Is Your Money Protected When You Purchase a Gift Experience?

La Forfaiterie has been a licensed travel agency regulated by the OPC since 1997 (Licence No. 702303). Every package sold—whether for accommodation, dining, or spa experiences—is protected in a separate trust account audited annually by the OPC. This means your money cannot be used by the company for any purpose other than fulfilling your purchase. If one of our partners closes its doors, your package retains its full value and can be exchanged at any time for another experience.

Is your money protected when you purchase a gift package?

Giving a gift experience is giving a promise: a moment to look forward to, a shared memory in the making, a thoughtful gesture that says, “You matter to me.” And like any promise, it's only natural to want the assurance that it will be kept—even when weeks or sometimes months pass before the experience is enjoyed.

At La Forfaiterie, we take that promise seriously. In fact, it has been at the heart of our business since 1997. That year, when we obtained our travel agency licence from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), we were required to hold our customers' funds in a trust account. At first, we saw it as a regulatory obligation. It quickly became one of our greatest strengths. It is the reason why, no matter what happens, your gift experience remains protected.

In this article, we'll explain how it works in simple terms and share a real-life story from our own experience—one that illustrates the difference this protection can make when the unexpected happens.

How Travel Agencies Are Regulated in Québec

In Québec, businesses that sell packages including accommodations, transportation, or travel services may be regulated by the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC). This regulatory framework establishes specific requirements regarding how customer payments must be handled and protected.

Restaurants, spas, and wellness experiences, however, are not subject to the same requirements. The OPC does not require these types of packages to be protected through a trust account.

At La Forfaiterie, we have chosen to go a step further. Since 1997, we have protected all of our gift experiences through a trust account—even those for which the law does not require it. We do so because our customers place their trust in us, and we believe that trust deserves the same level of protection across our entire offering.

Whether it’s an overnight getaway, a restaurant experience, or a relaxing spa day, your purchase is protected in the same way.

That means no matter which gift experience you choose, you can give it—or receive it—with complete confidence.

What Exactly Is the OPC?

The OPC is the Québec government agency responsible for enforcing consumer rights and ensuring that businesses comply with consumer protection laws.

For travel agencies, holding an OPC licence is much more than a simple registration. It means committing to strict rules regarding the handling of customer payments, and the OPC verifies that these requirements are being properly followed.

La Forfaiterie has held this licence since 1997. It is not a certification obtained for the occasion or a recent addition to our business. It is the very foundation on which the company was built from the start.

The Trust Account, Explained Simply

A trust account is a separate bank account that protects your payment until your gift experience is redeemed. It is kept entirely separate from the company's day-to-day operating funds.

This is the mechanism that makes this protection possible.

When you purchase a gift experience from La Forfaiterie, your payment is deposited into this trust account. It is not used to pay salaries, rent, or operating expenses. Instead, it remains protected and separate until your experience is redeemed and the partner providing the experience is paid.

The OPC reviews this account every year. Every gift experience that has been sold and remains unredeemed must be backed by the corresponding funds held in trust. This is an independent external verification process—not a self-reported declaration by the company.

A True Story: When Lac Carling Went Up in Flames

At La Forfaiterie, the trust account has already provided real protection for hundreds of customers—including 173 gift experience holders affected by the unexpected closure of the Hôtel du Lac Carling in November 2024.

When people think about consumer protection, they often think of bankruptcy. But in the tourism industry, unexpected events can take many forms: a change of ownership, a temporary closure, or an incident that no one could have predicted.

In November 2024, the Hôtel Lac Carling, located in the Laurentians, was severely damaged by a major fire. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, overnight, this beloved resort destination was forced to close its doors. Many people who had planned to enjoy an experience there suddenly found themselves without the getaway they had been looking forward to.

This is exactly when our model proves its value.

At La Forfaiterie, we were able to support each affected customer personally. In total, 173 gift experience holders were contacted and guided toward an alternative property that matched their expectations, needs, and desired experience. They were able to exchange their gift experience at no additional cost and still enjoy the memorable moment they had been anticipating.

And the story doesn't end there.

Thanks to remarkable resilience, the Hôtel Lac Carling has risen from the ashes. The property has reopened under new ownership, and its experiences are once again available through La Forfaiterie.

This is what a strong protection framework makes possible: not only safeguarding your money, but also supporting people through the unexpected and helping great stories continue.

Explore our Hôtel Lac Carling gift experiences

What This Means for You, in Simple Terms

At La Forfaiterie, the funds associated with every gift experience sold are held in trust, independently verified by the OPC, and protected regardless of the financial situation of any individual partner. Here's what that means for you in practical terms.

• Your payment is protected in a trust account. It cannot be used by the company for any purpose other than fulfilling your purchase.

• If a partner establishment closes its doors, your gift experience remains valid. You can exchange it for any other experience in our catalogue, with no restrictions based on category or value. You may also convert it into a La Forfaiterie gift certificate.

• The trust account is reviewed annually by the OPC. This independent verification is conducted by a government agency, providing an additional layer of oversight and accountability.

This model was not created in response to a particular event. It has been in place since 1997 and has been part of La Forfaiterie's foundation from the very beginning.

Our Story and Commitments