Yellowknife (Nov 01/06) - Visitors planning to come to Yellowknife in November hopefully have their hotel rooms booked, otherwise they may run into trouble.

The city hosts a number of conferences and annual general meetings this month, keeping volunteers and hotel staff on their toes.

Pat Thagard: Hopes to see good turnout for networking conference

The Yellowknife Business Professional Women's Association is holding a networking fair this Sunday, at the Explorer Hotel, said Pat Thagard, chair of the group's planning committee.

More than 20 booths will be open to the public along with a number of workshops throughout the day, she said. "It allows women in business to show people that I'm here and this is what I have to offer," she said.

With a number of direct sellers and home-based businesses, the fair will be an opportunity for the public to take a look at niche products and get some holiday shopping done, she said.

November has traditionally been a very busy month at the Chateau Nova, said sales manager Matt Murray.

"The entire town can be pretty much booked," he said.

The upcoming Yellowknife Geoscience Forum runs from Nov. 21-23 bringing a variety of out-of-town guests into the city, he said.

"Last year, we were recommending bed and breakfasts to stay at," he said.

The NWT Tourism Association will also be busy, holding its 10th annual general meeting and conference at the Explorer starting this Thursday through Saturday.

With its theme Brand New Directions, the three-day event will help association members develop their product and hone their business skills, said Robin Wotherspoon, chair of the NWT Tourism Association.

"It's all about networking and dealing with issues that affect us," said Wotherspoon.

More than 100 association members are expected to attend and take part in a number of workshops.

The event will culminate in a gala awards dinner at the Department of National Defence's mess hall, she said.

The NWT Tourism Association will accept new members during registration and Wotherspoon encourages anyone with a passion for tourism to come out to the event.

"It's a great learning experience," she said.