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FEATURE PROFILE: Feature from the FALL 2024 ISSUE of STAY Magazine
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The Quebec Hotel Association appoints new AHQ board members
The Quebec Hotel Association has appointed four new members to its board of directors—Josée Lelièvre, vice president, Hôtel Ruby Foo's, Sylvain Beauséjour, administrator, Auberge Marquis de Montcalm, Xavier Icardo, vice president of hotel operations, Activar Hotels Inc. and Louis Lspérance, president and co-owner, Manoir Maplewood.
Lelièvre has been working with Hôtel Ruby Foo’s for over five years, and also works as professor at the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality of Quebec (ITHQ,) vice-president of hospitality and sustainable transition at Groupe Luger, administrator and president of the sustainable development committee at Greater Montreal Hotel Association. Before that, she worked at La Tour Belvedere Hotel, LaSalle College and CFH.
Icardo has been working with Activar for nearly four years. His previous role was regional director of operations, Eastern Canada at MasterBUILT Hotels. Before that, he worked at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Open Door Hospitality Group, Westmont Hospitality Group, G6 Hospitality Canada and Accor Hospitality/Motel 6/Studio 6 Canada.
Lspérance has been working with Manoir Maplewood for almost three years, and also works as vice-president and co-owner at Signé Local, president and co-owner at Belvoir, president and co-owner at Manoir Davis and vice-president and co-owner at allin.supply. Before that, he worked several roles at Fasken.
In addition, Francis Bouwmeester, general manager, Auberge du Lac Taureau and Aude Lafrance-Girard, general manager, Château-Laurier Hotel have been reelected to the board. As for the executive council, Dominic Gallant, general manager, Auberge Des Gallant was promoted to vice-president—and has been with the company for almost three years.
Domonic Gallant, vice-president, Auberge Des Gallant
AHQ has seen 50 per cent growth in independent revenue, 26 new members, a 25 per cent increase in partners, a 30 per cent increase in participants at the annual conference, and new sustainable development and digital marketing projects.
AHQ had 363 members this year, an increase of 8 per cent since 2022. This growth demonstrates the growing appeal of the AHQ and the renewed confidence of its members in the association. By continuing to expand its membership base, the AHQ strengthens its capacity to represent and defend the interests of the Quebec hotel industry, while offering a solid and dynamic support network to its members.
It was also presented that from 2022-2023, the AHQ renewed 10 partnerships with regional tourism associations (ATR), and established two new partnerships with Tourisme Charlevoix and Tourisme Chaudière-Appalaches. This initiative reflects its commitment to building strong ties with key players in regional tourism, thus strengthening its influence and capacity to defend the interests of its members. By offering reductions on annual dues to members of partner regions, it promotes a broader and more diverse membership, allowing the AHQ to be more representative and more effective in its role as spokesperson for the industry.
AHQ aroused keen interest and concluded eight new business partnerships in 2023. Among these new collaborators, the National Bank of Canada, Mews, Altus Group, Rate Yield, MicroAge (Innlogix), Go RH, Solution Santé Sécurité (APCHQ) and Avenue 360 have expressed their desire to share their expertise with hoteliers who are members of the AHQ.
