AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — It's six stories tall with 192 rooms. The brand new River Tower is the Kalispel tribe's latest expansion for Northern Quest.
"A lot of opportunity to bring great things economically to the Kalispel Tribe, Airway Heights and obviously Spokane and all of its residents as well," said Samuel Askew, Executive Director of Resort Operations.
Not only is he an executive director, but he's also the tour guide for this expansion, even taking reporters to the 6th-floor regal king suite.
"So if you want to come here and stay for a few days and have a party catered and have some friends over you certainly could do that," Askew said.
It's one of 17 suites in the hotel with its own balcony and some offer views of the outdoor concert stage.
Suites range between $450 to $550 a night depending on availability and demand. The River Tower also has 175 signature king and double queen rooms which start at $175 a night.
Every room tells the story of the Kalispel tribe. From the Salish stylized carpet to wall art created by tribe members.
"Even the exterior texture of the building is very much that woven, weir shape that you would find traditionally," Askew said.
When the brand new River Tower opens to the public May 1st, it will bring the total number of rooms at Northern Quest up to 442 rooms, making it the largest casino resort in Washington state.
"You would have to go down to California to find a property that's equal in size in terms of casino resort experience," Askew said.
The hotel is creating approximately 50 new jobs, bringing the number of full and part-time employees at Northern Quest and the Kalispel tribe to 1900, and they're still hiring.
"We know the demand for larger properties exists," Askew said.
And Askew said the tribe isn't stopping here.
"We've got great stuff coming. I can't break any news, I mean we pride ourselves on being forward-looking," Askew said.
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