Now that the sailing season is over, Escapade Memphrémagog‘s Le Grand Cru is going to be docked at the MacPherson jetty in Magog for the winter. That doesn’t mean she’ll be lying idle—far from it! Our stylish boat is now ready to serve as a venue for special events, summer AND winter.
Julie Grenier, Group Sales Manager for PAL+, explains this new initiative in the life of our elegant catamaran.
How did you prepare the boat for the winter?
Last spring, we carried out some maintenance on the boat to prepare her for the time she will be tied up at the dock. The sailing season winds up the third week in October, usually. One of the things we did was to insulate the floor and the windows so we could use Le Grand Cru as an event space, even when the weather is cold.
What prompted you to add the boat to your other event spaces?
It’s all about demand! But also, so clients can enjoy the boat year-round. Even with our two hotels that specialize in groups—Espace 4 Saisons and Versō—we sometimes don’t have enough space to host certain meetings and events. The boat allows us to handle a larger number of people and at the same time, offer our customers an entirely new experience.
What kind of events can Le Grand Cru handle?
Team meetings, networking activities, cocktail parties and of course, dinners for corporate groups, family get-togethers, etc.
Le Grand Cru is not a restaurant. It functions as a reception space. We privatize the boat specifically for groups (50 to 125 people) who, rather than rent a meeting room in a hotel, would like to try something different.
We operated our first dockside events in December 2023. It was kind of a trial run. We booked five Christmas parties for corporate groups and the feedback was great! That’s what motivated us to offer even more this year…
What makes the boat so appealing to your clients?
The chic décor and the ambience! The space is not at all like a regular meeting room. The lighting in the evening is mellow, the flooring is made from exotic woods, the ceiling glows… The banquettes are plush, and a wine cellar stretches along the entire length of a wall. Le Grand Cru, in other words, has loads of character!
Being on the lake, even if you aren’t sailing, is still spectacular. You’re surrounded by water and mountain scenery. What a setting! Just walking towards the boat along the dock, gives your event a certain cachet.
How long will you be booking the boat for dockside events?
Until the month of May. That’s when Le Grand Cru begins the summer season. If you’re planning an event during the summer, you can of course rent the boat for a private cruise.
Who should I contact for more information?
Get in touch with Marie-Ève! She knows everything there is to know about our dockside events. She’ll help you plan the menu for an event and explain what options are available.
To book or for more information, contact her at 1 855 330-6001, ext. 1038 or by email: marie-eve.r@palplus.ca