Mix business with leisure and pleasure in Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada - the second largest city in the province of Ontario and Canada's capital city, is the ideal destination for business and leisure travel.
The cosmopolitan capital city, nestled at confluence of three majestic waterways, the Ottawa River, Gatineau River and Rideau Canal, offers the perfect mix of sophisticated cityscapes and breathtaking nature on its doorstep.
With more than 1.2 million English and French speaking residents, Ottawa blends multicultural neighbourhoods, historic sites, and world-class cultural attractions with an effortless flair and in 2011 there are even more reasons for travellers to stay and play longer in Ottawa, as the city boasts new interactive visitor experiences, infrastructure improvements and a full schedule of exciting events.
Mark Your Calendar
Ottawa's events' calendar kicks off in February with Winterlude. Taking place every weekend from the 4th-21st February, the family-friendly outdoor festival features concerts, food vendors, ice carving, snow sculptures, and ice skating along the world's longest skating rink, the historic Rideau Canal.
Thousands of visitors flock to the capital city each May to experience the Ottawa Tulip Festival, billed as the largest in the world. In addition to the impressive display of thousands of red, yellow and white tulips, the event is celebrated with star-studded live concerts and other entertainment.
From July 10 to Sep 5, 2011, Ottawa is lighting up the night with a new sound and light show. The fun and engaging multi-media display of lights will be projected against the Parliament Building creating a spectacle of grand proportions.
For a full listing of events in Ottawa visit: ottawatourism.ca
Tuck into the Tastes of Ottawa
Visitors can discover Ottawa's flourishing food scene and tuck into regional cuisine with C'est Bon Cooking Food Tours. Founded on the belief that one of the best ways to understand a people and its culture is to explore local food markets, experience local specialties and meet with local Chefs and food artisans, the tours bring visitors face-to-face with the culinary delights of the region in a fun and interactive way - cestboncooking.ca
Create a tasty treat or a festive feast at the Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute. The esteemed culinary institute in Ottawa is the North American headquarters for Le Cordon Bleu and the only location of the school in Canada. Visitors can try their hand at creating culinary delights under the tutelage of an expert Chef. The short courses range from 3-hour demonstration courses to 6-hour practical courses. If eating a masterpiece holds more appeal than creating one, then the on-site restaurants, Le Cordon Bleu Bistro and Signatures will go down a treat with lunch service Tuesday through Friday, or a more exclusive à la carte evening menu Thursday through Saturday - lcbottawa.com
Business made Easy
In April 2011, Ottawa will celebrate the opening of the new Ottawa Convention Centre. After a substantial $180 million investment, the Ottawa Convention Centre will feature almost 200,000 square feet of usable space overlooking the scenic Rideau Canal and downtown Ottawa in a LEED certified Silver building - ottawaconventioncentre.com
