Shovels are in the ground for construction of the first full-service hotel in Clearwater.

The new hotel will be located just off the Yellowhead Highway, and should be open late this year or early in 2020.

Clearwater mayor Merlin Blackwell says the $8-million-dollar hotel is a big deal for the community.

“We’re very excited about our first major-branded hotel in Clearwater. It’ll be a Best Western, 67 rooms plus a pool. No plans for a restaurant at this point, but there is one next door at a hotel complex not branded, the Clearwater Lodge, owned by the same company,” Blackwell says.

Blackwell says this hotel plan has been in the works for upwards of 3 years.

“Economically, or for vacancy, it’s a big issue for Clearwater. We’re already tapped out for the major summer months, basically sliding back into the beginning of June and into September now. So there really is no vacancy in Clearwater during the peak tourism season, so adding the 67 rooms benefits everybody,” he says.

“I wouldn’t be surprised with the numbers and the growth at Wells Grey and the Clearwater tourism sector over the last 10, 15 years, that this would be probably the first of a couple (hotels) to come forward inthe next couple years.”