A Family Business

The success of JARO Hotels can be attributed to the hard work of Jacques Robitaille and his wife Gisèle Robitaille, who has been involved from day one. Proud of this precious heritage and committed to its continued prosperity, Gisèle and Jacques’s three daughters (Nancy, Annie and Marlène) have been part of the success of the family business from a young age. They all have worked in the administration departments of the hotels for several years. In recent years, hotel customers have been able to see the third generation of the Robitaille family contribute to the legacy of the family business.

 

About JARO Hotels: Important Dates

1976      The company made its entrance in the hotel industry with the acquisition of Motel Québec Inn, located on Boulevard Hamel in Sainte-Foy. A few years later, an investment of more than $6.5 million allowed Hôtel Québec Inn, built in 1967 with 30 rooms, to become the most popular hotel for travelers in the Northwest of Québec.

1984      Jacques Robitaille invested in the fast food industry with the opening of a Harvey’s restaurant on Boulevard Hamel in L’Ancienne-Lorette.

1987      Les Immeubles Jacques Robitaille Inc. changed its focus from the residential real estate sector to concentrate its operations exclusively on the hotel industry with the acquisition of L’Hôtel Québec, then known as Hotel Quality Inn, located on Avenue des Hôtels in the Sainte-Foy district. Its location at the western entrance of the city makes L’Hôtel Québec perfectly located to welcome delegates, exhibitors, wedding parties, tourists and travelers.

1990      The company acquired Auberge Sainte-Foy, then called Ramada Inn, located near L’Hôtel Québec.

1991      L’Hôtel Québec was renovated at a cost of approximately $6 million, making it a benchmark in terms of comfort and modern facilities.

1993      Auberge Sainte-Foy was the next hotel to undergo major renovations, at a cost of $1.2 million. Both the interior and exterior of the building were entirely renovated. The front of the property was modified, adding architecture that is more modern and adapted to its customers.

The acquisition of hotel Plaza Universel, located in Sainte-Foy, became Hotel Plaza Québec, an establishment that combines luxury with contemporary architecture.

1997      The interior of Hotel Plaza Québec was renovated. Its facade was also given a castle appearance, consistent with the interior design inspired by the Victorian era. A few years later, all the lounges and meeting rooms, including the magnificent ballroom, were renovated and elegantly decorated.

The church and the Patro Saint-Vincent-de-Paul building, located near Côte d’Abraham street, was acquired with the goal of converting it into a hotel project. This project was delayed by the construction of the l’Îlot d’Aiguillon project, which became Palace Royal, a project that was started the same year.

1998      New lots were acquired to complete the space necessary for construction. In May 1999, the last lot across from the Dufferin autoroute was acquired from the Ministère des Transports.

2000      The opening of Palace Royal in December allowed to establish JARO Hotels brand in downtown Québec City and the special place it holds among the hotels in the Québec City region. With its luxurious contemporary-style decor and elegant furnishings, Palace Royal stands out from all the other hotel offerings in the city centre. This is where Jacques Robitaille created a tropical garden, a central hot tub and an indoor pool, which became the hotel brand trademark, a feature that still distinguishes it from its competitors. This unique design gave Palace Royal its reputation as “an oasis in the heart of the city.”

2001      The purchase of Hotel Lindbergh located on Laurier Boulevard, a hotel that offers comfort, unparalleled tranquility and a decor that celebrates the great exploits of aviator Charles Lindbergh.

2003      A reservation centre was created following the further expansion of JARO Hotels to ensure the standardization and quality of customer service. As a way to consolidate the brand image of all the establishments, they were brought together under the name JARO Hotels.

2008      Hotel Must, the eleventh establishment, was opened near Jean Lesage Québec City Airport. This 4-star hotel has 179 rooms, all essential services and an indoor swimming pool on the hotel rooftop that offers panoramic views of Québec City and the surrounding area.

2010      The Hotel Plaza Québec, Hotel Lindbergh and Hotel Québec Inn were renovated and rooms were added to hotel Must.

In July 2010, the Centre d’amusement Carie Factory (amusement centre) opened its doors, offering indoor sliding, a 4D ride, a huge ball park, more than 40 arcades, an array of candies and everything to entertain the entire family.

 

Fine Dining

Catering has always been an important part of the company.  Over the years, we have created four restaurants: Les Palmes (Hôtel Québec Inn - Québec Airport), 10Vagues Resto-Bar (L'Hôtel Québec), Restaurant Beffroi Steakhouse (Palace Royal - Downtown) and Ginger Resto-Bar (Hôtel Plaza Québec).

The company has a team of more than 650 employees.