Parting Shot: Hôtel de Glace
Twenty minutes north of Quebec City, in a year-round resort and waterpark called Valcartier Vacations Village, you’ll find the Hôtel de Glace – the Ice Hotel – certainly one of the most unusual places to spend a night.
The Hôtel de Glace was founded by Jacques Desbois and is now known worldwide. In 1996, Desbois read an article about an ice hotel in Sweden; he hopped on a plane, spoke with the creators, and formed a team to make it happen in Canada. It’s now a leader in Canadian tourism.
The Hôtel de Glace is made entirely of ice (500 tons) and snow (30,000 tons). It is 32,000 sq. ft., with ceilings 23 ft. high, 44 rooms and theme suites, an ice bar with a capacity for 300 people, an ice chapel (particularly for weddings), a grand ice slide, and an outdoor area with hot tubs and saunas. Over 1.3 million people have visited the Hôtel de Glace since its opening in 2001, and more than 55,000 have stayed overnight. To learn more, go to www.hoteldeglace-canada.com.
Hôtel de Glace Québec-Canada, 1860 Boulevard Valcartier, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC G0A 4S0.
