On Thursday of each week, white
steamships of Canada Steamship Lines,
starting from Montreal, would land at
the Pointe-au-Pic wharf. Many arriving
passengers would head for the Manoir.
Some were wealthy enough to bring
their own automobiles on the same
ships.
In 1930, the Manoir started to stay open
all year. It advertised the availability of
winter sports, including a newly
constructed ski jump. However, even
with such a gorgeous winter setting, the
hotel soon ended this experiment. Partly
due to difficulties in travel to Manoir in
the Quebec winter, and partly due to the
general depression’s economic
downturn, the venture was not
sufficiently profitable.
After the 1930s and wartime, the Manoir
prospered in the 1950s and 1960s.
However, the makeup of guests had
significantly shifted from individuals
to conventions that used most room
space. Then, after the 1965 season, the
parent, Canada Steamship Lines, made
the decision to end its steamship service.
This was primarily for reasons of safety,
now that large oceangoing vessels were
crowding the St. Lawrence waters. This
caused a substantial reduction in guest
revenues.
During this period, hotel ownership
changed hands several times. For five
years, from 1993 to 1998, the Manoir
stayed open all year and had succeeded in
restoring individual guest loyalty. It was
popular throughout Canada and the U.S.
In 1998, the Michel Coté group, who
then owned the Manoir, wanted to
enhance it further into a luxury hotel to
attract tourists worldwide. To obtain
necessary funding, they sold the Manoir
to a consortium that included Canadian
Pacific Hotels. The desired renovation
and expansion of the Manoir and
casino, from top to bottom, cost $140
million. “Sleeping Beauty Awakes” was
the name given to the project.
The goal w as to provide 400 guest
rooms, while retaining the hotel’s
original style. By installing large French
doors in the lobby, this area was now
accessible to the magnificent views of
hotel gardens and lawns. The New
York firm, Champalimaud &
Associates, handled redecorating, and
achieved restoration of the original
Coverdale charm.
Additions included a spa, two heated
saltwater swimming pools, a
convention center and a genuine
gambling license for the casino.
Today, Le Manoir Richelieu is actually
one of the stars in the Fairmont
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FEBRUARY 2014 • LUXE BEAT MAGAZINE