Wait. Let’s backtrack a bit. As a pro storyteller and hospitality industry veteran, I’m prone to go on about the sights, sounds, and smells that happen in service spaces. When I strolled into the Alt Hotel St. John’s lobby on a mauzy Saturday morning, my inner monologue lit up: “Well, this is lovely. So clean, so calm. Oh dear, there’s coffee. And pastries. And BREAD! Wait a second...why does everyone look so darn happy? Whoa, the light in here is gorgeous, and I love this music. Also, that couch looks like heaven. Can I just...live here?” etc. 

That’s how it went down in the first 30 seconds. This auspicious collection of feels positioned me perfectly for my morning’s true purpose, which was to connect with Clarah Germain, Hotelier and Guest Services + Hospitality Manager of the Alt Hotel St. John’s. My mission as the TEDxHarboursidePark writer? Learn more about her hotel, and find out why they joined forces with TEDxHP as the 2021 show venue sponsor. 

(Spoiler alert — there was laughter. And coffee. Really, really good coffee.)

A family affair

If you recognize Clarah’s last name, it’s because it’s on the side of their eye-catching building at the corner of Prescott Street and Water Street — the proverbial best seat in the house in terms of stunning St. John’s harbour views. Her family’s eponymous company, Germain Hôtels, owns 18 hotels across Canada, ranging from luxe, intimate environments to sleek, urban spaces characterized by the Alt Hotel St. John’s.

When asked how her family got started in the biz, Clarah’s answer was immediate and simple: “It’s in the blood.” She shared that her family’s 3 generations-deep roots in hospitality grew from her Grandfather’s beloved neighbourhood tabagie (think cornerstore-meets-lunch-counter) in Quebec City in the 1950s. Innovators at heart and risk-takers by nature, her entrepreneurial family saw an opportunity to create something new and special within the Canadian hospitality scene; they are credited with opening our country’s very first “boutique hotel” in Quebec City in 1988. 

From humble community roots to national presence and acclaim, they are recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, with hundreds of employees providing exceptional hospitality experiences to guests from home and abroad.

“Here for happiness”

I asked Clarah why her family chose — and keeps choosing, despite the local and global challenges her industry is facing — the hospitality life. Her eyes lit up and she leaned forward, smiling. “It’s a really easy answer. We just want to make people happy.” Revolutionary. A quick scan of the room confirmed: Smiling, laughing staff. Visibly relaxed guests lounging on comfortable furniture while enjoying conversation, coffee (the good stuff I mentioned earlier), and a second-to-none view of Signal Hill and the Narrows. Said guest bliss was demonstrably enhanced by the beautiful pastries and breads produced by acclaimed on-site restaurant Terre, available at the excellent lobby cafe. 

Clarah went on to explain that while bringing the Alt Hotel to St. John’s was a strategic decision, it became clear very quickly that her family’s vision and values were a natural fit with our people and place. Their drive to do their very best for whomever walks through their doors feels familiar to me as a Newfoundlander; that welcoming comfort and sense of honest care translates to every aspect of the Alt Hotel St. John’s experience from the moment you enter the lobby.

Connected by technology and design

When asked what inspired the Alt Hotel St. John’s to collaborate with TEDxHarboursidePark as the venue sponsor for the  2021 show Creating Space, Clarah explained a strong connection to both the technology and design — the “T” and “D” in the global TED brand.

Through the design lens, Alt Hotels are a harmonious marriage of form and function. Unique, über-efficient modular construction and modern, minimalist interior design intersect to create spaces that are as exciting and thought-provoking as they are soothing and nurturing. It’s easy to enjoy oneself in any of the thoughtfully-designed spaces at the Alt Hotel St. John’s because it’s very intentionally designed that way. And it works.

When it comes to spilling the “T”, Alt Hotels are known for seasoning their hospitality with low-touch, high-convenience technology to enhance the guest experience. From room amenities like free WiFi, touch-controlled drapery and air conditioning, eco-friendly rainfall showers, built-in smart chargers and complimentary casting devices, to fully-equipped corporate spaces perfect for team-building retreats and strategic focus sessions, the Alt Hotel St. John’s provides a perfectly balanced tech experience.

Creating space for community

The intention of TEDxHarboursidePark’s 2021 show theme, Creating Space, was to spark conversation and connection around how we can create inclusive, exciting, and inspiring spaces in which to exist as individuals and as communities. As a hotelier, Clarah connects with this idea to her core.

She and her family — and their hotel family from coast to coast — believe that the foundation of true hospitality lies in creating remarkable spaces in which people from diverse backgrounds and geographies can gather and feel cared for. At the Alt Hotel St. John’s, that means a spotlessly clean, supremely comfortable room in which to leave the cares of the day behind. It means gathering with friends over a perfectly-pulled shot of espresso and an incredible pastry, a still-talking-about-it sandwich, or a beautiful loaf of freshly-baked artisan bread from the impeccable lobby cafe, courtesy of acclaimed on-site restaurant Terre. 

Speaking of Terre...hello, community. One of the most exciting culinary destinations in St. John’s, Terre’s stunning floor-to-ceiling waterfront views are matched (exceeded?) only by the sublime, hyper-local food and beverage program created by Chef Swift. Clarah Germain and Chef Matthew Swift (who also happens to be Clarah’s spouse), understand that when people break bread together, community is created — no matter where you come from (or where you’re headed).

Stronger together

So, what happens when you throw a global pandemic into the mix? Clarah’s eyes lost a bit of their sparkle when it came to addressing the challenges they’ve faced during COVID. “Being a hotelier with an empty hotel is sad,” she confided. “It’s been difficult, with travel restrictions and the loss of tourism and business travel to the city,” she continued. Their biggest focus, she said, has been ensuring that their family of employees is cared for while the industry rebounds — and she’s confident that it will. I believe her.

It takes just a moment of looking and listening in the Alt Hotel St. John’s to realize that Clarah and her team have created a very special community here in the heart of our city. It’s a place of welcome, comfort, and belonging. They didn’t just build it for business travellers and tourists; they built it for us. It’s a part of our place now, and Clarah and Matthew and their incredible hospitality family have become our people. In Newfoundland and Labrador, we support our own.

The Alt Hotel chose to call St. John’s home. And home is a beautiful place to be.