Northern Quest anticipates adding 150 to 250 hotel rooms in future

Northern Quest Resort & Casino just wrapped up $30 million worth of new construction to expand entertainment options for families.

Next on the agenda: More hotel rooms for the Airway Heights casino.

Based on occupancy rates at the existing 250-room hotel, Northern Quest anticipates adding 150 to 250 rooms in the future, said Brandon Haugen, general manager for Kalispel Development.

“Our existing hotel has been really successful,” he said. “Based on the occupancy rate, we see the demand for more hotel rooms.”

Northern Quest could either build its own hotel expansion or work with a hotel partner, Haugen said.

The resort casino expects to exceed 5 million annual visitors by 2020, which is about the time Kalispel Development would embark on adding hotel rooms, he said.

Northern Quest is owned by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. The recent expansion includes a new retail store, RV park and a movie and dinner theater.