The Canada Winter Games Host Society has turned back a large number of hotel rooms at the Whitehorse Westmark, in accordance with the agreement for block-booking the facility.

Heather McIntyre, the Westmark's general manager, explained this morning the host society had blocked 150 of the hotel's 180 rooms for the duration of the Games. It recently released a good portion of rooms the society will not require to meet the needs of visiting VIPS during the middle portion of the two-week event.

'For the first three days they fill their block,' McIntyre said. 'And for the last couple of days, they'll probably fill their block.

'In between, they do not fill in their block; maybe they will fill a third or a half.'

McIntyre said having the society release rooms by mid-January that it did not require was outlined in the block-booking agreement.

The Westmark, with its designation as the VIP hotel, is probably more affected than other hotels are because many of the VIPs business executives and the like cannot stay for the full duration, she said.

As far as she knows, other facilities like the Gold Rush Inn, the High Country Inn and the Riverview Hotel are OK because they are block-booked for various other needs for the full two weeks, such as providing for visiting media and mission staff.

McIntyre pointed out the Westmark Whitehorse's sister hotel, the seasonally-operated Klondike Inn, for instance, remains booked to capacity for the two weeks to accommodate officials.

The Westmark, she said, had already taken steps to compile a waiting list of those who were unable to book rooms while the society held its full 150-room block.

Following the Jan. 17 release of rooms not needed, the hotel has taken upon itself to advertise additional room availability. It has also contacted sponsors who have indicated their interest in sending other company representatives if accommodations were available between the opening and closing ceremonies, McIntyre said.

She said Whitehorse's location may make attracting last-minute reservations a little more difficult than if the Games were being held down south close to a metropolitan centre.

In the south, the sudden availability of more hotel rooms might be enough of a draw to bring more spectators from the large centres just a couple of hours' drive away, McIntyre said.

But she isn't so sure a new block of available hotel rooms will be enough to get somebody on the airplane from Vancouver of Edmonton.

McIntyre, however, remains optimistic.

Chris Morrissey, Canada Games manager, said it is also now advertising the availability of more hotel rooms through its network.

It is also contacting specific organizations that have expressed an interest in coming to Whitehorse if accommodations were available, he said.

Morrissey said the Halifax Commonwealth Games Association, for example, has been contacted, as it had expressed an interest in visiting Whitehorse during the Games if possible.

Hockey Canada, he added, is thinking about sending additional scouts.

'So we are making sure people know there are some rooms available at the Westmark Hotel,' Morrissey said.

He said block-booking at the Gold Rush and High Country Inn has been pretty much been filled by the 60 or so CBC staff and 32 APTN staff expected to be here for the two weeks.

The mission staff have taken up the Riverview and some 202 rooms.

And the Klondike Inn, he confirmed, is booked solid for officials.