The Tea - Andrew Dubeau

Andrew Dubeau

Meet new MPI Ottawa Chapter member Andrew Dubeau!

The Intro: Andrew Dubeau recently joined the MPI Ottawa Chapter and is a Business Development Manager, representing the Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown with Germain Hotels.

Dubeau first started off with a travel bug, landing a cool job in high school booking tour packages and hotel stays for Destination Ontario. This led to his education in Tourism and Travel Services Management and a couple of years as a travel agent. He then pivoted to studies in Meeting and Event Management with more opportunities for growth!

Early years: when Dubeau was young, his dream was to be a businessman (mostly so that he could look dapper, with the suit and snazzy briefcase). As a seller in the city, he is living that, which is vastly different from how he grew up…surrounded by (wait for it)…22,000 chickens! Dubeau grew up on a chicken farm in Lancaster, ON.

The Pitch: about the Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown, Dubeau invites planners to consider the hotel as a unique boutique hotel that can cater to guests on a more personal level. Even if there is a request that is more unusual, they try to deliver. All their meeting rooms are turn-key and include both AV and coffee (neat perk!) The hotel brand also has a free late check-out option, which is a bonus!

Outside of work: Dubeau loves travelling, immersing himself in new cultures and trying new food. His favourite country so far is Vietnam. At home, Dubeau also loves to cook, likes to create abstract paintings, is a cinephile, and engages in photography and mediation. Fun Fact: Dubeau used to work in the fashion industry in Montreal!

Podcast - that is a blast. Dubeau’s favourite podcaster, who he finds uplifting, is Jay Setty. Jay resonates with him in that Jay focuses on connections, showing love, and showing up for people. One of Dubeau’s own life goals is to do a keynote on wellness and mental health, which is something our industry struggles with at times.

Top tip: his secret as a seller: “listen to your clients, listen to your superiors who are teaching you things. Just really lock in and take everything in as much as you can. When it comes to clients, I feel like active listening goes such a long way because then we're able to tailor the event to what they really want, and sometimes, we're able to provide ideas that they might not think of but still align with their overall goals.”

Three words: when asked, what three words describe you - Dubeau’s answer was: caring, a learner, and adaptable!

Be sure to say “hi” to new member Andrew at a future MPI event and perhaps ask him about his favourite travel destinations or many interests!

 Article edited by: Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services