The Explorer Hotel is one step closer to casting a much larger shadow this summer with the expansion of 72 suites in a seven-story addition, a second storey added above the banquet hall.

Development permits for the expansion were approved May 26 by the city. Pending building permits, construction will begin within the next two months, according to Nunastar Properties Inc. president Ed Romanowski. SA国际影视传媒淲e are working with a number of local trades and suppliers,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The general contractor for the multi-million dollar expansion is Yellowknife-based Clark Builders.

When complete, the hotel will have a total of 259 rooms as well as expanded banquet and conference facilities.

SA国际影视传媒淭his would just make it a bigger space and provide for more flexibility in terms of how we can break that out for groups, and provide more breakout rooms,SA国际影视传媒� said Romanowski.

Yellowknife Hotel Association statistics show occupancy rates in the city's hotels peaked in September 2016 at nearly 85 per cent. Between January and September 2016, occupancy rates weren't lower than 47 per cent: which means there's no room at the inn if more than one large conference wants to come to town.

The Chateau Nova, which opened in September, added 141 rooms to the market, as well as additional conference space but Romanowski is confident there is still a gap the Explorer can wedge itself in.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're really responding to the demands of our customers both government business and especially the increasing number of tours that are coming in to Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e're just fulfilling a need.SA国际影视传媒�

Cathie Bolstad, executive director of NWT Tourism, says the expansion is a positive sign that the tourism industry in the territory is continuing to grow.

SA国际影视传媒淎nytime there is new product on the market, and especially new product that increases the capacity of the territory to host, is a good thing,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that with 59 licensed tour operators in the North Slave region alone, there are more activities drawing tourists to the area.

Once underway, Romanowski estimates the project would take between 12 and 14 months to complete.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's very exciting,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Mark Heyck. SA国际影视传媒淲e've seen remarkable growth in our tourism numbers the last several years. It's taken a little while I think for the accommodations industry to kind of catch up with the demand that's actually out there.SA国际影视传媒�

He added he also hopes it's good news for his ongoing campaign to secure an accommodation tax on hotel rooms to help fund tourism initiatives.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are hopeful and will continue to apply pressure to make sure those legislative amendments are moving forward,SA国际影视传媒� said Heyck. SA国际影视传媒淭o see the tourism infrastructure such as it is booming as it is, is really positive for the local economy.SA国际影视传媒�