Why hosting your business event at a UNESCO World Heritage site, like Québec City, is a brilliant choice

Hosting a Québec City conference gives your attendees the opportunity to discover new perspectives in one of Canada’s oldest settlements. Business events in Québec City offer attendees enriching cultural experiences that ignite the imagination and deepen their understanding of the present moment’s historical context. 

A global leader in fine arts and literature, Québec City boasts an exciting creative landscape that honours long-established artists and spotlights emerging talent. In addition to its World Heritage Site status, the city is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2017.

A thriving contemporary arts and culture scene, elevated modern amenities, and easy access to off-site adventures make Québec City a heritage event destination like no other.

Inside the historic fortifications, your Québec City conference attendees can experience the city’s vibrant contemporary culinary and creative culture firsthand. Tucked away in the neighbourhood's collection of storybook stone buildings, visitors will find internationally-acclaimed modern bistros including Chez Boulay and Buvette Scott, alongside local institutions like Le Saint-Amour and Aux Anciens Canadiens with space to accommodate private dining for groups of any size.

While plenty of museums are close at hand here, the shops that line the streets of Old Québec function as a contemporary art gallery. Stores showcase the work of local artists of all kinds, from painters and jewellers to ceramicists and woodworkers, giving visitors an intimate glimpse into the Québec of today through the eyes of the city’s creative minds. Down the cliffside in Petit-Champlain, attendees might encounter EXMURO’s latest public art installations adding contemporary flare and humour to the old-world cobblestone streets.

Authentic Québécois culture is on full display in every corner of Old Québec. Throughout the year, guests can enjoy seasonal street performances from musicians and acrobats, find more locally-made goods at open-air artisan markets, and get a taste of maple taffy during Québec’s Winter Carnival.

If you’re event planning for groups of curious professionals or academics who love learning and broadening their horizons, Old Québec offers the ultimate history lesson. Visitors can get an introduction to the city’s rich heritage at the Musée de la civilisation, the Musée des plaines d'Abraham or the Musée naval de Québec, but their exploration doesn't have to end there.

Your attendees can take a step back in time and find themselves immersed in the foundations of the nation’s colonial past, literally. Guests can tour the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site, an archaeological crypt underneath Dufferin Terrace at the foot of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Here, they get the chance to view the ruins of forts and French and British governors’ residences erected over the centuries alongside artifacts discovered on site.

In Québec City, honouring our heritage goes hand-in-hand with sustainability, preserving the natural and historical beauty of the city and the surrounding region for generations to come. Attendees can feel good about participating in sustainable meetings and conventions at venues, restaurants, and accommodations throughout the city that prioritize eco-friendly operations.

If you’re looking for sustainability-focused, historic venues in Québec City, there are several options right in the heart of Old Québec. Across the street from the parliament building, the city’s oldest historical site, you’ll find the Québec City Convention Centre, a national pioneer in sustainable conference tourism. Alongside smart waste, energy, air and water management at the venue, the team provides a turnkey program of eco-friendly events for attendees.

Old Québec’s top hotels for sustainable meetings and conferences include the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Le Monastère des Augustines as well as the Auberge Saint-Antoine and Hotel Le Germain Québec, just steps away from Petit-Champlain in the Old Port. All three venues are committed to lowering their environmental impact through initiatives like reducing their carbon footprints, prioritizing local, organic and fair-trade products, and supporting the community.