost electric."

Nelson Dicks, manager of Norcan Rentals, noticed quite an increase in vehicle rentals this year over last year.

"Business is great," he said. "We're proud of it, because our first few years in Inuvik were pretty quiet."

He rented 26 vehicles on Tuesday alone, but this is not the high season for rentals.

"Our busiest time is the winter," he said. "This is just a good little summer time boost for us."

Busier than ever

The hotel's restaurants are leased out to owner Gerhard Erler, who said they were working out of two hotel kitchens to provide the catered breakfast and lunches at the trade show. Erler said they were busier last week than he's ever seen it.

"We brought lots of extra supplies and had our staff work lots of overtime," he said.

"There was no time to hire people and the housing situation being what it is, you just have to cope."

He said they've been swamped, but not just from the conference also regular summer business.