Gaspé, Quebec, October 13, 2011 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the awarding of financial contributions totalling $453,683 to two Gaspésie tourism projects. Hôtel des Commandants, for one, will use the funding received to modernize its establishment, whilst the Grande Traversée de la Gaspésie cross-country ski event will use the funds to implement a commercialization strategy to boost winter tourism in the region.
“The Government of Canada actively supports the tourism industry and the enterprises that make it up, like the Hôtel des Commandants and the Grande Traversée de la Gaspésie, which help raise the international profile of Gaspésie,” said MP Gourde.
Located in Gaspé, Hôtel des Commandants is a four-star 70-unit hotel, which also serves as a full-service convention centre that can accommodate up to 250 people. The work to be done will modernize more than half of the existing rooms, refurbish the reception area, build seven new units, a fitness room with spa and sauna, and a leisure lounge area with Internet access. Thanks to these improvements and additions, the hotel will be able to continue offering its clients quality services. Necessitating a total investment of more than $1 million, the project will help consolidate a key component of the region’s tourism offering and should encourage visitors to extend their stays. The repayable funding awarded for this work by Canada Economic Development is $338,333.
Gaspésie’s winter tourism flagship event, the Grande Traversée de la Gaspésie, which hosts a week of cross-country skiing in the Gaspé Peninsula, will continue its commercialization efforts in Canada and abroad, especially in Denmark, France, Finland and Norway. The organizers will step up their canvassing and networking activities with these countries, including their partnership with the Grande Traverséedu Jura cross-country ski event, and discuss shared expertise. Promotional Web tools will also be created to attract visitors. These efforts aim to increase the economic benefits of winter tourism in Gaspésie and to promote the region internationally. Canada Economic Development is contributing $115,350 in non-repayable funding toward the implementation of this two-year marketing strategy. The Grande Traversée ranks second among the top 50 outdoor activities in the country, according to the Canadian magazine Explore.
Tourism is a key development priority for Canada Economic Development in the Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine region. The funding announced has been awarded through the Community Diversification program.
For more on the TDLG, visit www.tdlg.qc.ca/?lang=en
For more on Hôtel des Commandants, visit www.hoteldescommandants.com
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Sources:
Karina Gagnon
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-368-6048 or 1-866-368-0044
E-mail: karina.gagnon@dec-ced.gc.ca
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
