After being certified eco-friendly, the Chateau Laurier hotel in Quebec City has now been named French-friendly with its “francoresponsable” title.
Although the new terminology is unusual, it essentially means any effort to promote French culture in all its forms. For domestic and foreign travellers, it is the tourist equivalent of French immersion – an opportunity to fully experience French culture in North America.
The hotel is privately-owned by the Girard family, who decided to set their hotel apart from competitors in the popular tourist town by specifically promoting French culture.
By being “francoresponsable,” the hotel showcases French exhibitions and performances. The hotel has also partnered with the local Museum of French America and the Francophone Centre of the Americas, in offering free tickets for both to its hotel guests. In addition, French-speaking tourists from outside the province will be eligible for a 15 per cent discount on their accommodation.
As the only hotel to use this new term, the Chateau Laurier proclaimed himself the first of its kind in America. Although French is the dominant culture at the Chateau Laurier, customers can also be served in at least four other languages including English, Spanish, German and Japanese.