Kalispel Tribe to reopen all facilities

John McCallum, Managing Editor | Last updated Apr 30, 2020 8:1am0

AIRWAY HEIGHTS -- Citing entertainment and hospitality as essential businesses needed to run their government, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians announced today (April 29) that they will be reopening all of their facilities on May 5 -- including Northern Quest Resort & Casino on the West Plains.

The announcement came just before Gov. Jay Inslee said in a press conference that similar restrictions that have closed Washington businesses such as restaurants, movie theatres and other entertainment facilities would likely be extended beyond the possible relaxation date of May 4.

Social distancing and other safety measures intended to guard against the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19, will be enacted, the Tribe said in a news release. Additionally, the casino will operate with reduced hours, 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m. daily, with a deep cleaning taking place in timeframe in between.

"Out of deep concern for the community, guests and team members, the Kalispel Tribe voluntarily closed the majority of its businesses on March 16, due to the rapidly increasing and devastating impacts of COVID-19," officials said in the release. "While the initial closure was slated for two weeks, Tribal Council extended the closure for more than seven weeks to support state, national and international public health efforts."

"These efforts have proven successful," officials added. "We are grateful that in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties, confirmed cases are continuing to decrease and more importantly, the Intensive Care Units within our local healthcare system have not been overwhelmed."

Officials have said that revenue from Northern Quest and other entertainment and hospitality facilities is essential to running the tribes government operations, including public safety. During a virtual West Plains Chamber of Commerce stakeholders meeting last Thursday, Kalispel Chief Operating Officer Phil Haugen said it was a misnomer that tribes' revenue is not taxed.

"We’re actually taxed 100 percent because everything we make here at this casino or any other of our businesses goes to running our essential government offices, anything from public safety to social services to education to all our government services," Haugen said.

With no revenue coming in from mostly hospitality and entertainment-based businesses for more than a month, the Kalispel Tribe was forced to lay off and furlough more than 1,800 employees after paying its entire workforce for the first three weeks of the stay-at-home orders.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Safety measures installed at Northern Quest Resort & Casino

All Team Members who work in direct guest-service areas will wear masks as part of their uniforms until further notice.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own masks and wear them as much as possible. Masks will also be available at Northern Quest (in limited supply).

Only 50 percnet of slot machines will be in operation across the property. Every other machine will be turned off to promote aggressive social distancing.

New technology has been added to machines that notifies casino staff when a guest leaves a machine, allowing for extra sanitization and immediate cleaning between players.

Every other table game in the pit will be closed to accommodate social distancing. Table games will be limited to two guests per table. Exceptions will be made for two or more people who live in the same household.

Due to our phased opening approach, Poker, Off-Track Betting, KENO and Valet service will not be available until further notice.

Six-foot floor markers will be visible in high-traffic areas. We ask that all guests obey CDC guidelines for social distancing.

Not all Food & Beverage venues will be open on May 5. Those details are being finalized and will be available at http://www.northernquest.com soon.

All open F&B venues will have new seating configurations that meet the six-foot social distancing guidelines.

Guests staying at the hotel can be assured of aggressive sanitization and cleaning practices. Hotel check-in policies have been adjusted to promote social distancing. Strict elevator etiquette will also be in place (limiting riders to two people or one family per car).

Hotel rooms will be rotated so that guests are spaced throughout the hotel floors appropriately and when possible, rooms will be left vacant for 24 hours after a guest checks out of the room to allow for deeper cleaning and sanitization.

Team Members who are asked to come back to work will do so on a voluntary basis. If they don’t feel comfortable working at this time because they or someone in their family is high-risk, we plan to work with them.