Review: Hôtel Pur, Quebec, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
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Updated following a visit in March 2024
As outdoor enthusiasts and hikers, we decided to spend a weekend in the city of Quebec so that we could take a trip to nearby Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. We chose Hôtel PUR, Quebec, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
Booking
For this stay, we did not use our points. So we paid for our nights and instead of using the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card we used our Marriott gift certificates acquired as part of the -15% promotion.
The Tribute Portfolio hotel chain distinguishes itself, thanks to:
Hotels with stunning design elements, bold use of color and remarkable art installations.
Launched in April 2015, Tribute Portfolio is a collection of independent upscale hotels. There are nearly 55 Tribute Portfolio hotels around the world. By the way, I have already stayed in a Tribute Portfolio, The Vagabond Club, during a stop in Singapore in the context of a Mini-Round the World trip (MRW).
The Tribute Portfolio are part of the Premium category in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Hotel details (L’Hôtel PUR, Quebec, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel)
| Parking | Paying ($24 + tx) | Breakfast included | No |
| Swimming pool | Yes, indoor | Room with balcony | No |
| Fitness room | Yes | Room with kitchenette | No |
| Restaurant | Yes, Table | USB sockets in room | Yes |
| Pets allowed | Yes | Smart TV | No |
| Mobile card | No | Shower / Bath | Yes, both |
The hotel has 18 floors, 238 rooms and 4 suites.
Location
Hôtel Pur, Quebec, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is located in the heart of Quebec, in the Saint-Roch district, and less than 20 minutes by car from Quebec Jean-Lesage International Airport. There are numerous shops nearby.
The Quebec City Convention Centre or the entrance to Old Quebec through the St-Jean Gate are both a 15-minute walk away.
Around the Hotel
Our goal was to take advantage of the weekend to explore Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, located 30 minutes north of Quebec. Dogs are now allowed in SEPAQ parks under certain conditions. On this Saturday in December, the weather, though cold, was magnificent, and we made the most of our opportunities.
Of course, I also took advantage of the early Sunday morning sunrise to go for a solo run and completed a 14 km run along the linear park of the Saint-Charles River. I went through sectors 1 through 4. I run year-round, especially since nowadays clothing is designed for all climates, so there are no excuses.
Check-In and Lobby
The main hall is vast, airy and warm, with plenty of armchairs and a long, double-sided natural gas fireplace. There’s also a pool table and a wine bar.
There is also a business area with two work computers. The space features a modern style with a sleek design, highlighted by recessed, subdued lighting that illuminates elements in shades of white, black, grey, and caramel. Altogether, the lobby has a lounge-style atmosphere.
Reception is to the left of the entrance hall. I liked the originality of the decor at the reception. Its mural of chunky woven wool, created from a set of threads stretched from ceiling to floor, forms the letters PUR.
Having told the hotel in advance that this stay would constitute our 74th and 75th nights of the year for the Bonvoy program and thus allow us to reach the Titanium status, the hotel graciously upgraded us to a Presidential Suite to mark this important “milestone”.
Our Room
The hotel offers 8 types of rooms:
- Bedroom: 1 king size bed
- Room: 2 queen size beds
- Deluxe Room: 1 king size bed, view – Church
- Superior room with church view: 2 queen size beds, view – Church
- City view room: 1 king size bed, city view
- Deluxe Room: 2 queen size beds, city view
- Salon: 1 king size bed, Sofa bed, Bathrooms : 2
- Presidential Suite: 1 king size bed
Our room was the presidential suite. This is room 1802 on the 18th floor (west-facing, with no view of Saint-Roch church).
The suite is very large (101 m2), the equivalent of 3 regular hotel rooms. Right from the start, the double doors hint at its exceptional size.
We enter a huge space with a modern, industrial style, with bare concrete columns dividing the lounge from the work/dining area.
Living Room
In front of us, a caramel leather sofa draped with a glossy black faux fur throw, an ebony black leather armchair, a glass table on a concrete base, an atom sculpture, an articulated arm lamp, nesting tables, and dog sculptures skillfully recreate a welcoming, modern, and stylish living room.
Two-foot vertical partitions descend from the ceiling and run along the walls, recreating a sophisticated and modern look. The large 47-inch wall-mounted LCD television allows for viewing from anywhere in the living room. Unfortunately it is not a Smart TV so it is impossible to watch Netflix, for example.
A large window provides natural light to the living room. Also, being on the 18th floor, the view of Québec City is unobstructed.
The living room has four independent light switches, allowing you to choose your desired ambiance.
This is a living room designed for its primary purpose: relaxation and comfort. So there’s no sofa bed, and the room doesn’t “convert” into a bedroom for other guests or children.
Work Area/Dining Room
The suite stands out clearly from other conventional suites thanks to this workspace adjoining the living room. The central element is a large table made of a combination of wood and glass. This versatile table can easily accommodate 8 guests comfortably seated in caramel leather chairs that match the living room sofa.
A decoration placed in the center of the table mimics young herb shoots, giving the room a lively, refreshing feel. An elongated light fixture suspended and centered above the table and a false ceiling incorporating recessed side lights give this area a warm, executive style.
The table can be used for both work sessions and group meals. A side table holds a Nespresso coffee machine and a medium-sized refrigerator completes this area.
It is easy to imagine animating a work session while having food and refreshments at hand. This alternative is more intimate than booking a more “conventional” conference or meeting room. In addition, the bedroom door can be closed, allowing you to limit your guests’ access to the living room and workspace.
This is especially convenient since a powder room (sink and toilet) and a cloakroom are also dedicated to this area of the suite (living room and workspace). Both rooms (living room and workspace) are therefore completely independent and do not require any “intrusion” into the bedroom itself.
Here, too, a large window provides natural lighting and an unobstructed view of the city of Quebec.
The work/dining area also features 4 independent light switches, allowing you to vary the type of lighting to suit your needs.
In closing, the living room, workspace/dining area, and bedroom are all covered with the same zebra-patterned carpet, giving the suite a cozy atmosphere.
Room
The bedroom is an adjoining room to the living room, accessed from the centre, with the bed on the left and the bathroom on the right. A door isolates the room from the rest of the suite.
On the left is the King bed. On each side there are the typical lamps, reading lamps and shelves. Numerous discreet electrical outlets under the side shelves also enable direct USB connections.
Above the bed, a beautiful large mural artistically reproduces the facades of the city of Quebec.
A flat-screen television is located on the wall opposite the bed. As with the living room, it is a conventional television and not a Smart TV.
Under the TV, a work desk allows you to work more “intimately” than in the suite’s work area. It is equipped with all types of outlets, both electrical and USB. It was at this desk that I wrote this hotel review. To the right of the desk is a mini-refrigerator, while to the left is a space for suitcases and underneath two storage drawers.
A large two-door wardrobe closet completes the storage space in the bedroom. The safe’s in there.
Again, a large window provides natural lighting. The suite has no balcony or terrace, and the windows do not open.
It is worth noting that the bedroom and the living room/workspace each have their own air conditioning, allowing you to adjust the temperature differently in each room.
I appreciated the recessed and subdued lighting in the room as well as the modern and stylish decoration.
Bathroom
The layout of the bathroom is rather original. In fact, the shower walls are actually mirrored glass walls, commonly known as “one-way mirrors.” Thus, from a dark room, it is possible to observe the interior of a lighter room without being seen. On the lighter side of the room, the wall looks like a classic mirror. So when the bathroom lights are turned off, all you see is this large mirror wall that is actually the entire shower!
We enter the bathroom along the back of the shower (also a one-way mirror) and come face to face with a magnificent deep bathtub. Aesthetically pleasing, the long spout emerges from the floor, runs along the outside of the bath and then curves like a silver swan above the bath.
And the faucet is in fact a pivoting handle oscillating around an axis between off and the desired water temperature. An “L”-shaped mirror covers the wall at the foot of the bath, while large aqua-colored tiles cover the bath’s side wall. A useful accessory is a black bathtub tray for books, glasses or beauty products.
The bathroom sink and countertop are ivory white. The sink has a sloping design, while the tapware is in the style of the bath with the slim, curved spout and the swivel handle as a faucet. A large mirror joins the one at the foot of the bath and contributes to the illusion of grandeur in the room.
There are no rounded shapes in the bathroom (bathtub, sink, countertop, shower). Even the toilet is square!
As for the shower, black tiles cover the floor and the half wall separating it from the toilet, to accentuate the effect of the one-way mirrors. Indeed, as mentioned, the shower acts as a separation between the bedroom and the bathroom.
Once again, the chrome fittings are uncluttered, with a long, narrow showerhead ending in a rain shower. The water controls are small levers at the base that are pulled towards you to modulate both water flow and temperature.
The bathroom is equipped with 5 independent light switches so that you can choose the desired atmosphere.
Unlike some hotels that take an eco-friendly approach to beauty product containers (shampoo, conditioner, liquid body soap), here we use individual containers.
Note that due to the design of the bedroom in the suite, there is no door between the bathroom and the bedroom. This concept is faithful to the residential design often found when a bathroom adjoins a bedroom.
I would have appreciated a few more hooks in the bathroom, whether for hanging up towels after a shower or your robe.
General Impression of the Room
The presidential suite offers a large multi-functional space. Whether you want to hold a private business meeting or simply relax, the modern and industrial design invites you to unwind.
Well designed, the addition of a powder room and a separate cloakroom allows you to welcome guests while preserving the privacy of the “bedroom” area. The suite is intended for solo travellers or couples, with a maximum occupancy of two overnight guests and no sofa bed available.
Other Services
Parking
Underground parking is available for a fee ($24). In addition, four charging stations for electric cars are also available.
Personally, we opted for the public parking lot at Jardin Jean-Paul L’Allier (450 rue du Parvis) near the hotel, where the cost is just $8 a day on weekends.
However, entries and exits count as 1 access. So if you use your car frequently during the day, it’s best to opt for hotel parking, which doesn’t restrict entry and exit, but works on a daily basis.
Breakfast
Hotel PUR’s Table restaurant offers a delicious breakfast with a magnificent view of the Church of St. Roch, just behind the hotel. Guests can choose from an à la carte menu or a buffet to get the day off to a good start.
Swimming Pool
The hotel’s heated indoor pool is magnificent.
Located on the 3rd floor, it’s a rectangular 15-meter pool, large enough for those who want to do laps (4 lanes). Large windows provide plenty of light.
Guests can also enjoy a sauna for extra relaxation.
Fitness room
The hotel has a fitness room. It is also located on the 3rd floor and is separated from the pool by a large glass wall.
Meeting Room/Receptions/Wedding
The hotel offers 1,303 sq. m. of event space divided into 11 rooms, ideal for a conference, business meetings, reception or wedding.
Check-Out
We had requested and obtained a late check-out for this stay.
Our Overall Impression of the Hotel
The Hotel PUR, Quebec, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel is a beautiful hotel with a modern, contemporary design.
We really appreciated the privilege of being upgraded to the presidential suite on the top floor. This suite is really well designed, with its natural and artificial lighting, its decoration including sculptures and less usual materials, and its large work/dining area.
The ingenious use of a one-way mirrors between the bedroom and bathroom amplifies the suite’s sophisticated style. Moreover, since there is also a bath separated from the shower, it allowed us to relax. We also really enjoyed using the magnificent swimming pool.
Go further with Marriott Bonvoy
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