Mike Mrdjenovich came to Canada as a teen. The young Yugoslavian was rich in dreams and ambition, even though his pockets were empty. He found work up north as a construction worker and electrician. Although he fell in love with Northern Canada and all of its opportunities, he saw the value in entrepreneurship over working for others. So, in 1976, he founded Nova Construction.
Mike quickly found work building office and apartment buildings, but when he came across a piece of land in 2000 that was ideally situated for a hotel, a new chapter began. Nova Hotels thus became a hotel management company that all started with the Chateau Nova Hotel & Suites in Yellowknife. Mike saw a vision and a future legacy for his family in both development and hotels, making Nova Group of Companies into a true family business with succession in mind.
While Mike is still active on the development side, Aleksa Mrdjenovich has been at the helm for 19 years and is the current CEO for Nova Hotels. Milica Mrdjenovich is the vice president, brand & marketing; both are daughters of Mike.
“This year marks our 25th for Nova Hotels,” says Aleksa. “Not only are we locally owned and operated, we are a second generation family business that cares about our employees and the community. We are an independent chain, not a franchise. All of those things give us a competitive advantage. Since we intimately know the communities that we are in, we tailor our products to suit the market. When you walk down the hallway of any Nova Hotel, you will find archive photos of each town you are in. It is a homage to the history and respect we have for each community in which we are located.”
She reflects on the brand’s heyday, noting, “In 2007, in the oil boom, we added eight hotels in one year! Since then, we have continued to show commitment to growth with having over 32 hotels in 25 years. We currently have 14 hotels with six sister properties and brands across Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, including the Chateau Lacombe Hotel and Edmonton Inn & Conference Centre. This makes us one of the largest independent hotel chains in Western Canada. We currently have 1965 guest rooms, over 750 associates and over 100,000 square feet of meeting space.”
The growth was rapid during the early 2000s, but it has not always been smooth sailing. Nevertheless, the business – and the family – have always risen to the occasion with determination and optimism.
Milica says, “We have been hit with a lot of adversity in our company over the last few years, between recessions, COVID and our hotel in Fort McMurray burning down. I think it shows us to the core that we are resilient; that we have really great people around us; not only within our company, but incredible vendors and partners and a business community and customers that have been so supportive through these times.”
“Another challenge for us as an independent brand is competition,” she adds. “While it is an overall benefit to be an independent chain, we compete against big brands based out of the United States or overseas that have larger marketing budgets and points programs. However, we have loyal customers who value spending their money with a Canadian family business. We believe that we understand our customer needs and have been fortunate enough to grow within our markets and understand the unique demands, being local.”
Despite the ups and downs, the Mrdjenovichs wouldn’t have it any other way.
“To come this far in 25 years has been a bit of a reward in itself,” smiles Mike. “To see that we have had over 32 hotels, 24 outlets and thousands of employees but still to feel like a sense of family is also rewarding. It has never felt removed or too corporate. We really get to celebrate the wins and be a part of something bigger.”
Aleksa agrees about the journey, saying, “My dad couldn’t afford a cup of coffee in Chateau Lacombe Hotel when he immigrated to Canada. He used to drive by on the bus and dream of a day when he could be a guest of the hotel. We purchased the hotel out of receivership in 2013 in a beautiful full-circle moment.”
In every region where Nova Hotels operates, the family business gives back. Just a few community organizations they are pleased to partner with include Operation Friendship, GEF, Kids with Cancer Society, Multiple Miles for Myeloma and several food banks.
In 2014, Aleksa accepted a Leaders’ award in celebration of her business acumen. Recently, Nova Hotels has been nominated for Large Business of the Year and Customer Service of Excellence awards for Chateau Nova Yellowknife and has also won multiple Alberta Hotel Lodging Association Employer of Choice awards.
“We have been very fortunate in the last 25 years to have loyal associates and team members, many who have been with us for more than 10 years,” says Milica. “Brian Oldegbers, our corporate controller, has been with Nova Hotels for over 18 years and has been in an executive role within our company through every up and down. He has been crucial to our success as a company. Our internal rule is, if Brian is happy, then so is Aleksa and the ownership team.
“Debbie Hannah, COO, has also been the right hand to Mike since close to the beginning of Nova Hotels and is active on the development side of our business. To work within a family business is very nuanced. Debbie is a very loyal, dedicated and integral part of our growth over the years.”
Aleksa adds, “We are humbled by our journey over the last 25 years and recognize that we could not be where we are without our valued customers, our vendors, partners and Nova Family. We have so many associates and team members that have been with us for the long-term, some over 20 years. It really is a proud moment for us, and we would not choose to be on this journey with anyone else. Their hard work and dedication are the engine that keep us moving forward. Our team is resilient, caring and is always willing to help where needed.
“Nova Hotels being a local, family owned and operated business in Western Canada is something special and something of which to be proud,” says Milica. “We love being based in Edmonton. We feel that Edmonton is routed in a business community who will rally behind one another, who celebrates each others’ success and who work hard. Edmonton is about relationships and that is what makes this city truly unique.”
Mike has his eyes on the future. “In late summer of 2025, we opened an additional 56 long-term apartment style hotel suites at the Chateau Nova Yellowknife, making it the largest hotel in Yellowknife with 268 rooms. We are continuously looking to evolve and there will be some change happening, as change has always been the key to our success. There will be some divesting, investing and new developments in the very short term.”
