Summer is taking off

VOLUME 4 – ISSUE 2

WELLNESS 
HALFWAY THROUGH THE G’MOVE CHALLENGE!
Teams across the country are getting swept up in the competitive spirit! Some are packing their days with activities to rack up minutes, while others are finding creative ways to motivate their colleagues. One thing is for sure: all strategies are fair game when you're trying to dethrone the reigning champions from Alt Hotel Ottawa. And judging by their performance so far, they have no intention of relinquishing their title! But the race is far from over: there are still a few days left to earn points and push your team up the leaderboard.;

Psst! Don't forget to join the Famille || Germain Hôtels || Family Facebook group. It's the best place to follow your colleagues' achievements, share your photos and keep a discreet eye on the competition.

WELLNESS 
OFF TO A STRONG START
Some teams didn't wait for the official kickoff to get moving — and it's safe to say they took the warm-up seriously.

Toronto goes the distance
For the second year in a row, six colleagues from the Toronto area hopped on their bikes to take part in Bike for Brain Health, an event that supports brain health research and dementia care. Together, they raised more than $9,000.

This year, the cyclists were off bright and early — starting at 6 a.m.! — cheered on by the crowd and treated to perfect weather. And they didn't just show up—they pushed themselves even further than last year. Nicolas Lazarou, General Manager of Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square, rode up to 90 km. His legs probably haven't forgotten it yet. Some colleagues even added an extra challenge of their own. Take Dorothy Hatt, Regional Sales Director, who attended a rock concert the night before; or Jean-Philip Dupré, General Manager of Le Germain Hotel Toronto, who was just back from vacation and still on Japan time. Both were quick to admit they regretted those decisions... but not the decision to participate!

Hitting their stride
Avid runner Théo Sohler, Meetings and Banquet Manager at Alt Hotel Montreal, had long been trying to convince his colleagues to sign up for a race. He finally succeeded. And he made a strong case: the Laval Firefighters' Race was scheduled to coincide with the G'MOVE Challenge. By the time the 12 participants realized the event was actually taking place three weeks earlier, it was too late to back out! Even more impressive when you consider that, for more than half of them, it was their very first race.

If the team signs up for another race, they'll have another experienced runner to turn to. Taisiia Serhieieva, Assistant Guest Services Manager at Le Germain Hotel Calgary, tackled a half-marathon just a few weeks ago. Challenge accepted… and conquered!

Rain or shine
Meanwhile in Québec City, rain made an appearance at the Défi Entreprises, an event celebrating physical activity and mental health. But it would take a lot more than a little rain to discourage the 25 determined participants! From Zumba and yoga to strength training and running, the team rose to the occasion.

With so many colleagues showing up at starting lines, you'd think half the company spends their weekends in fluorescent Lycra. One thing is certain: all those kilometres should give them a big boost for the rest of the Gmove Challenge.

LET’S CELEBRATE 
A FIRST ANNIVERSARY
June 10 marked Marie Pier and Hugo's first anniversary as Co-Presidents. The perfect moment to celebrate the time, energy and heart they devote to bringing our culture and activities to life across the country. Thank you both!

AT GERMAIN HOTELS 
BEHIND THE SCENES
Hotel openings aren’t quite what you’d expect. Lots of boxes. Lots of dust. Lots of lists that seem to grow faster than they shrink. They’re also a chance for teams to discover that job descriptions can be surprisingly flexible, revealing hidden talents in the process.

For several months, colleagues from across the country put their day-to-day routines on hold to fully immerse themselves in the experience. Bonds quickly formed, stories piled up, and friendships took shape through challenges, surprises and countless laughs. Discover the behind-the-scenes story of the opening of Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport in a video and a brand-new episode of the à la Germain podcast. It's a story told by the colleagues who lived it—and one that might just inspire you to be part of the next one!

Clouds on the move
After the beaver tails that crisscrossed the country to celebrate the opening of the new hotel, it was the cotton candy machines' turn to make the rounds of Alt Hotel lobbies, bringing a little levity, lots of smiles and a touch of carnival magic. While the guests were delighted, the teams enjoyed it just as much! It seems some of the machines have refused to go back into storage…

TEAM SPIRIT 
FRIENDLY RIVALRIES

Mario Kart Masters 
The IT team took advantage of their Quebec colleagues’ visit to Montreal to organize a Mario Kart tournament. While some were simply happy to make it across the finish line, others had a reputation to uphold. "It would have been different if we'd dusted off my old Nintendo 64!" joked Adaina Smyth, Operational Applications Support Analyst. But on the Switch, a formidable trio made up of Mathieu Burgoyne, Operational Applications Manager, and Network Administrator and Security Alexis Moragues and Kevin Métais, seemed to have a clear advantage. Some might say the tournament's outcome was decided before the first race even began. In the end, it was Mathieu who took home the trophy… the very one he’d crafted himself for the occasion. Coincidence? We’ll let you decide!

Strike!
At Alt Hotel Calgary East Village, some colleagues already knew who to bet on. During a team bowling outing, David Belzil, Maintenance Manager and a former bowler, left little doubt about the outcome of the competition. "David was on fire!" said Jay Miskow, Guest Services Manager. His performance earned him the title of Undisputed East Village Bowling Champion.

The trophy changes hands
At Alt Hotel St. John's, the second annual of Spirit Day once again delivered a day of competition that was as hilarious as it was friendly. This year, Claudette Dwyer, Director of Housekeeping, and Krista Raymond, Housekeeping Team Leader, devised an obstacle course inspired by the hotel's various departments. Teams had to race to put a pillow protector and pillowcase on a pillow, then slip keys into key card sleeves at lightning speed. "I never thought I'd laugh so hard watching someone try to put on a pillowcase!" said Jenna Reynolds, Guest Services Supervisor.

We wouldn't want to point fingers, but General Manager Greg Fleming may have hinted that the Maintenance team still has a thing or two to learn about making beds! 

But when it came time for the tug-of-war, it was a different story altogether. After losing the trophy to the Housekeeping team last year, Maintenance dominated the competition and reclaimed top honours. Now the question is: who will challenge them next year? Rumour has it the Front Desk team is already preparing to step into the arena.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 
THE TALENT BEHIND OUR TABLES
Once again this year, the talent of our restaurateurs, chefs, pastry chefs and sommeliers continues to earn recognition far beyond our hotels.

At les Lauriers de la gastronomie québécoise, two colleagues were recognized among the industry's best. At Boulevardier, located in Le Germain Hotel Montréal, pastry chef Alexia Proteau was named a finalist in the Révélation de l'année category for her desserts that are as thoughtful as they are delicious. At Les Labours restaurant in Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel & Spa, Christian Beaupré was named a Sommelier of the Year finalist for the second year running.

Terre 
In St. John’s, Matthew Swift’s leap of faith continues to pay off. After spending two decades in some of Ontario and Quebec’s most celebrated kitchens, a single visit to Newfoundland was all it took for the chef to know he’d found his home. Seven years after opening Terre, the restaurant now ranks 58th on the prestigious Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list. This recognition reflects not only the quality of the cuisine, but also Matthew's deep connection to the region, its producers and its community.

PUNCH 
In Toronto, PUNCH didn't take long to make its mark. Only a year after opening, the restaurant at Le Germain Hotel Toronto was named the city's Best New Restaurant by Toronto Life. The recognition highlights the talent and hard work of the entire team, under the leadership of Chef Mandar Kulkarni, Sous Chef Manek Singh and Director of Food & Beverage Lauren Hall.

“From the energy that fills the dining room to the creativity behind every plate and cocktail, this recognition reflects countless hours of passion, precision, collaboration and heart,” says Jean-Philip Dupré with pride. 

Another reason to celebrate? Manek was named to Kostuch Media's Top 30 Under 30 list, which recognizes some of Canada's most promising culinary talent. Congratulations! 

One thing is for sure: all these accolades are enough to make anyone hungry. Fortunately, with the 25% employee discount offered at many of our restaurants, there’s never been a better time to experience our culinary offerings. Anyone up for a cross-Canada food tour?

Pizza passion
In March, Chef Ivan Rueda and Sous Chef Gelasias Gelo Nayo represented Sosta! Toronto at the Restaurants Canada Show, where they competed alongside some of the best pizzaïolos in the country.

Ivan participated in the Traditional Pizza and Burger categories, while Gelasias took on the Creative Pizza challenge. "It was a chance to showcase my creativity, my personal culinary influences and my Filipino roots," he says. The event offered a unique opportunity to network with industry professionals, refine their craft and proudly represent Sosta! And judging by how many colleagues came out to cheer them on, they had plenty of support.

Even when he's not busy making pizzas, Ivan knows how to keep himself occupied. After joining the ambassador team for the opening of the new Sosta! Ottawa, he headed to Le Germain Ottawa to lend a hand to the NORCA team. That didn't stop him from organizing the team's first summer BBQ as soon as the sun made an appearance. Burgers, hot dogs and chicken were on the menu. It's no surprise he picked up a few new fans along the way!

A good excuse
A few days before the official opening of La Boucane, the renowned smokehouse at Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel & Spa, the team also took advantage of the beautiful weather to fire up the BBQ. The occasion? Celebrating the Gvent finalists of the first two values. The perfect way to recognize the colleagues who bring our values to life every day... and an equally good excuse to enjoy a meal outdoors!

Speaking of Gvent, it's time to nominate finalists for the Daring value. It’s a great opportunity to recognize those colleagues who dare to see and do things differently. 

Have you nominated a colleague yet?

GROWTH 
WHEN PASSION TRAVELS
At Le Germain Hotel Quebec, the team wanted to deepen its knowledge of wine and beverages. So Jordane Knab, sommelier at Boulevardier, made the trip from Montreal to deliver a Bar 101 training session. At least, that was the plan.

Because when it comes to sharing his passion, Jordane doesn't do things halfway. What was meant to be a simple introduction quickly turned into a full immersion. Inventory management, purchasing, product selection — the questions kept coming, and Jordane always had an answer, one he shared generously and, according to Véronique Forest, Guest Services Manager, with a great deal of patience. "That's precisely what I love about my job: sharing knowledge, sharing passion and helping others," he says.

After a few days spent discussing all things wine, Jordane returned to Montreal with more than just his suitcase. He gleaned a few ideas from Quebec City's restaurants and wine bars, of course, but above all, he forged new connections. "We'll do it again soon!" he promises.

Did you know? In his "spare time," Jordane rarely strays far from the world of wine. When he's not organizing winemaker events, he serves as Vice-Échanson of the Québec chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world's most prestigious gastronomic associations.

RECOGNITION  
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
The White Hat Awards have become a tradition for the teams at our Calgary hotels. Each year, the event shines a spotlight on colleagues who go above and beyond, while showcasing their talent to the city’s hospitality community. This year, no fewer than ten team members from our three hotels were nominated. A great reason to dress to the nines, celebrate together and take pride in our achievements. Hats off!

TEAM INVOLVEMENT 
SMALL GESTURES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A magical day
For the past four years, Alt Hotel Halifax Airport has supported Dreams Take Flight, an organization that gives children facing physical, mental, social or emotional challenges the opportunity to experience a magical day at Disney.

This year, 136 children began their adventure at the hotel, thanks to the spaces and refreshments provided by the team. For Guest Services Supervisor Allie Spencer, however, the experience became much more personal, as she participated for the first time as a chaperone. A middle-of-the-night wake-up call, an early-morning departure and a return to Halifax just 24 hours later made for a marathon day—one she still can’t quite put into words. Judging by the smiles on the faces of the children in her group, it's easy to see why.

Polpettes with a purpose
Under the leadership of Bistango Chef Alexandre St-Amand-Tremblay, the team at Alt Hotel Quebec traded their usual duties for a very special mission: preparing nearly 100 servings of polpettes for families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

Considering that many of these families spend weeks, sometimes even months, away from home while their child undergoes treatment, these simple polpettes take on a whole new meaning.

And the best reward? A heartfelt thank-you message received the very same evening they were delivered.

Pitching in
As the snow melted away, teams across the country rolled up their sleeves once again to take part in community cleanup efforts. Whether it was a street, a riverbank or a community garden, the goal was the same: to give a little love back to the spaces we all share.

As the hours passed, bags filled up and spaces were transformed. In Saskatoon, the experience surprised Karren Ybanez, Guest Services Agent. "At first, we thought the area was pretty clean. But it didn't take long to realize there was far more litter than met the eye. Single-use plastics made up the majority of what we collected. It was very eye-opening."

But it wasn't just the litter that made an impression on the volunteers. In both Montreal and Saskatoon, several passersby stopped to thank the teams and acknowledge their efforts. "What struck me most was seeing how such a simple gesture could spark positive interactions with total strangers. The experience gave us a strong sense of purpose and reminded us that this type of initiative is noticed and appreciated," says Karren. Proof that sometimes all it takes is a pair of gloves and a few motivated colleagues to make a real difference.

Special mention goes to the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village team, which set this year's participation record. Led by sustainability champion Hainah Miroya, Guest Services Agent, 14 colleagues from across multiple departments came together for the initiative.

Hands in the soil
Over the past month, the Green Committees at Alt Hotel Quartier DIX30 and Escad found a great way to enjoy the warmer weather while giving back to the community. At the initiative of Tiffany Pereira, Director of Business Development, colleagues took part in community gardening and tree-planting activities.

Just getting there turned out to be an adventure. To their surprise, volunteers had to take a river shuttle and then cycle several kilometres before even beginning to plant, an experience that clearly didn't dampen their spirits!

Help keep this newsletter thriving by sharing your ideas, initiatives, and achievements. Your contributions make every issue personal and inspiring. We look forward to reading your stories from coast to coast (soon)!

Want to revisit a favourite memory or catch up on something you missed? Browse past issues of Rendez-vous Germain in the archives.