An influx of out of city and out of province crews have been calling Moose Jaw home the last several weeks.

The biennial shutdown at Yara, and increased activity at K Plus S Potash near Bethune have resulted in dozens of engineers and other workers lodging at  Friendly City hotels.

Ehsan Ahadi is General Manager at Moose Jaw's Ramada Hotel, says they're practically full every evening. "We're above 85 and sometimes to 95 percent per month but most of the time we are running 98 percent every night."

"About 60% of our guests are long term and I think pretty much a thing at every other hotel."

Ahadi says most of the crews are booked through end of October, but there's word they could stay through November as well.

Heritage Inn General Manager Darlene Geib says the extra business is keeping them on their toes as they also deal with a lot of long term guests.

"We start as early as 3:30 in the morning... as well we have a shift in the evening." said Geib. "Food services has varied as well trying to service the day shift and the night shift, opening a few hours earlier and staying open into the later part of the night."

Hotels do keep a certain amount of inventory for "walk up" guests, but your best bet is to call ahead with as much notice as possible.