MONT-SAINTE-ANNE, QC - A recycling program that has cut waste in half, a restaurant that serves healthy, locally sourced food, and a geothermal system for heatlng and cooling are among the measures that make Chateau Mont Sainte-Anne Quebecs only Four Green Key EcoRated independent resort.br
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The Chateau is a family-run operation. It was purchased [...]
MONT-SAINTE-ANNE, QC - A recycling program that has cut waste in half, a restaurant that serves healthy, locally sourced food, and a geothermal system for heatlng and cooling are among the measures that make Chateau Mont Sainte-Anne Quebec's only Four Green Key EcoRated independent resort.
The Chateau is a family-run operation. It was purchased in March, 2005 by Sebastien Roy, his father Henri and a financial partner, Charles Sirois. Sebastien, his wife, Nadja Tanner, his father, Henri Roy, and his mother, Diane Morin Roy, are all involved in the hotel operations. And it speaks volumes about the commitment to environmental measures that Tanner's full time responsibility is for the Green Program. "We came here after 15 years out west ln Lake Louise, and the envlronmental changes we saw there are very important to us," general manager Sebastien Roy told CLN. "We have spent two years formulating our environmental plans, and now we are finally implementing them." .
The 240-room resort is midway through a five-year, $5 million renovatlon that already encompasses the lobby, spa, dlning room and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. The rooms are next on the list. At press time, six model rooms had been completed, and connected to the geothermal heating and cooling system.
Some of the environmental measures were just common sense. For example, the resort has reduced its garbage by half for a minimal investment in garbage cans in the public areas and rooms, and some time spent working with staff on proper recycling procedures. "Customers are already doing it at home, so it was easy. Customers had been asking for recycling for a long time. And when employees go home, they recycle too," added Roy.
It was easy to source environmentally-friendly cleaning products too. "We have a policy in place to buy the greenest products possible - the kitchen and housekeeping made that change right away, and it doesn't cost more," said Roy.
The economic merits of the geothermal system are not so readily apparent. While replacing the electrical heating units in each room would cost about $1,500 per room, the geothermal system costs $8,000 per room. While there will be some economies of scale once the geothermal system is applied to more rooms, it will take about 15 years for the new system to pay for itself in reduced energy costs, said Roy.
The less tangible costs - the reduced impact on the environment and the positive feedback on being an environmental leader - are what make the project worthwhile. "It's what people will demand in the future," Roy told CLN. "Plus the system is 50 much more user friendly, pleasant and efficient," compared to the old electrical system.
The restaurant is green too. Chef Simon Renaud comes to Chateau Mont-Sainte"Anne from the CHIP hotelchain, where he worked as executlve chef at the Delta Montreal and Hôtel Gouverneurs Québec. Just 31 years old, he has developed a new menu for the bistro, which encompasses everything from quick pub fare to fine dlning. The menu at Le Bistro restaurant is 100 percent trans fat free. And the restaurant more than meets the "Table aux saveurs du terroir" requirement of 20 percent local produce, with items from the Côte-de-Beaupré, Ile d'Orleans and Charlevoix regions. "It's easier in the summer, of course," said Roy, noting that the winter menu has 25 percent local produce and in summer it is 30 percent.
One signature dish is Duck Fois Gras with Crème Brulée. The duck comes from Les Canardlses ln nearby St.-Ferreol-les-Neiges.
So what's next?
"We have lots of rooms to renovate," said Roy. "We will be adding six rooms to our spa, and implementing customer service training programs."
There are some plans afoot for renovations to nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne ski hill. And obviously the resort owners are very happy with the 600-plus cm of snow that has fallen on the mountain this winter.
Le Château Mont-Sainte-Anne: New Château living and the great outdoors
iBeaupré, February 1st, 2008./i Substantial investments, major renovations, decidedly modern rooms, a huge fireplace in a unique lobby, Spa Relais Santé, fine dining reinvented, modern meeting rooms… Château Mont Sainte Anne has a new look and is offering an urban style stay in a great outdoors setting. Visitors from Quebec City and area now ha [...]
Le Château Mont-Sainte-Anne: Discovery and pleasure for all your senses
iBeaupré, February 1st, 2008./i Today’s hectic lifestyle leaves many people dreaming of relaxed moments where they are looked after, pampered, and treated to the finest foods accompanied by specially selected wines that turn a meal into an elegant dining experience. Luckily, there is a place where such dreams become a reality you’ll never grow [...]
Le Château Mont-Sainte-Anne : The only 4 green key certified private hotel in Quebec
iBeaupré, February 1st 2008./i. Château Mont Sainte Anne has just been awarded 4 GREEN KEYS by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). This means it has been designated “A hotel that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. [The] hotel has mature programs in [...]
Beaupré, February 1st, 2008. Substantial investments, major renovations, decidedly modern rooms, a huge fireplace in a unique lobby, Spa Relais Santé, fine dining reinvented, modern meeting rooms… Château Mont Sainte Anne has a new look and is offering an urban style stay in a great outdoors setting. Visitors from Quebec City and area now have a place nearby for business, pampering, and fun. It’s all available at Quebec’s only “4 Green Key” certified private hotel.
New owners Sébastien and Henri Roy were quick to call on the most renowned specialists to optimize over $5 million in investments. The Lemay Michaud architectural firm remodeled and redesigned the rooms, suites, lobby, and restaurant. Regard for the environment has become a permanent feature of Château Mont Sainte Anne which, thanks to its recent renovations, has become the first to use geothermal heating/air conditioning. Waste reduction and recovery, as well as the use of environmentally friendly products ensure the most comfortable and healthy environment possible.
Chef Simon Renaud is putting the finishing touches on “renovations” to the Château Mont Sainte Anne dining experience, taking a decidedly health-conscious turn. With his gift for culinary creativity and impressive experience in the hotel industry, Simon Renaud has already discovered all the best ingredients the Côte-de-Beaupré, Île d’Orléans, and Charlevoix regions have to offer. “With every bite, you discover the treasures the local earth, water, and air have to offer,” he says. “Our kitchen staff at Château Mont Sainte Anne takes great pleasure in sharing these discoveries with visitors.” Château Mont Sainte Anne has received Table aux saveurs du terroir certification. Restaurant manager and wine steward Richard Grenier brings his extensive experience in the service industry to his collaboration with Simon Renaud, to the great delight of guests. His wine list features private imports chosen and presented according to varieties that best compliment meals prepared by Chef Renaud.
The Château’s Relais Santé certified spa has quickly become the new destination for connoisseurs of the expert treatments offered. Hot stone and four-hand massage, wraps using the most exotic and comforting products, an outdoor Jacuzzi, and indoor and outdoor pools together with the gym and interactive game room please young people of all ages.
In addition to Château Mont Sainte Anne’s meeting rooms, the largest convention center of any Quebec resort allows visitors to hold a variety of types and sizes of business events rounded out by individual and group outdoor sports in an exceptional environment.
Château Mont Sainte Anne has undoubtedly become the new meeting place for clients seeking quality and variety, and has proven the charm and appeal of château living in an outdoor setting.
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Source : Château Mont-Sainte-Anne
www.chateaumsa.com
For information : Julie Vallières
jvallieres@chateaumsa.com
418-827-1862 poste 2810 ou 1-800-463-4467
Beaupré, February 1st, 2008. Today’s hectic lifestyle leaves many people dreaming of relaxed moments where they are looked after, pampered, and treated to the finest foods accompanied by specially selected wines that turn a meal into an elegant dining experience. Luckily, there is a place where such dreams become a reality you’ll never grow tired of—Château Mont Sainte Anne.
Under the expert guidance of Chef Simon Renaud, the Château Mont Sainte Anne Bistro has taken a definite turn toward healthy eating and now offers the tastiest products the Côte-de-Beaupré, Île d’Orléans, and Charlevoix regions have to offer. Chef Renaud serves foie gras from Les Canardises, which he believes to be the finest there is. And at Ferme du bon temps in St-Joachim, he has discovered no fewer than 35 varieties of refined, crispy, and incredibly flavorful baby lettuce. He combines flower petals with the shoots of local vegetables and crosses honey with lime to bring forth a bouquet of bursting flavors that will please even the most demanding palate.
It is no surprise then that the Bistro has received Tables aux saveurs du terroir certification—a new quality label for restaurants serving regional products that is certified by Fédération des Agricotours du Québec. The label is only awarded to the top regional restaurants and to establishments that stand out for their fine work with products from Quebec’s regions. “At Château Mont Sainte Anne,” says Chef Renaud, “we strive to serve healthful food with no trans fat, following the principles of Slow Food, and using fresh, local ingredients.”
With his gift for culinary creativity and impressive experience in the hotel industry, Chef Renaud is confident he can live up to his culinary promise: “With every bite, you discover the treasures the local earth, water, and air have to offer,” he explains, adding that “Our kitchen staff at Château Mont Sainte Anne takes great pleasure in sharing these discoveries with visitors. Our kitchen is your kitchen, and we do everything to make sure you have a pleasant dining experience.”
Restaurant manager and wine steward Richard Grenier brings his extensive experience in the service industry to his collaboration with Simon Renaud, to the delight of guests. His wine list features private imports chosen and presented on the basis of the varieties that best compliment meals prepared by Chef Renaud. “Simon and I have developed a relationship based on a common passion,” says Richard Grenier, “a passion for great food and the joy of dining. The combination of subtle aromas from the wine and the flavors of the dishes created by Simon always impresses our guests.”
No discovery of these pleasures at Château Mont Sainte Anne would be complete without experiencing the Château spa, the only Relais Santé-certified spa of its kind in the Québec City region. Along with the wide variety of massages, comprehensive treatments, and revitalizing wraps and baths available, Château Mont Sainte Anne’s exceptional location also provides a stunning backdrop to the outdoor whirlpool and the indoor and outdoor pools. What’s more, it would be difficult to overstate the elegance of the new indoor renovations that lend the Château a world-class ambiance. The staff is highly qualified and the products used reflect the eco-friendly principles adopted by hotel management.
The new owners of Château Mont Sainte Anne, Henri and Sébastien Roy, have invested in the retro-modern hotel’s dining and spa services to the tune of $5 million. Their dream is to offer an experience worthy of the world’s great resorts. Château Mont Sainte Anne is the only independent hotel to have received “4 Green Key” certification from the Hotel Association of Canada in recognition of the quality of the environmental aspect of its renovation project.
For a gourmet getaway or a replenishing break, or for a business meeting, conference, or a few days of sports and outdoor activity, Château Mont Sainte Anne is the new destination of choice for those seeking quality and variety. The hotel is sure to charm with its château lifestyle and spectacular natural setting.
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Source :
Château Mont-Sainte-Anne
www.chateaumsa.com
For information :
Julie Vallières
jvallieres@chateaumsa.com
418-827-1862 poste 2810 ou 1-800-463-4467
Beaupré, February 1st 2008.. Château Mont Sainte Anne has just been awarded 4 GREEN KEYS by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). This means it has been designated “A hotel that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. [The] hotel has mature programs in place that involve management, employees, guests, and the public, and which have shown substantial and measurable results,” according to the HAC. “We are very proud to have been awarded 4 Green Keys, particularly since we are the only private hotel in Quebec to have received this certification,” stated Château Mont Sainte Anne general manager Sébastien Roy.
Through a major investment program instituted by new owners Sébastien and Henri Roy, environmental considerations now play an important role in the hotel’s management. An environmental and sustainable development specialist was hired last year to ensure renovations met the highest current ecological standards and to implement new environmental policies and procedures at every level of the organization and in every department.
With respect to renovations, for example, materials like the wood used indoors and outdoors on structures and decorations are “green.” The balconies and furniture in rooms, as well as decorative touches in the Château spa and in many other places in the hotel are made with a variety of wood species like cedar, providing special warmth and an ambiance that is suitable for the finest resorts.
The owners of Château Mont Sainte Anne have opted for a remarkable energy policy. All rooms and public areas feature the highest efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment available, which is compatible with the use of geothermal energy and is linked to a central monitoring system. A number of measures have been taken to reduce water use, including the installation of toilet facilities selected with that goal in mind. Steps have also taken to reduce recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Water bottles and many other items were eliminated in order to help Château Mont Sainte Anne meet its new, higher standards. Biodegradable cleaning products are used throughout the hotel.
In its meeting halls and convention center, Château Mont Sainte Anne provides support in organizing “green” events that meet international standards.
“Château Mont Sainte Anne has taken a decisive step into the modern era of sustainable development,” stated Sébastien Roy. “Our employees share our principles and are actively involved their application, and that’s why we can offer our clientele the best possible environment.”
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Source :
Château Mont-Sainte-Anne
www.chateaumsa.com
For information :
Julie Vallières
jvallieres@chateaumsa.com
418-827-1862 poste 2810 ou 1-800-463-4467
