Hotel Pulse
Five Unique Hotels to Book for Your Clients in Quebec City
The Hôtel de Glace just outside Quebec City might be the only hotel in North America that includes a tutorial on how to make it through the night. On a cold February evening, I gathered with a group of other guests to learn how to stay warm when you’re sleeping on a bed made of ice. There were instructions for how to zip up the mummy-style sleeping bag and advice for what to do if you had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
“Don’t hold it,” advised the woman giving the tutorial. “Holding your pee makes your body work harder to keep warm, and you’ll be colder.” I told myself then and there that I would not be drinking anything after six pm. When I saw the amazing ice bar, I felt my resolve crack just a little. When they handed me a ticket for a free drink, I was a goner.
Quebec City is one of the most historic cities in Canada – the District of Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the city’s spectacular historic buildings are some of the most unique hotels in Canada. Here are Five unique hotels that you can book for clients who want to have an experience of a lifetime in this historic part of Canada.
The Hôtel de Glace is a work of art and the design changes every year. This is what the lobby and one of the suites looked like when I visited. If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can take a tour of the hotel in the morning. (Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)
Hôtel de Glace
The Hotel de Glace de Québec is the only ice hotel in North America – built from the ground up each year. Every winter, a team of sculptors works to carve the hotel and everything in it from 30,000 tonnes of snow and 500 tonnes of ice. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of this unique hotel that is open from January through mid-March. You can book clients on a hotel tour starting at $24.99 with advance reservations, arrange a wedding in the ice chapel, or book an overnight hotel stay starting at $449 CAD per night. An overnight stay includes a welcome cocktail, access to a Nordic area with saunas and hot tubs and a room at the Hôtel Valcartier on the same night – not everyone makes it through the night.
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You know you’re in an ancient monastery when you stay at this hotel, but that’s part of the appeal. (Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)
Le Monastère des Augustines
One of the most unique wellness experiences in Quebec City is found at Le Monastère des Augustines, a 17th century monastery and former hospital that was opened to the public and turned into a hotel in 2015. The Augustinian sisters arrived in Quebec in 1639 and it was their work and dedication that laid the foundation for Quebec’s present-day healthcare system. A stay at the monastery offers an unforgettable wellness and heritage experience. All rooms have been renovated and there are two types available – authentic rooms with a single bed or two single beds and contemporary rooms with a more modern vibe and twin, queen or king beds. There’s an onsite museum, a restaurant and wellness treatments such as massage and meditation. The monastery also offers scheduled retreats. Rates start at $153 CAD single or $200 CAD double. Silent breakfast is included with an overnight stay. Clients can book a museum tour and enjoy lunch or dinner at Le Vivoir restaurant – whether or not they stay overnight.
Auberge Saint-Antoine Bar Artefact – This two Michelin key hotel occupies three historic buildings, but the interior is decorated in a contemporary style (Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)
Auberge Saint-Antoine Relais & Châteaux
This two-Michelin Key Relais & Châteaux property is part museum and part hotel. Located in the Old Port on Îlot Hunt area, near the St. Lawrence River, Auberge Saint-Antoine occupies three historic buildings that are joined together. Over 700 artifacts from the 17th and 18th centuries, many of which were discovered during renovation and construction, are on display in the common spaces throughout the hotel. The hotel has contemporary décor, fantastic staff and an excellent onsite restaurant. Half of the 95 rooms overlook the St. Lawrence River and the other half overlook a courtyard. Each room is unique with its own antiques and designer touches. Rates start at $217 CAD per night.
A room at the Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations (Photo Credit: Wendake Tourism)
Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations
Entirely owned by the Huron-Wendat First Nation, Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations is located in Wendake, about a 20-minute drive from Old Quebec. The hotel offers a variety of experiences that allow guests to experience Wendat culture – including an onsite museum and the Ekionkiestha longhouse, a recreated longhouse, which was the traditional shelter of these Indigenous People. There are tours, storytelling and other experiences available onsite that bring the culture and history of the Wendat Nation to life. There’s also an excellent onsite restaurant called Restaurant La Traite, that serves Indigenous-inspired cuisine. Each room has a beaver pelt at the foot of the bed and other Indigenous touches. Rates start at $206 CAD per night.
Fairmont Chateau Frontenac – The most iconic hotel in Quebec City. (Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Designed by American architect Bruce Price and opened in 1893, this historic hotel is perched on a promontory in Old Quebec with one of the best views of the city. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac has hosted many famous people over the years including Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Grace Kelly, Charles Lindburgh and more. It’s the city’s most iconic luxury hotel and it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. The lobby is adorned with opulent crystal chandeliers and there are 20 event spaces, excellent bars and restaurants and elegant guest rooms. Rates start at $312 CAD.
More Information
For more information about visiting Quebec City, visit the official tourism website. Find more information about visiting the province of Quebec at the Bonjour Quebec website.
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Hotel Pulse
Sports Hospitality Market to Reach USD 74,318.43 Million by 2036, Growing at a CAGR of 14.12%: Credence Research
PUNE, India, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — According to a new market research report published by Credence Research, the global Sports Hospitality Market was valued at USD 8,345.70 million in 2018, rose to USD 15,233.39 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 74,318.43 million by 2036, growing at a CAGR of 14.12% during the forecast period.
The market is witnessing strong momentum owing to the increasing global appeal of high-profile sporting events and the growing appetite for premium, immersive experiences among both corporate clients and affluent consumers. Demand for VIP suites, exclusive access packages, gourmet catering, and behind-the-scenes privileges continues to surge at major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Super Bowl, Wimbledon, and Formula One Grand Prix. The sports industry’s ongoing shift toward experiential offerings and revenue diversification is further propelling investments in hospitality infrastructure and services.
Technological innovation and international expansion are reshaping the market dynamics. Enhanced digital ticketing, real-time fan engagement, and smart stadium integrations are elevating the guest experience. Additionally, emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America are playing an increasingly vital role, driven by infrastructure upgrades and growing sports tourism. Strategic collaborations between sports federations, hospitality brands, and travel operators are expected to unlock new revenue streams and sustain market growth across geographies.
Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy – https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/sports-hospitality-market
Key Growth Determinants – Sports Hospitality Market
Rising Demand for Premium Sports Experiences
The growing preference for exclusive, high-end experiences among affluent consumers and corporate clients is a major driver of the sports hospitality market. Demand for VIP boxes, luxury suites, fine dining, meet-and-greet opportunities, and personalized concierge services continues to surge at major sporting events worldwide. Corporations are increasingly leveraging hospitality packages to build client relationships and enhance brand visibility, while fans seek more immersive and memorable ways to engage with their favorite teams and athletes.
Expansion of Global Sports Events and Commercialization
The increasing frequency and scale of international sporting events—such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, ICC tournaments, and Formula One races—are fueling market growth. Sports organizations are heavily investing in hospitality infrastructure to diversify revenue streams and enhance audience engagement. Coupled with the globalization of sports leagues and the rise of sports tourism, these developments are significantly expanding the market footprint across developed and emerging economies.
Hotel guests are increasingly feeling like they’re getting more bang for their buck, according to the 2025 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study from J.D. Power.
Redesigned for 2025, the study measures overall hotel guest satisfaction based on performance in seven core dimensions—including value, guest room, staff services, facilities, communications and connectivity and food and beverage—across nine segments ranging from luxury to economy.
Despite the average daily rate for a U.S. hotel room reaching a record high of $158.67 in 2024, clean and well-designed rooms, omnipresent amenities such as smart TVs and user-friendly mobile apps are helping boost traveler satisfaction.
Hotel guest perceptions of value received for nightly rate paid increases in every hotel segment in this year’s study, with the most significant year-over-year gains coming in the upscale, midscale and economy segments.
Dogs enjoying a Home2 Suites by Hilton guest room. (photo courtesy of Hilton)
“We’re at an important inflection point in the travel marketplace where several years of record-high hotel demand and the pace of room rate increases is starting to slow,” Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power, said in a statement.
“Hotel owner and operator investments in guest room décor and furnishings, in addition to bathroom updates, are paying off in higher satisfaction. One area in which hotels can significantly influence guest satisfaction without massive capital expense is with technology like smart TVs and updated room temperature controls,” she added.
“Travel is becoming more complex with the potential for flight delays or increased road traffic, so guests want hotels to provide the comforts of home.”
Key Takeaways for 2025
In the era of streaming, it’s no surprise that hotel guests want to be greeted by a smart TV, with 40 percent of surveyed travelers selecting “smart TV/ability to stream my entertainment” as a need to have versus nice to have, up from 21 percent in 2019.
What’s more, 72 percent of respondents indicated their room included a smart TV. That figure is up from 39 percent in 2019. Additionally, six out of 10 said they used the smart TV during their stay.
A premier king room inside the Omni PGA Frisco Resort. (Photo Credit: Omni Hotels & Resorts)
J.D. Power also found that guest satisfaction significantly improved year over year in areas such as furnishings and décor (+.05 points), condition of bathroom fixtures (+.05). and comfort of bed (+.04).
The study also shows that hotel app users report higher satisfaction, earning an average score of 699 (on a 1,000-point scale), which is 68 points higher than those who do not use their hotel brand’s mobile app.
It’s no secret that problems ranging from odors and loud noise to check-in issues can lower satisfaction. Nonetheless, this year’s study shows that they are relatively rare, occurring just 12 percent of the time across all hotel stays evaluated. In those incidents, however, guest satisfaction fell dramatically, plummeting 217 points to 460 from 677.
Highest-Ranking Hotel Brands for Guest Satisfaction
The Ritz-Carlton ranks highest in the luxury segment for 2025 with a score of 779, surpassing The Luxury Collection, which ranked first in 2024.
Meanwhile, Omni Hotels & Resorts conquered the upper upscale segment with a top satisfaction score of 731. Drury Hotels (738) ranked highest in the upscale segment, while Hyatt House (705) finished first in the upper extended stay category for a fourth consecutive year.
The exterior of a Tru by Hilton hotel. (Photo Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts)
Other repeat segment winners for 2025 include Home2 Suites by Hilton (upper midscale/midscale extended stay), Tru by Hilton (midscale), Microtel by Wyndham (economy) and WoodSpring Suites (economy extended stay). All four brands won their respective categories for a third consecutive year.
Finally, Hampton by Hilton (694) ranked first among upper midscale brands.
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Help your clients take advantage of reduced rates, room upgrades and more, while earning up to 7X STAR Points on all eligible bookings this July under Sunwing Vacations Partner of the Month program.
Canadians looking to embark on a value-packed summer or winter escape will love this promotion. Meliá Hotels and Resorts offers a range of comfortable and upscale properties in sought-after sun destinations.
On every booking made by July 31, 2025, for travel by December 20, 2026, travel advisors will earn up to 7X STAR Points and will be automatically entered for their chance to win one of five hotel stays at Paradisus La Perla Adults Only Riviera Maya, Paradisus Palma Real Golf and Spa Resort, Meliá Las Dunas, Meliá Las Antillas and Meliá Trinidad Peninsula.
Clients looking to escape to a participating property in Mexico or the Dominican Republic can enjoy a wide range of limited-time perks including resort credits and spa discounts, reduced rates and kids stay free pricing.
Cuba Promotions
In addition to reduced rates, here are the offers available at the Cuban properties:
Meliá Las Antillas: Complimentary upgrade from Junior Suite Economy to Deluxe Room.
Meliá Las Americas: Complimentary upgrade from Classic Room to Classic Golf View Room.
Meliá Varadero: No single supplement fees (singles are not required to pay a surcharge for staying in a double occupancy room.)
Meliá Jardines del Rey: First child free (aged 3-12).
Meliá Trinidad Peninsula: No single supplement fees (singles are not required to pay a surcharge for staying in a double occupancy room.)
Paradisus Princesa del Mar: No single supplement fees (singles are not required to pay a surcharge for staying in a double occupancy room.)
Paradisus Los Cayos: Complimentary upgrade from Paradisus Junior Suite to The Reserve Junior Suite.
Paradisus Rio de Oro: No single supplement fees (singles are not required to pay a surcharge for staying in a double occupancy room.)
Sol Caribe Beach: First child free (aged 3-12).
Group Booking Bonus
Meliá is also offering group perks for those who book with Sunwing this month. Travel advisors who book their clients a group getaway for travel between November 1, 2025 and December 20, 2026, will earn 11X STAR Points at Meliá’s Mexico and Dominican Republic properties* and 6X STAR Points with Meliá Cuba, while their clients will be awarded instant group savings of up to $400 per pair.
Please note terms and conditions apply. For additional information on Meliá Hotels & Resorts’ Partner of the Month offerings, travel advisors are encouraged to visit the Sunwing Agent Portal.
Related: Sunwing Announces Winter Destinations and Perks
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