The first stone has been set at the highly anticipated Club Med Québec Charlevoix, a milestone moment that was commemorated by several dignitaries at an official ceremony on June 14. The ceremony was attended by prestigious guests, including Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism of Quebec; Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med; and Daniel Gauthier, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe Le Massif. They joined several partners and industry professionals to highlight this memorable moment in the history of Canada’s tourism and travel industry.
Club Med announced that it would officially inaugurate its waterside Mountain Village on December 5, 2020. Thanks to this visionary brand, vacationers will have different experienced each season. During the winter they can descend the spectacular ski slopes, skate or luge on North America’s longest track. During the warmer seasons, guided hikes and biking tours will be on the menu.
Bottom Row: Erik Guay, world alpine skiing champion; Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med; Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism; Daniel Gauthier, Chairman of the Broad of Groupe Le Massif; Carolyne Doyon, Vice President of Club Med Canada and Mexico
Top Row: Claude Choquette, President Groupe Le Massif; André Roy, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Groupe Le Massif; Émilie Foster, Member of Parliament for Charlevoix-Côte-de-Beaupré; Konrad Sioui, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation; Gérald Maltais, Mayor of Petite Rivière St François; Laurence Haguenauer, Consul General of France in Quebec City; Dominique Maltais, former Olympic champion in snowboard cross; Sylvie Boucher, Member of Parliament for Beauport-Côte-de-Beaupré-Ile d’Orléans-Charlevoix; Xavier Mufraggi, President and CEO of Club Med North America.
On the significance of the first stone laying, Giscard d’Estaing said: “It is an honour and a privilege to mark this milestone in the presence of dignitaries, industry professionals and the region’s local businesses. We’re thrilled to reveal select room renderings and give guests a more intimate look at the resort. As the global leader in all-inclusive mountain resorts, with new properties in Asia, Europe and now North America, we are proud to expand our presence in this exceptional, cultural region, offering more than 700 new direct and indirect jobs and welcoming guests from all over the world.”
Rendering of a Superior Room with river view
Club Med Québec Charlevoix
The Canadian Mountain Village will promote local culture through both its design and activities offered. The local landscape inspires the recently released room design. Winter whites, dusky blue and cardinal red, evoke comfort, warmth and local spirit. Canada’s cultural heritage was also a significant source of inspiration. Vacationers staying at Club Med Québec Charlevoix will dive into the province’s and country’s history.
The construction is advancing well and is currently at the siding stage for the main building. Once completed, the 4-Trident, $120 million resort will boast 302 family and couple rooms, including an Exclusive Collection luxury space occupying high-end suites. Superior and Deluxe rooms will range from 30 to 45 square metres.
The construction of Club Med will allow us to amplify the international marketing of the Massif de Charlevoix project. It’s a milestone that will mark the launch of four-season operations at the mountain. The creation of Club Med Québec Charlevoix will also stimulate our real estate development projects in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, which will allow us to offer a variety of accommodation solutions. We want to create a desire to explore the region, and this project is an incredible catalyst for tourism in Quebec City and Charlevoix. Club Med has proven through its projects around the world that their arrival in a market boosts regional tourism industries”, stated Daniel Gauthier, President of the Board of Groupe Le Massif.
The Quebec company Lemay Michaud completed the overall architecture and design of the Village. Using locally inspired materials, the company wants to give full justice to the beauty of the Charlevoix region, the beautiful mountain landscapes and the splendid Saint Lawrence River.
To respect Club Med’s commitment to the environment and sustainable development, the Village will attempt to obtain BREEAM certification. World leader, BREEAM building environmental performance evaluation methods measure sustainable development. The Village also wants to obtain Green Globe certification, which will reinforce Club Med’s desire to reduce its ecological footprint as much as possible.
Economic Benefits
This $120 million project will create a significant number of jobs in the Charlevoix region and increase the number of travellers transiting through Jean-Lesage International Airport in Quebec City. Club Med is closely working with the airport to improve air traffic infrastructure to facilitate this tourism boom.
Without a doubt, this increased activity will draw the attention of the world to Quebec. It will highlight the richness of the Charlevoix region, profiting both local visitors and those from around the world.
About Groupe Le Massif
The Massif de Charlevoix project was launched in 2002 by Québec developer, Daniel Gauthier. Mr. Gauthier is a recognised co-founder of the world-leading Quebec sensation known worldwide: Cirque du Soleil.
As the first Club Med mountain resort in North America, and by virtue of the symbiosis between creativity, authenticity, an appreciation for culture, society and tourism, Le Massif de Charlevoix, promises to be awe-inspiring with a picturesque setting, an outstanding line-up of activities, excellent food and unsurpassed reputation for service.
This major project, which involves three pillars, will allow vacationers to live a profoundly personal experience, full of original and green emotions but also based on sustainable tourism development in one of the most popular regions of Quebec, designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1989.
About Club Med
Club Med, founded in 1950, is recognised as the pioneer of the all-inclusive market, offering nearly 70 premium resorts in stunning locations around the world including North and South America, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean. Established in 26 countries across five continents, the Group employs more than 23,000 employees comprised of 110 varied nationalities. Club Med has had a corporate presence in Canada for over 40 years and employs a staff of more than 50 team members in their Montreal head office.
In December 2020, Club Med will inaugurate its new Village Québec Charlevoix, the first in Canada and the first Mountain Village to welcome visitors year-round.
Source: This is a translation of a text published on Tourisme Express
