Where every detail says “Bienvenue”

The entire hotel was under major renovation, and Simon and I expected a certain amount of chaos and inconvenience. What we found instead was a warm welcome and a peek into the bright future of Hotel Pur.

Ironically, Hotel PUR wasn’t even on our radar when we were planning our trip to Quebec City. So what were we doing there? I’ll give you the very short version of the story. Our original accommodations hit a last-minute snag. We needed a place to stay in the midst of Quebec City’s annual influx of foliage-fanatics, as well as a hoard of cruise ship passengers waiting to board the Queen Mary.

Paule and Nancy of Office du Tourisme de Québec / Québec City Tourism came to our rescue. They made countless phone calls in order to make sure we didn’t have to sleep in our car.

Our gratitude soon expanded to include Nadia Letellier-Gagnon, Hotel PUR’s Sales and Marketing Director, who made us feel welcome, and arranged a tour of the hotel for us.

Jeff, our guide, took us into Room 312 so we could see how the 242 rooms and suites will look when the renovation is completed in early 2017.

The sterile walls from the 2012 renovation will be warmed up with the addition of wood accents, and a whimsical cityscape mural painted above the headboard.

Illustrating the Mural in an Updated Room (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

The built-in desk will be larger with shelving and other touches to make it more functional for the business traveler. Also built in will be the refrigerator and trash cans.

The Modern Work Area in an Updated Room (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

The closet will contain shelves, suitcase storage and a larger safe. And bathrooms will be updated with better lighting and new fixtures.

The goal appears to augment and combine the rooms’ already-existing sleek, functional design with a richer, more homey atmosphere.

As for amenities, Hotel PUR boasts the largest – 15 meters – indoor hotel pool in Quebec City, In addition, the new renovation will see the exercise area double in size. When you’re finished swimming and sweating, Hotel PUR’s sauna will make it all worth while.

The Swimming Pool with the Exercise Room at the Far End (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

Hotel PUR caters to both leisure and business travelers, and for the latter group of guests, along with the larger desks, a 24-hour business center, complimentary wifi throughout the hotel and 12,000 square feet of meeting space will offer much to celebrate.

Following our tour, Nadia invited us to Table, the hotel’s restaurant for a drink. The horseshoe-shaped bar, spacious dining room and cozy seating areas seemed to whisper, “relax.” So that’s what we did.

The Raised Bar with the Dining Room in the Background (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

Table serves breakfast daily, as well as Sunday brunch. The lunch menus offers diners a selection of typical Quebec eats, including the notorious poutine. And the dinner menu turns to innovative and creative fare along with traditional selections.

The Raised Bar with the Lounge Area in the Foreground (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

A Raised Lounging Area in the Bar (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

Nadia introduced us to two delicious beers from Archibald, a microbrewery located 10 minutes from Quebec City.

Simon had the Toufflue, a hoppy, flavorful white wheat beer. I opted for Matante, a blond ale that proved light and refreshing without tasting as if it had been watered down. Of course, we blonds have to stick together, and Matante is now on my list of favorites. Sadly, Archibald beers are available only in Quebec.

Locally Brewed Beer (©simon@myeclecticimages.com)

Conveniently located in Quebec City’s revitalized Saint Roch historic district, Hotel Pur put us within comfortable walking distance from the Old City and historic sites as well as a wealth of shops, restaurants, and eye-catching architecture. And for the outdoor enthusiast, hiking, cycling, skiing and other healthful pursuits can be enjoyed a mere 15 minutes away.

In April, 2015, Starwood Hotels and Resorts launched Tribute Portfolio, — its 10th brand and second collection of independent hotels. In less than a year, the company had established hotels in six countries, including the U.S, Japan, Indonesia and now, with Hotel PUR, Canada.

Regular readers of this blog know, “Look for the surprises,” is one of my favorite mantras. If our original accommodations hadn’t turned up-side-down, we would have missed out on the opportunity to become acquainted with the kindness of Paule and Nancy, who went above and beyond to help us. And we would not have met Nadia and the friendly, professional staff of Hotel PUR.

We plan to return to Quebec City to savor more of its old-world charm and contemporary class. When we do, Hotel PUR will be our choice for a good night’s sleep with all the comforts of home. I have no doubt although the hotel will be wearing an updated look, its welcoming heart will be the same.

If You Go
Hotel PUR is pet-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Hotel PUR
395 rue de la Couronne
Quebec G1K 7X4, Canada
Phone: 1-800-267-2002
Fax: 418-640-0666
Email: reservations@marriott.com
Website for Hotel Pur

Disclaimer: During our visit to Quebec City, we were generously hosted by Office du Tourisme de Québec / Québec Tourism. We also received a generous media discount courtesy of Hotel PUR. However, all opinions are, as always, entirely my own.