A Sept-Îles hotel where Innu culture is honoured
The new Quality Inn hotel at the western entrance to the City of Sept-Îles was built in 2014–15 on land bordering the Galeries Montagnaises shopping centre. It offers 61 rooms with breakfast included, a fitness room, meeting rooms, a games room and a laundry room.
The land forms part of the Uashat territory, an enclave within Sept-Îles administered by the Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam Band Council, which financed the hotel’s construction. The hotel is owned by a company overseen by a board appointed by the Band Council.
Mylène Babin-Duclos, the hotel’s general manager since 2017, manages and coordinates a team of about 25 people, 90% of whom are from the Innu community. Some are students who work during the summer and continue for a few hours a week during the rest of the year.
She has a degree in psychoeducation but soon found she was drawn to hospitality. She worked at Château Arnaud for a time before applying to manage the hotel she now runs. She admits, however, that her psychoeducation background is useful in day-to-day personnel management.
Her approach clearly gets results. One employee stood out to guests, who praised her particular qualities, so Mylène Babin-Duclos nominated her for Choice Hotels Canada’s annual Spirit of Hospitality Award in honour of Mark Pearce. The 2022 award went to Élisabeth Jean-Pierre, a breakfast attendant at the Quality Inn in Sept-Îles.
As one of the first people guests see at the hotel each morning, Ms. Jean-Pierre is greatly appreciated for her cheerful, energetic personality. She sings in the Innu language while serving guests. “One particularly impressed guest said it was a truly unique experience that made the hotel especially charming,” reads a Choice Hotels Canada news release.
The recognition created pride among staff and boosted the motivation of several. Departmental team meetings are held regularly so employees can speak up and, if needed, any issues can be addressed, explains Ms. Babin-Duclos.
The general manager adds that the Innu community provides constant support to the business. Support also comes through Shipeku, Tourisme Autochtone Québec’s sustainable Indigenous tourism programme, backed financially by Développement économique Canada through the Fonds d’aide au tourisme and by Tourisme Québec.
Finally, she highlights the Quality Inn brand’s ongoing collaboration on the hotel’s operational and financial management.
Quality Inn Hôtel & Suites Sept-Îles
qualityinnsept-iles.com
1009, Boulevard Laure
Sept-Îles (QC) G4R 4S6
(418) 960-5600