Canadian Destinations

CAA Four Star establishments added in Quebec

Beat Korner set the hook and the rod doubled over like an upside-down U. “Fish on,” he said, smiling. The co-owner of Tagish Wilderness Lodge grimaced as the fish refused..... Two restaurants and a hotel have been added to the list of Quebec establishments awarded Four and Five Diamond status by the Canadian and American Automobile

(Special)—Two restaurants and a hotel have been added to the list of Quebec establishments awarded Four and Five Diamond status by the Canadian and American Automobile Associations (CAA and AAA) for 2009.

In Montreal, Europea and laurie raphael (the latter being the younger sibling of the well-known restaurant of that name in Quebec City) are new on the select list of Four Diamond restaurants.

"We are very proud and honoured to join the great Four Diamond family after only a year in Montreal," says Suzanne Gagnon, co-owner of laurie raphael. For his part, Jérôme Ferrer, chef at Europea, says happily: "What joy, what pride, what an outstanding team effort!"

Montreal's Hôtel Le Crystal is another establishment that stood out and was awarded Four Diamond status this year.

"We promise the signature experience of a chic urban hotel. And we will foster a guest-first service excellence philosophy to achieve leadership as Montreal's benchmark hotel," says Geoffrey S. Allan, General Manager of Le Crystal.

Charlevoix, Estrie, Quebec City, the Laurentians, Montreal, Outaouais and many other Quebec regions are well represented in the Four Diamond club, with an impressive number of winners – 31 hotels and 27 restaurants. The province is the site of 23 per cent of the Four Diamond establishments in Canada.

Only slightly more than three per cent of establishments rated in North America and the Caribbean receive this distinction.

Some stand out because they have maintained this level of excellence for several decades – among them the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel in Quebec City, the oldest member of the group, which has maintained its Four Diamond rating for 33 years.

Quebec is also home to three of the seven Five Diamond restaurants in Canada: Baccara at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Nuances at the Casino de Montréal and Toqué!, also in Montreal.

"It's quite a feat, because only 0.28 per cent of the 58,000 restaurants and hotels rated receive the prestigious Five Diamond award," says Sophie Gagnon, senior director of public and government relations for CAA-Quebec.

For the complete list of Four and Five Diamond establishments in Quebec, click here: www.caaquebec.com/AProposDeNous/Hotels-Restaurants-Recommandes/?lang=en.