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Congratulations! Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award 2012

A Celebration in Leadership and Champagne

Known as the “Oscar” for female entrepreneurs and business leaders, the annual Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Awards (BWA) were created in France in 1972 and champion women in business worldwide due to the brand’s rich history with the female entrepreneurial spirit.

Widowed at 27, founder Barbe Nicole Ponsardin, the famous ‘Veuve Clicquot,’ took control of her husband’s Champagne business in the 1700s and was one of the first women to lead a company of men. An ambitious visionary, Madame Clicquot demonstrated her bold avant-garde ideas in 1810 by producing the first vintage wine of the Champagne region and also used red wines from her Bouzy vineyards in 1818 to produce the very first Rosé blend in Champagne – quite an accomplished feat!

Aside from being one of the most popular Champagnes in the world, Veuve Clicquot has long revered powerful women showing a keen business sense and a passionate entrepreneurial disposition – the same qualities possessed by Madame Clicquot. It is in this spirit that Veuve Clicquot honours this year’s BWA recipient, Madame Christiane Germain.

As co-president and co-founder of Groupe Germain Hospitalité (which operates Le Germain hotels in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Québec City), her unique boutique-hotel vision has catapulted the Groupe Germain family business from restaurants to hotels that are touted as the most popular in the world from prestigious leisure and tourism magazines, such as Condé Nast Traveller and Travel & Leisure. The successful business model she developed allowed her to hold full control over the direction of the company while keeping the immaculate hospitality and style of the hotels intact, all through a strategy of vertical integration, organic growth and a strong innovative drive. Le Germain boutique hotels and ALT hotels (another endeavor spearheaded by Madame Germain) are synonymous with class and elegance, thanks to the Veuve Clicquot BWA recipient’s mark on the hospitality industry.

Madame Christiane was awarded the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award on September 25th at the Toronto at Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square. As an exceptional woman that has dared to achieve in the spirit of Veuve and a former Women of Influence Luncheon Speaker, Madame Germain continues to inspire us. Congratulations Madame Germain!