Hotels react to Nova plans
New development and conference facilities would mean more business say competitors; NWT tourism cautions over lack of convention bureau for organizing large events
Karen K. Ho
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Representatives from hotels in Yellowknife say they don't feel threatened by the new Nova project and believe the new conference facilities will draw more business to them.
Newton M. Grey, general manager of NWT hotels for Capital Suites, shows off one of the renovated kitchens. He said his hotel caters to a different kind of clientele, namely government and corporate guests that stay for weeks at a time. - Karen K. Ho/NNSL photo |
However, Jenni Bruce, Coast Fraser Tower hotel manager, worries that the resource may not be managed well without a city-specific organizer to co-ordinate its use.
"Yellowknife is famous for holding a whole bunch of things in one week and nothing the next week," she said with a laugh.
While NWT Tourism executive director Cathie Bolstad has spoken to Yellowknifer about plans for one that would be responsible for the entire territory, Bruce said its annual $100,000 budget would be stretched.
"Yellowknife itself doesn't have a go-to point (for conference organizers)," she said.
"If they're successful bidding, they in-turn have to go to each individual hotel operator versus just going to a Yellowknife-based conference bureau."
Bruce said this hasn't been a problem so far with the current amount of meeting space available, but as that grows, so will the logistical complications.
Bruce also said that said that even though her company's rooms cost more than Nova's, customers still tell her they're a good value.
"That's because we offer suites with kitchens, multiple bedrooms and complimentary breakfast," she said.
If anything, Bruce said the additional competition was good.
"It keeps us on our game," she said.
But Bruce said without a city-specific convention bureau, Nova's convention centre may not be managed the way it needs to be managed.
Newton M. Grey, the general manager of NWT hotels for Capital Suites, said his company offers amenities that cater to a very different audience.
"Seventy to 80 per cent of our business is corporate and government clients," he said. "And they stay here for one to three weeks."
The new Nova Hotel currently taking shape across from the Northern Frontier Visitor Centre on 49 Street is led by developer Mike Mrdjenovich of Edmonton-based Nova Builders.
The company has built many other projects in the city, including the Nova Court hotel across from the Stanton Territorial Hospital, and the Chateau Nova, which now operates as part of the Days Inn hotel chain.
Grey said that while his company's renovations of its Yellowknife location coincide with the construction of the Nova Hotel, the planning process for them started two years ago.
