“Today with Hoda and Jenna”: the NBC team arrives in Old Quebec

Quebec City is experiencing its moment of glory on the small screen in the United States, Thursday morning. The popular American show Today with Hoda & Jenna from the NBC network is presented live from the historic district, just in time for the start of the Quebec Carnival… and the arrival of the biting cold.

• Read also: Jeanick Fournier à Today with Hoda and Jenna

• Read also: An NBC program at the Carnaval de Québec

The hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, one of the daughters of the former President of the United States, George W. Bush, are passing through the capital with their impressive team, with the aim of filming two programs in front of an audience.

Photo Dominique Lelievre

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager

Their talk showwatched by 1.6 million viewers, is the fourth hour of the famous NBC network’s morning program, the Today Show.

People interested in attending the filming can go to Bistro 1640, located on Sainte-Anne Street, in the heart of Old Quebec, in front of Place d’Armes and the Château Frontenac.

The schedule provides for the recording of a first one-hour episode which will be presented live, starting at 10 a.m., then a second at 11:30 a.m., which will be broadcast on Friday.

Photo Dominique Lelievre

With a wind chill of -16 this morning, the American team and the public should dress warmly, but should avoid the worst of the intense cold snap, which will really take hold this evening.

“Magical”

Arriving in town on Tuesday evening, the two hosts were able to explore the streets of the Quartier Petit Champlain, toboggan down the Dufferin Terrace slide, snowshoe on the Plains of Abraham and visit the Quebec Carnival.

“We knew it would be magnificent, but we didn’t think it would be so beautiful, so fabulous. We suspected that people would be friendly, but not so much! We knew it was going to be magical, but we were really blown away”, boasts Hoda Kotb, in an interview with The newspaper.

Photo Dominique Lelievre

As for the cold, it no longer frightens them. “We’ll sunbathe on Saturday back in New York,” says Jenna Bush Hager. The city here makes it so easy. As long as you dress appropriately, you can spend the day outside. We were out all day yesterday.”

A collaborator who arrived last week will tell the American public regarding her adventures in ice canoeing, ice climbing, skating and skiing, in addition to a night at the Hôtel de Glace.

Among the guests from Quebec on the show, we expect in particular the participation of singer Jeanick Fournier, winner of the second season of Canada’s Got Talent.

The visit is sponsored by Bonjour Québec, Destination Québec cité and Destination Canada.

The Alliance of the tourist industry of Quebec, which piloted the file, invested nearly $ 350,000 in this campaign as part of its “mandate to promote the destination of Quebec”, specifies the Ministry of Tourism.

“It’s worth gold”

According to the director of Destination Quebec quoted, Robert Mercure, this rare visit might well be one of the best publicity stunts ever made for the region of Quebec aimed at the “very important” American market.

“This is a major show for Americans. For us, this cover is worth gold […]these are major leagues,” he says, saying to himself “convinced that we will reap the benefits for months and years to come.”

Photo Dominique Lelievre

The main foreign market of the Old Capital, the United States generates nearly a quarter of the tourist benefits year following year, or $350 million.