This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
More and more women are making their mark in the world of tourism. Here are three companies created by enthusiasts from different generations that make you want to explore the province in a different way.
Audioguided walks in Montreal
By dint of surveying Mile End during the pandemic, Sonja Mueller realized how little she knew about her neighborhood. From this observation, a business idea germinated. “I thought it would be nice to know more about the history of this neighborhood and to have a tour that you could do alone, without being with a group. »
With her sidekick Teresa Hunkeler, from the tech world, she founded TourBird. Designed to be listened to on the phone, their first sound journey, from Square Victoria to the Old Port of Montreal, was launched last January. The winter tour includes 24 stops and takes less than two hours. We discover in particular the architecture of McGill Street. “We are working, among other things, on visits to Mile End and Saint-Henri. »
Why opt for TourBird, when the offer of guided tours is already flourishing? “There is no reservation required,” explains Sonja Mueller. We can do it at any time. There is nothing to download. It’s very flexible. For example, if it starts to rain, we can pause it and come back. It is aimed at tourists, but also at residents who like to walk at their own pace. »
For now, the soundtracks are available in French and English and will soon be translated into German and Spanish. “It’s also to keep history alive,” says the co-founder.
Cost of a visit: $15.
The Laurentians with Hotel UNIQ
From the beginnings of Hôtel UNIQ, sustainable development was at the heart of the priorities of Myriam Corbeil, co-founder and president. Since 2020, the company has been pitching its tents in different regions of Quebec. Equipped with a comfortable bed, the units provide an experience halfway between a hotel and a campsite. The summer of 2023 will, however, be more sedentary than the previous three seasons. From May 19 to October 9, Myriam Corbeil and her team will welcome visitors to Domaine Saint-Bernard, in Mont-Tremblant.
Classified as a community ecotourism park, the site has been one of the young company’s partners since its inception. By settling longer in the same destination, the nomadic village will be able to add equipment that would have traveled less easily from one site to another, in addition to being able to forge stronger links on site.
Why did you choose Domaine Saint-Bernard? First, because “it is an NPO that has, at the center of its concerns, the conservation of natural heritage at a higher level than others who claim to do so, says Myriam Corbeil, laughing. They are open to innovation, they have a great capacity for adaptation and a mutual aid philosophy. »
“Directly on the estate, there are a host of activities,” she continues. People don’t even have to take their car. » Hiking or biking — it is possible to rent one on site —, beach with supervised swimming in a lake without motorized boats, paddle board rental, astronomy center… Not to mention “a legendary gastronomic offer at surroundings”, adds the entrepreneur.
It is already possible to make reservations. Price: from $338 for two nights. Among the inclusions is one activity per day organized by Hôtel UNIQ, such as yoga.
Eco-responsible outdoors with De ville en forêt
How to indulge in the outdoors in a more ethical way? Created in 2015 by Danielle Landry, who is one of the founding members of Tourisme durable Québec, De ville en forêt has the mission of highlighting the seven “Leave no trace” principles. While the microenterprise primarily supports groups, organizations, and businesses in pursuit of sustainability-focused goals, its website is packed with relevant information for anyone interested in the outdoors, whether you live in the city, in the suburbs or in the region. Yes, responsible outdoors is more than picking up your trash when you go hiking!
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.