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 The Arctic Star hotel barge was tugged into Inuvik for the petroleum show at a cost of about $40,000. Although the hotel filled all the rooms at $250 per night, the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group won't break even. - Terry Halifax/NNSL photo |
Inuvik Petroleum Show co-ordinator Colleen Mitchell said the mood was upbeat from the first day and continued on throughout.
"It was fantastic," Mitchell said. "I think that announcement from the APG really set the tone for the whole event."
"People were really hyped."
They estimate about 650 people were registered and haven't begun to count the revenue generated and registrations have already started for next year.
"We already have a number of pre-registered booths," she said.
The mid-week show seemed to fit better into most people's schedules and they plan to hold next years' show at the same time.
No room at the inn
Vince Brown of the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group said they sold out 150 rooms in their three hotels and booked an additional 100 rooms in other locations.
In addition to the three hotels, the group also rented out apartments and two camps, one of which was the Arctic Star barge. Brown said even at the charge of $250 per night, the cost of bringing the barge in will represent a loss for the group.
"The last two years it was going to be here anyway, for repairs and maintenance, but this year we brought it in exclusively for the show," Brown said. "That's why the cost was so high; if we'd rented it out for the same price as we did in previous years, we would have lost our shirts."
The cost of bringing the Arctic Star to Inuvik, staffing it, providing security and services came in at around $40,000.
"It was basically for good will, for the businesses here and the community, because we want this oil show to work," he said. "We don't want it to look like we're a basketcase that can't handle a show like this."
For next year, the group has asked that companies book with a credit card or purchase order, to avoid last-minute cancellations.
"For this year's show, we're sold-out by February," Brown said. "We have people leaving town right now who are booking rooms for next year."
Paul Komaromi, sales and marketing representative for New North Networks, who provided communications for the show, the Arctic Star and two other camps said delegates were very impressed with the service.
"They were absolutely amazed at the services here and what we pulled off," Komaromi said.
He said people were so impressed with the Inuvik show, they would likely skip other shows in the south to come here.
