Club Med has officially opened its first Canadian all-inclusive resort, Club Med Québec Charlevoix to guests on 03DEC. Open Jaw attended and reported on the inaugural celebrations.
Located along the St. Lawrence River, Club Med Québec Charlevoix holds accommodations for families, couples, and solo travellers, as well as meeting & events groups with a variety of packages and activities.
It is a 90 minute drive from Québec City to the Le Massif de Charlevoix region, one of four Québec reserves in the UNESCO Canadian network and part of the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve. The Club Med property is spread across 300+ acres of land and features roster of experiences for a variety of interests, including all-day dining and open bar options with local and international cuisine, as well as après- ski activities and entertainment.
Design
Developed by a Québec City based architectural and design firm, all the rooms and common areas provide scenes of the river or mountain. The interior design concept is inspired by Québec’s traditions, such as hanging canoes and one-of-a-kind carpets including a custom quilt in the main lobby. Every space showcases a specific season through textures, shapes, materials or colours.
Accommodations
Guests can select from Deluxe and Superior Rooms. With an outside facing bed view, the Deluxe Room offers constrasting colours of yellow and red, inspired by ancestral homes in the province and features furnishings that pay homage to the surrounding nature. With the backdrop of Québec’s nature spaces, the Superior Room features shades of white and blue to highlight the local colours.
Near the top of the resort, Club Med Québec Charlevoix is home to 25 Exclusive Collection Suites. Guests staying in the Suites will have access to a private welcome lounge, a dedicated ski room and an Exclusive Collection Space that includes a fireplace, panoramic views of the river, concierge service and a private terrace with whirlpool. Additional perks include an in-room mini-bar that is refilled daily, room service, and more.
Dining experiences
An array of all-inclusive dining options serve both Canadian and French cuisine. According to Club Med the majority of the food will be sourced locally within Canada and almost "30 per cent" of ingredients will come from within 100 kilometers of the resort.
The gourmet lounge, Le Chalet, offers a view of the St. Lawrence River below. Using seasonal, locally sourced products, the space focuses on a reinterpreted culinary offer authentic to the region with a changing menu. The family friendly Terroir & Co. offers fondues and raclettes made with local Québec cheeses and charcuteries.
The main restaurant, Le Marché, is a marketplace which includes local and international cuisines served buffet style in five dining rooms and two terraces. At the heart of the resort, Bar Le Météore is a multifunction space that changes from a lounge during the day to a destination for parties and entertainment at night.
All-year round activities
In the winter, visitors have ski-in/ski-out slope access. Included ski and snowboard passes and classes provide learning options for all skill levels. Children four and up can enroll in kids group lessons and guests 17 and up, in adult group lessons.
Themed ski workshops are available for guests to improve their skills, while discovering the natural landscape of the Charlevoix region.
Non-skiers can choose from activities including Nordic walking, snowshoeing, ice-skating, broomball, ice fishing, a 7.5 km sledge run, dog sledding and snowmobiling.
During spring, summer and fall, all-inclusive themed guided hikes are available and Club Med’s mountain biking school offers classes for all skill levels.
À la carte excursions
Guests can also participate in a variety of ancillary excursions any time of year. Québec’s Charlevoix region is home to national parks and natural wonders like the Saguenay Fjord, where visitors can experience whale watching. Travellers can be immersed in French-Canadian culture with visits to neighbouring towns: including Québec City, Île d'Orléans with its local farmers’ markets, Baie-Saint-Paul, or La Malbaie.
A Family Friendly Resort
With Club Med’s "Amazing Family Program," children and parents can enjoy activities and games such as family movie night or taking part in an all-ages yoga class. Accommodating children and youth from 4 months to 17 years-old: Baby Club Med, Petit Club Med and Mini Club Med welcomes younger kids. Open all day and with nighttime activities, Passworld features specific sporting and artistic activities for teens.
Wellness offerings
A 23m long heated pool, the biggest pool in a Club Med mountain resort, boasts a view of the St. Lawrence River. There’s also a kids splash pool.
Guests can also take part in one of the 35 hours of yoga and guided meditation classes the resort offer, before enjoying an outdoor jacuzzi or hammam.
Club Med Spa by Sothys
French luxury spa brand Sothys will open its third North American location at the resort. Guests can explore the spa’s Cold and Hot Therapy Pathway, which includes a 10–15-minute hot treatment including a jacuzzi overlooking the St. Lawrence River and a sauna with floor to ceiling views, followed by a 10-15 second cold treatment in the snow fountain or cold shower and resting periods on the terrace with views that overlook the river in between.
Environmental and social impact
As part of Club Med's dedication to its "Happy to Care" CSR charter, it is pursuing two recognized sustainability certifications for Canada's inaugural resort. The brand hopes to earn a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method) certification, as the entire project was constructed based on these strict standards. It is also working toward a Green Globe certification, which guarantees a responsible operation in both social and environmental aspects. In addition, the resort will partner with Solucycle, a Québec-based NGO that collects organic food waste and converts it into biogas, a green energy source. Club Med has also partnered with Montreal-based clothing company Hub1916 to produce all its staff uniforms from recycled plastic water bottles.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix is the first Club Med resort to become Rainbow Registered with Canada’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. This designation is part of the brand’s commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ guests and employees feel welcomed and accepted.
Packages and pricing
Advisors can book clients for 2-night, 3-night, 4-night and 7-night visits that include ski passes and ski lessons during the winter, food & beverage, accommodations, Kids Clubs and access to a wide range of activities and entertainment. Prices start at CAD $245 per adult/night, all-inclusive during the winter season and at $210 per adult/night, all-inclusive during the summer.
For more information, visit Club Med Québec Charlevoix's web site.
