CEO Talk - Spring 2020

Guest Speaker

Christiane Germain is co-founder and co-president of Germain Hotels, a

family-owned business that owns and operates 18 properties in

seven Canadian provinces.

Born in a family of entrepreneurs from Quebec City, Christiane Germain

first started by following in her parents footsteps in the restaurant business. After her degree in hotel management from Humber College, Christiane and her brother Jean-Yves launched and managed many successful restaurants in Québec city in their early twenties. During a business trip to New York City in the mid-80`s, a visit at the Morgan`s Hotel changed the course of history: inspired by this iconic boutique hotel, the two restaurateurs decided within a few hours that they would become hoteliers! This is how in 1988 that the Germain-des-prés in Ste-Foy, Québec, became the very first boutique hotel in Canada. Thirty years later, Germain Hotels owns three banners: Le Germain Hotels, Alt Hotels and the Alt+ Hotel, from Calgary to St-Johns Newfoundland.

Today the company employs close to 1,250 employees and among them Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain`s children. They are proud to see their legacy continue and especially their company values being transmitted to the next generation. To highlight Canadian talent is definitely among these values, from artists to local partners. This is at the very heart of Christiane Germain`s approach: emphasize the human connection and encourage local entrepreneurs.
Mrs. Germain supports numerous charities and takes a leading role in the community to promote, amongst other things, entrepreneurial initiatives. One of the best examples is her appearance in the popular TV show “Dans l’oeil du dragon?” (Québec’s rendition of the CBC’S Dragon’s Den). She is also chair of the board of directors of the Musée National des beaux-arts du Québec. Through the years, her contributions to the economic and cultural vitality of the country have been recognized. Among them, honorary doctorates from Ryerson, Concordia and Bishop’s Universities and from the l’Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec. Christiane Germain was nominated in the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2019 by Women’s Executive Network (WXN). As this is her fourth nomination, she is now in the Hall of Fame. Last April, Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain were inducted in the Académie des Grands Québécois because of their exceptional contribution to the Québec region economy.

Mrs. Germain is a member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) and l’Ordre national du Québec (C.Q.).