This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
A stone’s throw from the Château Frontenac, the first Biosphere-certified hotel in Quebec City has also been carbon neutral since 2021. The 16-room establishment decorated according to different themes has set itself the goal of achieving zero emissions by 2027. How, concretely, is the adventure behind the scenes at the Nomad hotel?
As soon as we push the door of the Nomad, we find ourselves propelled to the XIXe century. The cozy atmosphere recalls the bourgeois past of the opulent residence. An armchair covered in red velvet stands near the reception. The original monumental staircase creaks under our feet. Then, elements here and there slowly bring us back to the XXe century: old suitcases piled up, books, an Underwood, a caribou bust wearing a checkered scarf, the furniture and the music that resonates in the common room with a view of the Château Frontenac, where we will have our breakfast. Each element has been chosen with care. The many round trips in time remain harmonious and the comfort is indeed from the 21st century.e century.
Since Olivier Donzelot and Romuald Georgeon acquired the former Château Fleur de Lys at the end of 2013, it’s not just the appearance and the name of the place that have changed. Where, in 1876, Florence Adélaïde Allan White, then the daughter of the richest man in Canada, had taken up residence, the smallest details have been scrutinized in order to strive for durability.
However, there have been many obstacles since the Franco-Swiss couple moved to this side of the Atlantic. Rather than being overwhelmed by the nothingness created by the pandemic, the duo saw it as an opportunity to rethink the positioning of the company and to align its values with those of its owners.
From small gestures to certification
For Olivier Donzelot, sustainable tourism is first and foremost a matter of common sense. “The certification was a logical continuity,” he says. The process took several months. The 85 items checked off a list of 480 possible — for example, smart thermostats — listed by Biosphere have been thoroughly checked. “We also have an important social component,” he says. We are six people working year-round and we pay a large part of the group insurance. »
For the tandem, it was first and foremost about sound management. Of European origin, the couple initially simply reproduced behaviors that were already part of their lives. “As I often say jokingly, when you see a piece of paper in Switzerland, you pick it up even if it’s not yours,” says Olivier Donzelot. Sorting is in our DNA, as is saving energy. We were both sensitized. Our first sustainable steps were only common sense and the management of a good father. »
Aware of the fine line that separates greenwashing from the communication necessary to publicize its best practices, the co-owner, who has worked in the world of marketing for thirty years, distills information about the commitment of the company with parsimony since the beginning of the adventure. “I prefer to say less than too much. I spoke about carbon neutrality about six months after I achieved it. »
Another major change over the past few months is that most bookings are now made direct. “We have succeeded in emancipating ourselves from OTAs [Online Travel Agency]. Today, we are only 20% dependent on it. »
After finding itself deprived of its American customers, who then represented 80% of visitors before the pandemic, the Nomad hotel sought to make itself known to Quebecers. “We are continuing the story, says Olivier Donzelot, but we want to rewrite something that is more in tune with who we are today. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.