Canadian micro-hotel immerses guests in local culture

Hotel Floriel is a refreshing new high-end hospitality destination nestled in the natural beauty of the Village of Sainte-Flore, Quebec, roughly halfway between Montreal and Quebec City in Canada.

Expanding upon the principles of ‘witness’ experiential lifestyle incubators, the upscale 7-room micro-hotel provides unique stays for guests in the pampered embrace of upscale brands and design concepts that are theirs for the taking.

GALLERY  

More than a boutique hotel, Boisvert and Wasilko’s business model is grounded in partnerships formed with companies whose products adorn each of the hotel’s unique rooms and common spaces, curated as reflections of the region’s abundant forests and rivers.

Hotel Floriel is a living showroom of works of art, furniture, decorative accessories, artisanal products, and more of primarily local and regional manufacturers, retailers, artists, and craftsmen. From mattresses, lamps, and luxurious bathrobes, to linens, sinks, furniture, and more, Hotel Floriel’s curated amenities can be purchased by guests for their own homes through privileged relationships established between the hotel’s owners and the artisans and manufacturers.

“We set out to create a high-end boutique hotel with a twist,” explains Gabriel Wasilko, co-owner of Hotel Floriel, along with Audrey Boisvert. “It has been a creative outlet for us, and the twist begins with the uniquely curated designs of each of our seven rooms.”

Built within the gutted walls of a former Presbytery, the owners designed the spaces of Hotel Floriel. They immersed themselves in every aspect of the process, including tiling, framing and building concrete floors.

Each room of Hotel Floriel has a unique theme based on design personality archetypes, with names including Heart in Bloom, Snowflake White, Legends and Fables, Wind in the Fields, Mist on the Lake, Hymn to Spring, and The Soul of the Forest.

Each room features a similar architectural footprint, but the colours, textures, furnishings, and textiles clearly distinguish them from one another, allowing the guests to experiment with a unique design story based on a specific colour palette and mood inspired by nature and the rhythm of the seasons.

The unique concept of Hotel Floriel extends to its warm and friendly ambiance, where Gabriel Wasilko and Audrey Boisvert operate the hotel themselves, insisting on a very human-scale offering. The duo leveraged mutual experience in the hospitality industry to develop their approach, including drawing upon Audrey’s studies in hotel management and training as a sommelier. The latter experience was applied to stocking a selection of exquisite wines for Hotel Floriel.

Strategically located between two main entrances to Mauricie National Park, Hotel Floriel is a gateway to one of the region’s natural treasures. Accordingly, it was important for Wasilko and Boisvert to build something that would complement other regional businesses. In embracing that notion, a decision was made not to include a restaurant in Hotel Floriel, and to instead refer guests to some of the many fine cuisine options in the community.

“Sainte-Flore is a beautiful village that doesn’t get enough attention,” says Wasilko. “It’s a pearl in the heart of a beautiful region, with breathtaking surroundings of natural beauty in Mauricie National Park.”

Images Phil Bernard & Hotel Floriel

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