Thanks to the return of a few foreign customers, the end-of-year holiday season promises to be much better than last year for Quebec hoteliers who are eager to find them.
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“With snowmobiles, sled dogs on the site we are very popular with Europeans, but last year because of the border closures we received none. This year, we have already reached 3,500 reservations made by Europeans ”, rejoices François Péloquin, director of the Auberge du Lac Morency, located in the Laurentians.
For several weeks, reservations have been linked to hoteliers in La Belle-Province contacted by The newspaper, and many find that foreign customers from Europe will be there, while Americans will be a little less than usual.
At the Auberge du Lac Taureau, in Saint-Michel-des-Saints in Lanaudière, it is above all French tourists who are beginning to make their comeback.
“Before the pandemic, we could receive around 2,000 French people. This year, we expect to welcome around half of them, so it’s a very good start, ”explains the general manager of the establishment, Francis Bouwmeester.
Even though there are still a few places left in his establishment for the holiday season, the reservation book fills up quickly, he adds.
On the Mauricie side, the Le Baluchon Éco-Villégiature hotel in Saint-Paulin, international customers will also be at the rendezvous, confirms Émilie Gélinas, marketing director of the company.
“We really feel that they are bored and that they are eager to come and see us,” she says.
In Montreal too, the return of European tourists is awaited with confidence and impatience, explains Manuela Goya, Vice-President of Destination Development and Public Affairs at Tourisme Montréal.
Thanks to significant vaccination coverage, Montreal could become a popular destination for tourists, she thinks.
“With the vaccination of the youngest, we will surely be in the top 10 of the best inoculated places and yes, this is an important element, so we put it forward,” she adds.
QUEBECERS
But it is also the Quebecers who will be there again this year, note several professionals.
“Quebecers have started to book much earlier than usual, for the holiday season have already been practically full and for three weeks reservations have accelerated”, sees Pierre Thérien, owner of the Montagnard hotel, located in Sutton , in the Eastern Townships.
According to him, it is also customers residing in Ontario who will come to rediscover the Eastern Townships, in particular because the health measures of the two provinces are similar.
SHORTAGE ALSO STRIKES
However, the shortage of manpower casts a shadow on the picture for several hoteliers in the region who are forced to operate in slow motion.
At the Hotel Sacacomie, in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts in Mauricie, it is impossible to fill the establishment to capacity due to staff shortages.
“We are almost full, the demand is very present, but we had to close 40% of the rooms, because we have lost almost half of our staff,” said General Manager, Louis Marc Nadeau.
At the Auberge du Lac Taureau, Mr. Bouwmeester is even offering free accommodation to attract the workforce who would like to come and work during the high season.