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10 Reasons Why Important Meetings Happen Here

  1. NATIONAL STAGE

    As Canada’s Capital, Ottawa puts conventions on a national stage close to decision-makers, the international diplomatic community, and media. If gaining their attention can help move an organization forward, Ottawa is the best place to get noticed.

  2. WORLD CLASS CONVENTION CENTRE

    Ottawa is home to one of the world’s elite convention centres. The beautiful Shaw Centre, located in the heart of downtown next to the Rideau Canal—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—was recently named one of the top 3 convention centres in the world in AIPC’s World’s Best Convention Centre rankings.

  3. SMART CITY

    Ottawa is Canada’s smartest city, filled with scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs active in health and life sciences, cleantech, defense and security, telecommunications, gaming and ecommerce. Conventions that meet here often call on these innovators and subject matter experts as speakers and panelists.

  4. ACCESSIBLE

    Ottawa is easy to get to and get around. It’s located within a 2-hour flight of over 200 million North Americans, and its award-winning international airport is just 15 minutes from its highly compact and walkable downtown.

  5. SUPERB HOTELS

    Ottawa’s hotel community includes big international brands and locally-owned boutique hotels, all accomplished and adept at group hosting and many offering meeting facilities and services. There are over 6000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Shaw Centre with a number of new rooms planned in the next three years.

  6. EXCEPTIONAL OFF-SITE VENUES

    Ottawa is home to the country’s most grand public spaces—including national museums and art galleries— that serve as unique off-site venues for convention galas, receptions and special events.

  7. DELEGATE FRIENDLY

    Ottawa is one of Canada’s most popular visitor destinations, offering a wealth of iconic sites, cultural treasures, scenic beauty and urban delights. The more attractive a destination, the more delegates conventions attract—and those held here often set attendance records.

  8. SERVICE

    Ottawa Tourism’s Convention team is focused on your success, with services, resources and people that respond to your needs from RFP response to long after your event has ended.

  9. INCENTIVES

    Ottawa Tourism offers generous incentives to qualifying conventions considering the Capital. Submit your RFP and see what we can do for you.

  10. CANADA CELEBRATES 150 YEARS AS A NATION

    Ottawa will play host to a year-long celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 and the city will be transformed with countless legacy projects including:

    • new Light Rail Transit system
    • new Innovation Centre – a start-up incubator
    • National Arts Centre redevelopment
    • new Global Centre for Pluralism
    • new Canada Science and Technology Museum
    • Big, bold, immersive and moving experiences