Zalepa to speak about first 100 days at new Q Lounge

To celebrate the opening of their new Q Lounge, 124 on Queen Hotel and Spa is kicking off a new speaker series with an appearance by Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa.

It was originally planned for Thurday, but has been rescheduled to March 15.

Director of marketing Alana Hurov feels the new lounge is the perfect spot in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the leaders of the community to come together on a regular basis to network and discuss important matters.

The lounge is a bright, open space with modern decor overlooking a spacious courtyard with a centrepiece fountain. It has the capacity to host between 50 and 70 people when all of the convertible walls are opened up. As well, Hurov says the floor-to-ceiling windows can also be opened to increase the capacity during warmer months.

“It’s a real loungy atmosphere,” says hotel general manager Eric Quesnel. “With this event, everything is going to be open. We have different types of tables throughout the room, and it’s a place where it is easy to move from table to table.”

“We want it to be a place for the locals to go, to feel welcome,” Hurov tells The Local, “to dress up, to have cocktails and great meals. We want people to enjoy spending time here, to feel that they have a place to gather in the Old Town.”

Hurov, who moved to Virgil with her family during the pandemic, says Zalepa is a perfect headliner to kick off what she plans will be a monthly event.

“He’s a new Lord Mayor,” Hurov says. “Being a local myself, it’s important to hear what his plans are for the community. It makes sense to have him as our first speaker, to bring our community together. ”

When asked about future guests for the speaker series, Hurov is holding her cards close to her chest for the time being. But her extensive background in television and multimedia production, including stints with Rogers Sports and Media, HuffPost Studios, Shaw Communications, and CBC, Global and City Television, gives a hint as to some of the possibilities. 

“We’re in talks with some CEOs and leaders in our community and the region,” says Hurov, “and maybe some other celebrities that I may be able to bring in from my previous life. I’ve reached out to my old friend George Stroumboulopoulos (Hurov produced his CBC talkshow) to see if he can come.”

Hurov adds she’s open to suggestions for future guests. and holds out the possibility the series could become membership-based. 

“My goal,” she says, “is to make Niagara-on-the-Lake have higher-profile people do events. We’ve brought different event producers to the hotel to showcase the space, to see the luxury of our venue and its suitability for those types of events. We shouldn’t have to go to Toronto or Hamilton for them when they can be right here in our backyard.”

Hurov adds that proceeds from each date will go toward local charities. For the first session, the NOTL Youth Collective will be the beneficiary. 

Guests will enjoy a four-course meal from Treadwell Cuisine and will be escorted on a tour of the hotel and spa area, as well. The event takes place from 7 to 10 p.m., and costs $175 plus tax and gratuities per person. To book, send an email to [email protected].

“It’s really exciting to see what we can do with the space,” says Hurov. “It’s beautiful, modern and luxurious. Our owners are local people, and they’ve put so much love into this place that I feel so strongly about helping them make this successful, to make it a beautiful spot for people in our community to enjoy.”