This text is part of the special Business Tourism booklet
Sustainable development, original solutions to labor shortages, innovations… Several tourist establishments and organizations have distinguished themselves by winning prizes awarded by their industry. Take a look at five of them.
The AHQ-AQS Hotelier of the Year award at Manoir d’Youville
It was last November that the accommodation located in Châteauguay was awarded during the gala of the Association Hôtellerie du Québec and the Association québécoise des spas. The hotel has thus won the award for hotel establishment of the year for 2021-2022.
Manoir d’Youville stood out for its efforts in sustainable development and its innovative ways of recruiting. In particular, the hotel has banned plastic straws and replaced them with pasta. The team also reduces its ecological footprint by growing its own vegetables in its garden, explains Véronyque Tremblay, CEO of the Association Hôtellerie du Québec.
In terms of solutions to overcome the shortage of employees, the establishment has decided to integrate autistic people into its staff, in addition to reforming salaries and valuing workers before ensuring their retention. “Last November, they said they didn’t have a labor problem. So their measures are bearing fruit,” observes Ms.me Tremblay.
Tourism Excellence in Marketing Communication Award — AITQ Network at Tourisme Côte-Nord
Following the health crisis, Tourisme Côte-Nord led an offensive that resonated with consumers, said Martin Soucy, CEO of the Alliance de l’industrie tourisme du Québec (AITQ). The organization announced its winners in October 2022 at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ).
Tourisme Côte-Nord stood out with its campaign “There is a Côte-Nord for each of us”, with an integration into the program It ends well the week, at VAT. “They had a pretty incredible spokesperson, Julie Bélanger, who is able to talk about it with heart,” describes Mr. Soucy about the television host who grew up in Port-Cartier.
“In a marketing campaign, we often make people dream. But, afterwards, it’s to highlight several attractions to offer multiple opportunities for happiness to a tourist who is already there”, says the CEO about what led Tourisme Côte-Nord to stand out. “They are able to showcase the fact that people work together and inspire other entrepreneurs with their best practices,” he continues.
The Tourism Excellence Award for Innovation and Development of the Offer — AITQ Network at Tourisme Montérégie and Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est
The two organizations were awarded for their collaboration in promoting the attractions of their regions. “What is fabulous is to see two tourism associations that are normally in competition cooperating. They understood that by joining together, they could be stronger,” summarizes Mr. Soucy.
Thus, they bet on Véloroute Gourmande, 235 kilometers long and which connects Montreal to Sherbrooke via the two regions. “In a congress, there is often a segment before the activity, and another after. We know how popular cycling is today. You have one of the most beautiful cycle routes. They were able to showcase it well,” continues Mr. Soucy.
The Tourism Excellence Award in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism from the AITQ to Contact Nature for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region
Its green approach earned the Contact Nature team the prize for responsible and sustainable tourism. The company has created a monitoring system of 15 indicators and a financing strategy to preserve natural environments.
“In the industry, at the moment, we are really on a shift to position Quebec as a model destination in sustainable development for the Americas,” explains Mr. Soucy.
Contact Nature is particularly committed to setting up tourism activities that take into account the current and future economic, social and environmental effects. The company also wants to contribute to the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity and respect the socio-cultural authenticity of communities elsewhere.
The Tourism Excellence Award for Responsible and Sustainable Tourism — AITQ Network at Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine
By awarding this prize to Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine, the Alliance de l’industrie tourisme du Québec wanted to highlight its pioneering role in terms of sustainable development.
Thus, the tourist organization consulted all the partners and the local population in its strategy. “The community must necessarily be involved and willing to welcome [les visiteurs]. The tourist association, with all the partners, has really given itself a concrete plan to develop the destination in accordance with the principles of sustainable development,” explains Mr. Soucy about the approach which contains nearly 40 recommendations.
“They were precursors in sustainable development even before the pandemic. And they inspire their colleagues from other destinations. We therefore wanted to recognize this element,” adds Mr. Soucy. “That’s how we can bring the industry to surpass itself. Tomorrow’s tourism will not be like the one before. »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.