Strategic investment expands Ottawa’s business events capacity and infrastructure

Ottawa Tourism is highlighting a wave of development that is elevating the city’s already outstanding business events offering. With significant new investments in venues, hotels and public infrastructure, as well as recently enhanced air connectivity from Europe, Ottawa is offering even more reasons for organisers to choose Canada’s capital for their conferences, meetings and major events.

Developed in collaboration with Ottawa Unlimited, a partnership between Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa and Ottawa Board of Trade, these enhancements are part of a broader vision to maintain and improve Ottawa’s position as a thriving, people-first city that is as inspiring as it is accessible.

More than $1.5 billion in public and private investment is now flowing into the city’s downtown core, supporting a wide range of new projects, from cultural landmarks and active streetscapes to mixed-use developments and initiatives that enhance the delegate experience.

• Among the standout projects is History Ottawa, a 2,000-capacity venue by Live Nation Canada opening on Rideau Street in early 2026. With its central location, flexible layout and cutting-edge AV, the venue will host a wide range of business and entertainment events, helping to meet the growing demand for modern, mid-sized gathering spaces.

• Opened this summer, the Hard Rock Hotel Ottawa offers 150 guestrooms, 22 suites, a 1,800-seat theatre (with standing room for 2,200), plus a casino, restaurants and lounges, ideal for planners seeking a high-impact, all-in-one event venues.

• In the ByWard Market, the newly opened AC Marriott Ottawa brings 159 stylish guestrooms and 3,648 square feet of bright, functional meeting space across five rooms. Its neighbour, the Moxy Ottawa, is another new addition, with 224 rooms and a bold, design-forward atmosphere ideal for creative gatherings.

• Scheduled to open in 2026, Ādisōke – Ottawa’s new central library and archive – will offer accessible gathering space for receptions, workshops and cultural programming. As a partnership between the City of Ottawa and Library and Archives Canada, it reflects a wider investment in culture, community and Indigenous reconciliation.

Ottawa’s international connectivity is also giving business events a significant lift. The return of direct Air Canada flights from London Heathrow (March 2025) and a new Air France service from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (April 2024) are making the city more accessible than ever for European attendees. Both routes offer multiple weekly flights and seamless onward connections from across the UK, France and continental Europe. For associations, corporates and international delegations, this improved access removes logistical barriers and increases confidence when planning global events in Ottawa.

“Ottawa is seeing smart, sustained investment in the things that matter to event organisers - venues, hotels, walkability, and connectivity,” said Stephanie Seguin, Ottawa Tourism’s Vice President, Business and Major Events. “And through partnerships like Ottawa Unlimited, we’re creating a city that is engaging, vibrant and welcoming – an ideal setting for memorable business events.”

As part of this transformation, Ottawa is embracing creativity with new public art installations, murals and the transformation of streetscapes into spaces for connection and inspiration. These efforts contribute to an urban experience that blends function with culture – where delegates can explore, unwind and connect in meaningful ways beyond the meeting room.

For more information about Ottawa, visit www.ottawatourism.ca