Quebec Meetings Resort Grows Around Grand Chateau
<B> Quebec Meetings Resort Grows Around Grand Chateau</B>
By Carolyn Green
Aconsortium comprised of Toronto-based Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Loto-Quebec and a provincial government body--Fonds de solidarite des travailleurs du Quebec--is investing $95 million to expand and rejuvenate a Quebec resort complex with the aim of transforming it into a world-class meetings and incentive travel destination.
"The venue is very beautiful and has everything a meeting planner wants--a lot of activities and great surroundings," said Stephan Gerhardt, meeting and incentive travel specialist with the Canadian Tourism Commission in Washington. "It had all this before Canadian Pacific started to renovate, but when the renovations are complete, it will be a great place."
The majority of the investment--$54 million--is being funneled into the 100-year-old, Le Manoir Richelieu hotel. Other components of the complex, located on a 520-acre parcel of land in Quebec's Charlevoix region about 90 miles east of Quebec City, include a casino, golf course and various winter and summer sports activities such as tennis, miniature golf, hiking, skiing and skating. The Manoir Richelieu hotel has been closed since October and is scheduled to re-open its doors in late June.
The consortium was formed last year to acquire and redevelop the golf course, casino and chateau-like hotel, which is situated on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and has a copper roof and Normandy-style architecture.
"I see it as a fabulous destination for both meetings and incentives," said Sandy Mukitarian, a regional director of tourism based in Garland, Texas, for Destination Quebec, the provincial government tourism promotion agency. "It's a place you can hold conventions--you can do a dual program with Quebec City or you can send your top executives there for a pre- or post-event."
Certainly, Canadian Pacific officials believe the property has great potential as a meeting and incentive venue.
Alex Kassatly, general manager of the hotel, estimated that group business--which is primarily a combination of meeting and incentive programs--will account for 40 to 50 percent of the resort's total revenues.
Kassatly said the renovation is all-encompassing. In addition to replacing plumbing and electrical service throughout the building, air conditioning, a third elevator, a sprinkler system and insulation for better soundproofing are being added.
The amount of meeting space--which will be equipped with fiber-optic wiring, ISDN lines for high-speed Internet access and teleconferencing capabilities--is being increased by 5,000 square feet to 22,000 square feet and is being totally refurbished.
The hotel will be able to accommodate conventions with a maximum of 400 delegates plus spouses and host banquets for up to 1,050 guests. The number of guestrooms is increasing as well, from 376 to 405, through a conversion of a wing, formerly known as the Pavilion, into bedrooms and suites.
The hotel also is creating a concierge floor, known as Entree Gold, with 21 guestrooms, a lounge and dedicated concierge. Among the amenities included in each Entree Gold room are a CD stereo system and a telescope for guests to view the St. Lawrence River. All guest-rooms will be equipped with working desks, two-line telephones, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards and in-room safes.
The hotel will have three restaurants: the 70-seat upscale Le Charlevoix, serving regional cuisine; the 200-seat Le Saint-Laurent, an all-day dining room; and the Bistro, another informal dining area seating 200 and opening up onto an outside terrace and bar.
A new parking garage, holding 150 cars, is being built while the existing spa and sports center are being upgraded to include treatment rooms, a workout area, and steam and sauna rooms. A children's center, with a theater and play area also will be included.
In addition to upgrading the hotel and the recreational services it provides, Kassatly said the casino is being renovated and enlarged while the 18-hole golf course is getting a facelift. Although tourism and hotel officials agree the venue will offer excellent meeting, convention and incentive travel facilities, most acknowledge that its location has some drawbacks because the closest major airport is located in Quebec City, a 90-minute drive from the resort. However, Mukitarian believes this stumbling block can easily be overcome.
Citing another Quebec resort, Mont Tremblant--about 90 minutes north of Montreal's Dorval Airport--as a venue that has succeeded despite its distance from the airport, she said, "They load the bus with drinks and food and organize games, which always passes the time. I just booked 500 people at Tremblant for 2002 and it was no problem."
Added Gerhardt: "As with all destinations that do not have direct air service, this will be a harder sell, but the facility offers so much that the trip will be worth it. Furthermore, if the transfer from the Quebec Airport is properly handled with theming, etc., it could be quite an adventure.