Montérégie hoteliers and event organizers anticipate an increase in the business tourism sector in the years to come. No wonder some are embarking on renovation and business development projects.
More than 100 years ago, the Montreal Cotton Company factory was built in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Today, the factory chimney no longer smokes, but the remains of the place are still very present. Transformed into a hotel in the early 1990s, it was called Plaza Valleyfield since the 2000s. This name gave way in June to that of Hôtel MOCO, in memory of its manufacturing history.
The establishment has just completed a major rejuvenation treatment. The 127 rooms, the lobby, the restaurant… everything has been modernized, in addition to certain additions. “The work has been underway for three years. We kept the 20% of the remains of the factory, such as the exterior walls and those of the meeting rooms. We also gave a lot of space to its history by displaying black and white photos which recall its industrial vocation,” explains Trevor Cool, general manager of the establishment.
Obviously, an estimated 20% price increase followed. The investment of 10 million does not include future work which will focus on the convention center. Significant transformations are planned until 2024.
In terms of new trends, Trevor Cool notes that business clients are increasingly grouping all their types of meetings in one place and during a single period in order to reduce costs. “The organizers put everything together. This helps reduce transport costs, but also reduces the environmental impact of meetings. This is part of the idea of slower business tourism. »
Danielle Beaulieu, sole owner of the Hôtel Mortagne, is following with great attention the millions of investments announced in the Boucherville sector and the arrival of Porter Airlines at Saint-Hubert airport. The hotel, specializing in business tourism, will also add 100 rooms to its offering starting next spring. Then, it will be the turn of the convention center to undergo expansion. Added to this is the project to build a 1,100-seat performance hall annexed to the convention center. According to Ms. Beaulieu’s estimates, three years will be necessary before all these projects are realized.
This is all on top of the $400,000 recently invested for audio-visual equipment. “We no longer wanted to depend on external companies. Our goal is to make life easier for our customers,” says Danielle Beaulieu. Another new feature coming soon is the addition of a second restaurant and a 297 m2 terrace focused on events with a capacity of 200 people.
