Hotel and logging

coucher du soleil

Promotional material and the description on the Riôtel group’s website may prepare visitors for what awaits, but the view revealed on entering the dining room of the Paqbo restaurant at RIÔTEL-PERCÉ is still utterly spectacular. The fascination Rocher Percé exerts on everyone, even after several visits, is undeniable.

Set just below Côte Surprise on Route 132, a few steps from the beach and commanding a majestic view of the area’s great landmark, Rocher Percé, the hotel formerly known as Bonaventure sur Mer became the group’s third acquisition in 2003 and has operated as Riôtel-Percé ever since.

Riotel Percé Juillet 2025

In addition to the main building, which houses reception and the Paqbo restaurant, the hotel complex has two accommodation pavilions: Île Bonaventure and Rocher Percé. Many rooms naturally look directly onto these two defining features of the local landscape, while several balconies and a large outdoor terrace allow guests to enjoy the panorama at any time.

Locals know that daylight contributes greatly to the atmosphere. From sunrise directly behind the rock to the moment it disappears behind the mountains to the west, bathing the landscape in golden light, every moment of the day is unforgettable. As a seasonal hotel, Riôtel-Percé is open from late spring to mid-autumn, the best time to enjoy all it has to offer.

Riotel Percé Juillet 2025

The hotel offers several room categories, from Classic and Superior rooms to suites, rooms with kitchenettes and family accommodation. Most look directly over baie de Percé. Renovations carried out in several parts of the hotel between 2013 and 2019 moved the property upmarket and ensure an optimal quality of stay.

Direct beach access makes it easy to take long walks to nearby shops, cafés, art galleries, bars and restaurants while enjoying a panorama that never grows old. Cruises to Rocher Percé and Île Bonaventure, both essential experiences, also depart conveniently close to the hotel.

Riotel Percé Juillet 2025 Riotel Percé Juillet 2025
Gourmets and food lovers will be glad to sit down at the Paqbo restaurant for a Riôtel-style breakfast or return at the end of the day for dinner in the dining room or on the outdoor terrace. The restaurant is also a place for an aperitif or simply a cocktail with friends or family. Paqbo’s menu follows the broad approach used at the group’s other Gaspésie hotels, with variations that showcase local specialities. From starter to dessert, the culinary experience is remarkable: contemporary, sea-inspired and approachable food. Treat yourself to the seafood coquille, maple-glazed ribs and lime tart, among others.

Riotel-Percé Juillet 2025 Riotel-Percé Juillet 2025

In the evening, guests can enjoy the day’s final light or the beauty of a star-filled sky, the salt air and the sound of the waves around a campfire near the beach, either alone or with other visitors.

Riotel Percé Juillet 2025

Riôtel-Percé
riotel.com/fr/hotels/perce
261 QC-132 W
Percé, QC G0C 2L0
1 800-463-4212
Riotel Percé Juillet 2025

The newest member of the RIÔTEL family is by no means the least. In 2024, Hostellerie Baie-Bleue in Carleton-sur-Mer, which had operated under that name for about 30 years, was rebranded as Riôtel-Carleton. The hotel complex spans several buildings and includes not only accommodation but also a very popular restaurant and a convention centre serving the entire region.

Riotel Carleton 2025
Proudly facing the sea on Baie des Chaleurs, Riôtel-Carleton offers 105 rooms and suites in several categories across roughly five pavilions, as well as four lofts and one fully equipped chalet sleeping 16. A heated outdoor pool a few dozen metres from the beach welcomes guests every day in season when weather permits. The tastefully decorated rooms often have private balconies and include all the amenities needed for a pleasant stay.

Riotel Carleton 2025

Riotel Carleton 2025 Riotel Carleton 2025

The main pavilion houses reception and, on the second floor, Resto-pub Saint-Joseph, a lively, popular year-round venue seating as many as 250 people, in addition to a covered outdoor terrace. For many years, its family-style menu and relaxed sports-bar atmosphere have brought generations together. On July 8, the restaurant introduced the Riôtel menu already offered at the group’s three other Gaspésie hotels. As at those properties, local culinary specialities have been added to the regular breakfast and dinner selections. Takeout is also available. The new menu, described as contemporary, maritime and approachable, will certainly bring fresh energy to Pub Saint-Joseph.

Riotel Carleton 2025 
Riotel Carleton 2025 Riotel Carleton 2025

On the ground floor of the same pavilion, Churros & Crème Glacée offers handmade churros and a surprising selection of frozen treats from Thursday to Sunday during the season.

Riôtel-Carleton also houses the Centre des congrès de la Gaspésie, which has welcomed events and meetings year-round since 2009. Organizations have access to multipurpose rooms, state-of-the-art equipment and qualified staff who support event promoters and organizers. Riôtel-Carleton’s accommodation and food services are a major asset for the convention centre.
Riotel Carleton 2025

Direct beach access and the many nearby water activities provide further reasons to stay at the property.

Riôtel-Carleton
riotel.com/fr/hotels/carleton
482, Bd Perron
Carleton-sur-Mer, QC G0C 1J0
418.364.3355

The two hotels are not among the most striking from the outside, as they sit slightly removed from the area’s commercial and tourist activity at the entrance to the Village. Their distinctive qualities become apparent only after guests step through the doors and experience the rooms, suites and amenities.

Labelle Roberval
The “rebirth” of these two establishments is thanks to the Charron family, entrepreneurs and investors in Montréal real estate for more than 40 years. The founder’s children now run them.
The hotels’ greatest strength is their location: just steps from the Quartier Latin and Vieux-Montréal, at the entrance to the Village and its restaurants and bars, and a few hundred metres from Berri-UQAM station, served by three metro lines. They are also beside the UQÀM campus and the CHUM hospital complex and research centre. The wonderful Quartier des spectacles is less than a 10-minute walk away.

Labelle Roberval
Le Roberval, at the corner of René-Lévesque and Berri, comprises two connected buildings dating from the 1920s. The family acquired it in the late 1990s. Les Suites Labelle, on the short street of the same name, is a more recent building and has belonged to the Charron family since the early 2000s, explains sales and marketing director Charlene Richard.
Each hotel has distinctive features designed to appeal to different guests. Le Roberval underwent major renovations in 2019: floors were redone, bedding replaced, and kitchen counters and bathrooms renovated. It has 75 rooms and suites: 26 studios with one queen-size bed, 11 studios with two queen-size beds, 15 one-bedroom suites with a sofa bed, 17 one-bedroom suites with a wall bed and six two-bedroom suites, including two in the basement. It offers exceptional comfort and a family atmosphere, whatever the length of stay. Workers, students and researchers visiting Montréal for short or extended periods find it a highly appreciated temporary home.

Labelle Roberval
The neighbouring Hôtel Labelle has also undergone major renovations. Its flooring, bedding and curtains were replaced, and new mattresses were installed in rooms on four of its eight floors in 2022 and 2023. Work on the rest of the building will continue over the coming months. The hotel has 97 rooms: 84 standard studios with one or two queen-size beds, 10 superior studios with one or two queen-size beds, two junior suites and one executive suite. It regularly accommodates guests travelling with tour operators.

Labelle Roberval
At both establishments, rooms and suites include a kitchenette, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and many other amenities. Both hotels have spacious, welcoming breakfast rooms, and breakfast is included in the stay. Guests also have access to indoor parking.
The attentive staff are trained to uphold the principles of inclusion and diversity for all guests. LGBTQ guests can therefore count on respect and safety.
The Charron family, conscious of the importance of community involvement, has also welcomed immigrant workers from Ukraine for several years. Around 40 legally admitted Ukrainian newcomers currently work at the hotels, and management is proud of its contribution to their integration.

Hôtel et Suites Labelle
hotellabelle.com
120, rue Labelle
Montréal, QC H2L 4C1
514 840-1151

Hôtel Le Roberval
leroberval.com
505, Bd. René-Lévesque Est
Montréal, QC H2L 5B6
514 286 2992

Good ideas often take time to come to fruition, because visionaries want to give their projects every possible chance of success. Steve Horman, his partner Véronique Piché and their associate Mathieu Fleurent, a building contractor, understood this well: they spent more than 15 years imagining their ready-to-camp retreats in Les Éboulements, Charlevoix.

Hauts refuges
In 2020, in the middle of the global pandemic, they decided to make their dream a reality. Originally from the Laurentides, they settled on the Charlevoix region: the river, the mountains and vast open spaces stretching as far as the eye can see. In the village of Les Éboulements, they found “a place that reflects who we are, a welcoming village with a tight-knit community. It was love at first sight,” explains Steve Horman, who has lived there for two years with his partner and their three children.
Hauts Refuges is intended as a gathering place where people can live in the moment, have fun and reconnect with nature. Construction of the first three retreats began in spring 2022. Made entirely of cedar inside and out, they were acquired from Cédréco in the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs. Within a few months, La Luciole, La Forestine and La Canopée rose in the middle of the forest. The retreats were designed to be practical, comfortable and welcoming for families who want to travel without too much hassle.

Hauts refuges
The partners received funding through Tourisme Québec’s EPRTNT programme to implement the project. The programme aims to renew and enhance regional tourism by developing attractive, distinctive offerings, showcasing innovation and opening new niches for tourism businesses. They also received support from the Fonds d’aide au tourisme of Développement économique du Canada (DEC) pour le Québec. This made it possible to complete the fourth retreat, La Chouette, in recent months.
Hauts refuges
What, exactly, is Hauts Refuges? It is a four-season ecotourism property with several retreats perched among the treetops and accessible only by walking trails. These ready-to-camp units can accommodate one to six people and are designed for families. Guests can light the wood stove, read by the fire, play cards or cook with friends, an inspiring prospect. Every unit has several comfortable beds and everything needed to prepare meals.
Some even have an outdoor slide running from the balcony, enough to fascinate children and even their parents. Steve Horman explains that the slides came from former indoor play areas at McDonald’s restaurants, recognizable by their bright colours.

Hauts refuges
For now, the retreats stand at different heights above the ground and each has its own features. They have electricity and a refrigerator, but no indoor toilet or running water; a comfortable chemical toilet is located at the foot of each unit. In future phases, the owners hope to add a shared gathering area, a large communal kitchen, a park, a campfire space, a garden, washroom facilities and more.

Hauts Refuges – Prêt-à-camper
hautsrefuges.com
760, rang Sainte-Catherine
Les Éboulements (Qc) G0A 2M0
(418) 635-2329

By Pierre Perreault

Built in Québec in 1963 by a construction contractor, Motel L’Aristocrate is now a family institution operated by the Nadeau family. Originally designed for a client who later withdrew, the property remained with the family and, a few years ago, evolved into the prestigious Hôtel Aristocrate under the Best Western Premier banner.

Aristocrate 2026 Motel L’Aristocrate in 1963


The hotel was founded by Georges Nadeau, grandfather of the family’s current generation, after the client for whom it was originally built withdrew from the project. The Nadeau family then took over operations, and members of the next generation, including the current leaders’ father and his brothers, joined the business over the years. Long the family’s only hotel, the property became the flagship of Nadeau Groupe Hôtelier, which later acquired other hotels in the same Tête des ponts district, including Hôtel Sépia and Holiday Inn Express Québec.

Best Western Premier Hôtel Aristocrate received Best Western’s prestigious M.K. Guertin Award in 2025. Named for Best Western’s founder, the award honours hotels demonstrating exceptional service, quality, value and commitment to the brand.

  Aristocrate 2026Aristocrate 2026 

At the western gateway to the city, the hotel is known for its high-end service and La Fenouillière, its four-diamond restaurant, recognized as one of the region’s finest tables for 40 years. The restaurant offers local cuisine showcasing Québec terroir flavours.

The hotel, which has undergone several major renovations in recent years, offers visitors, while upholding its commitments to quality and sustainability, 100 comfortable rooms across various categories, including a Grand Signature Suite, three meeting rooms, a gym, and a seasonal outdoor pool with terrace. EV charging stations are available. Guests can also make use of a self-service laundry service, and pets are welcome for a fee, subject to certain conditions.

Aristocrate 2026 Aristocrate 2026 Aristocrate 2026

For cravings at any time of day or night, Au Petit Magasin, open around the clock near reception, offers a full selection of snacks (chips, chocolate, biscuits, soups and drinks, frozen foods, etc.). A microwave is on hand, and the hotel also serves fresh coffee around the clock.

L’Aristocrate makes an ideal base for sports groups visiting the region for tournaments or competitions. Buses can park easily on site. Those coming to Québec for medical appointments also receive a personalized welcome. Free services include parking, high-speed Wi-Fi, business centre access, coffee and tea, and more.

Aristocrate 2026 Aristocrate 2026

Cyclists receive the welcome they deserve. The hotel provides secure bicycle storage at no charge, and the nearby Corridor du Littoral and Parcours des Anses cycling routes are easily accessible.

Hôtel Aristocrate is an enduring example of successful family-owned hospitality in Québec. Current president Daniel Nadeau and his daughter, Chantal, lead the hotel group, which was formally incorporated as Nadeau Groupe Hôtelier in 2021. It now comprises three hotels, 287 rooms and approximately 100 employees.

Aristocrate 2026

Hôtel Aristocrate
Best Western Premier
hotelaristocrate.com
3100, Chemin Saint-Louis
Québec (Qc) G1W 1R8
418 653-2841

By Pierre Perreault

On entering the building for the first time, visitors are surprised to find no conventional reception desk. A large illuminated frame bearing Hôtel Chicoutimi’s emblematic Hyvi logo draws the eye and signals that something different is about to unfold. That is an understatement.

Ideally located in downtown Saguenay, Hôtel Chicoutimi has formed part of the Chicoutimi landscape since 1899 and stands out for a modern, evolving atmosphere in which every detail is designed to enrich the guest experience. The present building, erected after the serious downtown fire of 1912, has undergone various transformations over the years.

Hôtel Chicoutimi Hôtel Chicoutimi  Charles Dionne

The COVID-19 pandemic and the revolution in working patterns that followed inspired Éric Larouche, owner of Groupe Hôtel Chicoutimi for 30 years, to rethink how the property could meet the emerging needs of workers and businesses, including demand for flexible space and ‘workations,’ explains deputy director Charles Dionne.

The Hyvi concept was created in 2023, its name formed from the French words hybride and vie. The result is a hospitality service for tourists and business travellers, but also for guests wishing to make full use of the possibilities offered by remote work. ‘With Hyvi, we help our guests work effectively in an ergonomic environment while giving them the freedom to enjoy the many facilities and activities devoted to well-being.’ All of this is in the heart of Saguenay’s business district and active urban life.

Hôtel Chicoutimi  Hôtel Chicoutimi Hôtel Chicoutimi

Hôtel Chicoutimi has chosen to deconstruct business hospitality around an original guest experience in which every detail enriches the stay. The difference is apparent from the main lobby: instead of a fixed reception desk, tablet-equipped agents can manage every aspect of a stay or visit. The roughly 30 staff members do not have individual offices; work takes place in public areas or meeting rooms. Small workstations in the lobby also allow reservations and related arrangements to be planned and organized.

The hotel notably uses its own fully automated reservation system, designed specifically for the property and accessible to every agent on duty.

All rooms are modular and adapted to the modern traveller, with areas suited to both relaxation and work and the convenience of a compact integrated kitchen. Combining appearance and function, the spaces are intended to inspire at every moment. Managers say this attentive service makes Hôtel Chicoutimi far more than a destination: it represents a new era of living.

Hôtel Chicoutimi Hôtel Chicoutimi Hôtel Chicoutimi

The hotel also has meeting and reception space for as many as 350 people, along with purpose-built coworking areas. Guests can eat throughout the day and evening at three venues. L’INTER is an invitation to culinary discovery, with every dish telling a story. At Rouge Burger Bar, a passion for burgers creates an original dining experience. La Galerie, finally, serves creative, nourishing and sometimes hearty breakfasts.

Hôtel Chicoutimi Hôtel Chicoutimi 

As a corporate citizen, Hôtel Chicoutimi follows a model of development that must not come at the expense of its surroundings or future generations. Its operations are therefore grounded in sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. For the past decade, the hotel has distinguished itself through sustained efforts to promote regional talent and reduce its environmental impact. Its green fitness room, for example, uses treadmills that generate power for various devices. Electric-vehicle charging stations are also available through RL Énergie, a company owned by Éric Larouche.

‘The company’s vision includes the environmental, social, economic, cultural, ethical and territorial dimensions of sustainable development,’ Charles Dionne says. The hotel’s mission is clear: to provide flexible surroundings and services that allow guests to live their daily lives fully and to ‘perform, thrive and pause.’

As an aside, Saguenay’s LGBT+ community has held activities at Hôtel Chicoutimi for many years. The nearby rue Racine area is known as welcoming to the LGBT+ community, with several gay-friendly establishments, suggesting that the neighbourhood has long served as a meeting place.

Hôtel Chicoutimi 

The Hyvi concept has now expanded to two other establishments in the region, with a third to follow soon. Auberge des Îles in Saint-Gédéon, Lac Saint-Jean, and Maison du Vébron in L’Anse-Saint-Jean, Saguenay, have already adapted all their spaces and services to the concept. Construction of a modern new property near the Dolbeau-Mistassini marina in Lac Saint-Jean is expected to be announced in 2026.

Hôtel Chicoutimi is a member of Québec’s first hotel cooperative, Ôrigine artisans hôteliers, which brings together more than 40 carefully selected independent inns and hotels across 15 Québec tourism regions. Members offer a broad range of wellness, culinary, romantic, urban, resort and outdoor experiences.

Hôtel Chicoutimi

Hôtel Chicoutimi Hyvi
hotelchicoutimi.qc.ca
460, Rue Racine Est
Chicoutimi (Québec) G7H 1T7
(418) 549-7111

On a first visit, nothing prepares you for the spectacle ahead as you leave Route 138 between Godbout and Baie-Trinité and follow the dozen or so kilometres of narrow, winding Chemin de la Pointe-des-Monts to the site, finally reaching the Saint-Laurent shoreline on Chemin du Vieux Phare.


Pointe-des-Monts, now uninhabited, was once a settlement in the municipality of Baie-Trinité, 10 kilometres from the village in the Manicouagan area of the Côte-Nord. The site is home to a lighthouse designated as a historic monument. For mariners, it also marks the beginning of the golfe du Saint-Laurent to the east and the end of the Saint-Laurent estuary, which begins at the tip of île d’Orléans.

Pointe-des-Monts
The lodging and camping business grew out of passion, love at first sight and a touch of madness. The story began with Jean-Louis Frenette. A 1965 graduate in history and biogeography, he taught for many years in the TACH programme (Game and Fisheries Management Techniques), which he helped establish in 1972 and which was offered exclusively at Cégep de Baie-Comeau.


From his first visit to Pointe-des-Monts in 1969, he fell completely in love with the site and thereafter spent every long summer holiday there. After acquiring a large former colonization lot, he patiently developed his small tourism business, constructing or purchasing its buildings one by one until it grew into the 24-building, 500-hectare property it is today.

Pointe-des-MontsJean-Louis Frenette, founder. (Photo: Radio-Canada)
Jean-Louis Frenette held the concession for the Pointe-des-Monts lighthouse keeper’s house for 17 years. In 2004, he secured the right to retain the business name “Le Gîte du Phare de Pointe-des-Monts.” Under that name, he operated, for a time, a restaurant (Le Gîte de la Chapelle), accommodation (Le Gîte du Phare de Pointe-des-Monts), an Indigenous heritage site (Le sentier de Charlotte et le Campement Ashini) and 17 holiday cottages scattered along 1.5 kilometres of private shoreline.

Pointe-des-Monts Pointe-des-Monts
These rental cottages are available in various configurations for two to six people. Each has a small, simple, rustic interior with a double bed, table and chairs, running water (non-potable), electricity, and a toilet and shower. The kitchenette includes a mini-fridge, two electric burners, dishes, utensils, pots, a toaster, a dish towel, a sponge, dish soap and toilet paper. All have a balcony with a view and access to the river in a peaceful, wild setting.


Please note that visitors must bring their own bedding (sheets, pillows, blankets, towels), drinking water and food. There is no meal service, no Wi-Fi, and phone coverage varies depending on location and service provider.

Pointe-des-Monts Pointe-des-Monts
For wild camping enthusiasts, several unserviced sites are available for pitching a tent or parking an RV or trailer.


The crowning glory of the site comes entirely free of charge: in fine weather, nightfall brings a canopy of stars stretching in every direction. People from large cities generally cannot enjoy such a spectacle. Awe is guaranteed, and beneath a moonless sky it is even more extraordinary. Then there are the whales, which can regularly be seen by day through much of the summer and even into autumn, playing and feeding directly in front of the cottages.

Pointe-des-Monts
The business has since shortened its name to “Le Gîte de Pointe-des-Monts,” and Jean-Louis Frenette now shares its management with his family to ensure that the dream he created endures. His grandson, Raphaël Laberge, and his team handle guest reception and day-to-day maintenance. The reception pavilion, beside the old Indigenous chapel, also serves as an art centre and gift shop offering authentic works to visitors.

Pointe-des-Monts

And do not miss the lighthouse and its museum a little farther along the same road. Built in 1830 and designated a historic monument since 1965, the lighthouse is a true testament to a cultural landscape in harmony with nature. The exceptional site features a multimedia exhibition on its history, the daily lives of lighthouse keepers, shipwrecks and life around Pointe-des-Monts.

Gîte de Pointe-des-Monts
pointe-des-monts.ca
1937, Chemin du Vieux Phare
Baie-Trinité, QC G0H1A0
866-369-4083

By Pierre Perreault

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Located in Complexe Jacques-Gagnon, constructed in the late 1970s and substantially upgraded in recent years, Hôtel Universel d’Alma is a multipurpose property unique in the region. In addition to the hotel, the building contains several shops, a 16-room convention centre able to host as many as 500 people, a cinema and two restaurants.

This 211,000-square-foot business complex in the heart of downtown also leases office space. In October 2025, the hotel introduced a new brand identity reflecting the property’s evolution and modernization. It forms part of a broader programme of transformation and repositioning intended to give business and leisure guests a renewed experience that meets their expectations in comfortable, refined surroundings.

Universel Alma

In an interview, Maxime Robitaille, general manager of both the complex and the hotel, explains that a team of about 12 people supports his administrative and management role. He has held the position since 2019 and says that hotel guests and users of the complex’s many other services are a central priority for both him and the owners.

Universel Alma General Manager Maxime Robitaille

‘This role requires availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because a situation can arise at any time and demand a rapid response,’ says Robitaille, an Alma native with about 12 years of business-management experience, including a period at SDC d’Alma. As general manager, however, hotel accommodation remains his primary focus.

The property has 100 rooms designed for maximum comfort. A new 27-room section added in 2025 introduces a distinctive contemporary style inspired by current hotel trends and intended to evoke calm and relaxation. A total of $3.5 million has been invested over the past two years. 

The quality of the welcome and the hotel facilities are priorities for Robitaille. Human-resources management is another major concern: the complex employs as many as 130 people. Meetings, conventions, banquets and other events also account for a substantial share of year-round activity and require efficient organization to meet clients’ needs.

Universel Alma Universel Alma Universel Alma

In addition to Pacini restaurant and Bar l’Apéro, which are owned by the hotel’s shareholders, the complex provides catering for conventions and banquets.

Universel Alma Universel Alma Universel Alma

The hotel welcomes a substantial business clientele, participants in sports tournaments and their families, many leisure travellers in summer, and large numbers of snowmobilers in winter. Snowmobile guests benefit from direct access by a local trail, secure storage compounds and packages that include Centre de santé Elixir et Spa. Véloroute des Bleuets also draws many cycling enthusiasts to the property.

Travelodge Alma, which belongs to the same owners, is located in the heart of downtown Alma and provides an ideal location for getting around. Its 30 very spacious rooms have been completely renovated and offer a high level of comfort.

Universel Alma

Hôtel Universel Alma
hoteluniversel.com
1000, boulevard des Cascades
Alma (Québec) G8B 3G4
(418) 668-5261

Although the Rioux family of Matane created the Riôtel brand several years after entering the hotel business, its Gaspésie portfolio now comprises five upscale properties: two in Matane and one each in Percé, Bonaventure and Carleton-sur-Mer. The hotels also offer quality dining, along with convention and meeting centres in Matane and Carleton. As an added benefit, every property is on the waterfront with an incomparable view.

Founder Bertrand Rioux was a prominent real-estate developer and merchant in Matane and the surrounding region from the 1950s onward. The story began in Murdochville with a furniture store, followed by a second in Matane in 1961, when the family settled there. This was only the prelude to Rioux’s long and successful career in construction, real estate and hospitality, among other fields. He even made a notable foray into music retail and radio in the 1970s.

His first real experience in the hotel business came in Florida in 1978 and 1979. He had moved his family there in 1976 so that everyone could learn English, and then purchased two motels, the Flamingo and the Vagabond, in Treasure Island. His wife, Mariette, and eldest son, François, who was still a student, took charge of the two properties. The group sold them a few years ago.

As its Québec operations continued to grow, Groupe Rioux and its partners acquired Auberge des Gouverneurs in Matane in 1984. The following year, François returned from Florida with a university degree in accounting and became the group’s controller. Further hotel projects followed, including renovations to the Matane property and the addition of a convention centre, then the acquisition of Monaco des Monts in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.

In 1992, Groupe Rioux became sole owner of the hotel division and set out to expand it across the region. Château Blanc de Bonaventure and Auberge de la Montagne de Percé joined the portfolio in 1994. In 1995, a new pavilion was added to Hôtel de Matane to meet growing demand for accommodation.

 Riotel_divers Riotel_divers

Faced with this rapid expansion and wishing to unify the service offering across their hotels, Bertrand and François Rioux created the RIÔTEL brand and launched a major five-year renovation programme covering every property. In 2003, Percé’s largest hotel complex, at the foot of Côte Surprise, became Riôtel Percé. From 2013 to 2019, the group carried out major renovations in Matane, Percé and Bonaventure to move those hotels upmarket. The portfolio was completed in 2024 with the acquisition of Hostellerie Baie-Bleue in Carleton-sur-Mer.

Riotel_divers Riotel_divers

As Riôtel celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2025, vice-president of sales and marketing Lucie Dumas (pictured) said the company had not finished growing. Management’s development plan already includes at least one new hotel in Rimouski, a construction project discussed for a few years that is expected to proceed in 2026–2027 if all goes well. Riôtel is also working on a hotel project in Québec, although no firm timetable has yet been set.

Riotel_divers

Alongside François, who has served as group president since his father’s death in 2005, two third-generation family members hold positions there. Marie-Frédérik, a McGill graduate in administration, heads Riôtel Matane, while her brother Charles-Alexandre, who studied civil engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Notre-Dame in the United States, serves as director of strategy and operations.

The five Riôtel hotels in Gaspésie employ as many as 300 people in peak season. The company’s hotel division also gives approximately $100,000 a year to social and humanitarian causes, with particular emphasis on education, the environment, health and entrepreneurship.

The Bonaventure chapter ends in October 2025

As the Rimouski project appears increasingly close to being announced for early 2026, RIÔTEL management decided to end operations at Riôtel Bonaventure permanently in mid-October 2025. The board said the decision formed part of a strategic realignment intended to focus the group’s development on its resort-style hotels in Matane, Percé and Carleton, which offer complementary amenities and substantial convention and meeting facilities.

Employees affected by the decision are expected to be reassigned to the other hotels for the 2026 peak season, with accommodation provided during that period, RIÔTEL management said.

At present, nothing has been announced regarding the future of the Bonaventure establishment, which had been an established presence since 1906 and which RIÔTEL had operated since 1994.

Riotel_divers
RIÔTEL
riotel.com
250, avenue du Phare Est
Matane (Québec) G4W 3N4
1 888 427 7374

On the heights of Campbellton, near the Restigouche River, stands a grand manor over a hundred years old that Philippe Lévesque acquired, renovated, and lovingly furnished with good taste over the past seven years, a true passion project. But what will first delight travelers who visit is the lush and vast garden that surrounds the property.


The owner's background in botany is evident in the profusion of flowers and plants of all kinds that can be admired from May to October. Not to mention the large number of green plants and other types of greenery that occupy various spaces inside.

Maison Napier

Maison Napier
On its three floors, rooms and suites filled with antique or vintage furniture make this cottage a place where history and regional traditions have converged since 2022, all year round. This lover of vegetation and nature cultivates the art of warm hospitality as much as that of the plants in the vast garden.

Maison Napier Maison Napier
According to some comments read on the booking site, the quality of the stay at Maison Napier is noteworthy. “The architecture and associated furniture, Napier House has retained its charm! Philippe's welcome is very warm, the breakfast just perfect, with silverware and homemade jams,” can be read among the mentions.

From the entrance, you can smell something baking in the oven, which adds to the pleasure of the stay. Breakfasts are always a precious moment of the day.

Maison Napier
Maison Napier offers 4 bedrooms and a two-bedroom apartment for rent daily or weekly. The house's decor is in keeping with its architectural style and age, but it offers all the comforts of modern life.

Maison Napier
Its host and owner continues his work of landscaping and renovating the residence which once hosted a senior American executive of a manufacturing company who stayed there with his family during his tenure with the Campbellton company.

Philippe Lévesque

Worth noting, the place is only a few steps from the Interprovincial Bridge that connects Listuguj and Pointe-à-la-Croix at the start of the Baie des Chaleurs in Quebec, and the Restigouche region on the New Brunswick side.

Maison Napier
5 Stanley Street
Campbellton, NB
506-760-1945
phili664.wixsite.com/maison-napier