Connect in Ottawa newsletter – Winter 2024

CSAE Ottawa-Gatineau Tête-à-Tête 2024

The highly anticipated Tête-à-Tête was hosted at Ottawa’s EY Centre on February 7, 2024, and hundreds of professionals from the global association and not-for-profit community came out to network and learn with one another.

Ottawa Tourism was the event's sustainability sponsor this year. The role included supporting an inspiring panel discussion on the intersection of business events and sustainability, as well as incorporating several eco-conscious elements into the Ottawa Tourism booth.

The booth was built from recyclable materials and transformed into a Tulip Market conceptualized by Chic + Swell, an event design company committed to the unexpected, and designed by Florencia Alba, a local artist dedicated to green art. Booth visitors found her handcrafting recyclable flowers and were invited to arrange tulips into their own one-of-a-kind bouquet.

Exhibitors were asked to donate their tradeshow scraps to the Ottawa Tourism booth at the end of the event. Re4m Design and Fabrication, a local recycling design firm, is currently transforming those booth leftovers into a piece of art for CSAE National in 2024. Details on the masterpiece are yet to be announced, but attendees can look forward to a truly unique decorative element at the evening reception this fall.

Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown unveils renovations perfect for bleisure travel 

It’s been two years of renovations for the hotel at 350 Dalhousie Street. The project includes updated guest rooms, public spaces, meeting and event facilities and six new functional spaces with custom catering. The lobby is decorated with mid-century modern furnishing, guest rooms have new carpeting, beds, linens and feature walls and all bathrooms offer walk-in showers.

Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown has been a popular choice for business travellers due to its location in the historic ByWard Market and proximity to major conference and event centres. The renovated hotel now boasts dedicated workspaces (including pod stations within their cozy on-site restaurant, The Bistro, so you can work while you dine) and 3,400 square feet of modern meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 400 people.

Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown treats guests to luxury accommodations while being only steps away from the city’s greatest attractions.

Fairmont Château Laurier welcomes new Events and Activations Manager

In early January 2024, Catherine McLaughlin became the inaugural hire for the Events and Activations Manager role. 

Bolstered by over 20 years of experience delivering exciting events across the city and nurturing relationships with vendors, stakeholders, and business and community leaders, Catherine will help shape the legacy of the hotel by crafting a variety of unforgettable activations for guests.

Les Suites Hotel Ottawa introduces new Modern Suite concept 

Les Suites Hotel Ottawa, located in the ByWard Market, has unveiled their new Modern Suites, 700-1000 square feet guest rooms with stainless steel appliances, elegant plank flooring, glass-encased showers and open floor plans. The team is also finalizing phase two of their three-phase renovation program.

Les Suites Hotel Ottawa welcomes new Sales Manager

Christine McAllister joined the Les Suites Hotel Ottawa team as Sales Manager in early December. She brings a high-energy attitude and over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the position.

Rest and recharge with winter wellness experiences

Treat yourself to ultimate relaxation while visiting Ottawa on business — the city offers plenty of opportunities to slow down. Read more on the blog.

Ottawa Tourism and The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau release white paper on the ethics of AI use in the global association event industry

Ottawa Tourism partnered with The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau to create a critical white paper reflecting on the ethics of using AI in the global association event industry. Surveys, interviews and round table discussions with experts from both the global association event and AI industry informed the white paper, “Ethics and Education: Essential requirements for successful use of AI by association event organisers.”

Did you know that 63% of association respondents think governments should legislate on the use of AI in event organising, but that 65% also think those governments lack the required knowledge to be able to legislate effectively?

Discover more key insights about the evolution of the event industry by reviewing the white paper in the Business Events teams’ meetings and conventions resources.

• CESSE CEO Meeting – February 25-28, 2024, in Savannah
• Sport Events Congress - March 13-15, 2024, in Winnipeg
• SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit - April 7-11, 2024, in Birmingham
• Business Events Industry Week – April 9-11, 2024, in Washington, DC
• SportsPro Live - April 23-24, 2024, in London
• IMEX Frankfurt – May 14-16, 2024, in Frankfurt

• International Indigenous Tourism Conference 2024 – February 26-29, 2024
• Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) Annual Conference 2024 – February 27-29, 2024
• 2024 Reality Conference – March 3-7
• 4th session of the International Negotiation on a Future Treaty for Plastic Pollution – April 18-30, 2024
• Acoustical Society of America Semi-Annual North American Spring 2024 Convention - May 11-17, 2024
• 91e Congrès de l’ACFAS 2024 – May 13-17, 2024
• Canada-Wide Science Fair 2024 - May 13-19, 2024
• Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering 2024 – May 15-18, 2024