Tour Times – Spring 2025

Changing of the Guard returns to Parliament Hill

The free Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place daily at 10:00 a.m. on Parliament Hill from July 1 to August 20. Visitors can enjoy the full parade, including the Ceremonial Guard and band, from Wednesday to Sunday. On Mondays and Tuesdays, only the band will perform.

Summer music festivals in Ottawa

Ottawa’s summer music scene is electric, offering iconic festivals across the national capital region. From massive outdoor stages to intimate jazz lounges, there’s something for every kind of music lover.

Annual highlights include Ottawa Bluesfest in July, one of the largest international music events in the world. Held at Lebreton Flats, this multi-day festival draws hundreds of thousands of fans for performances by top global and local artists.

Nostalgia Music Festival takes over the same site later in the summer, delivering the best tribute acts from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.

In early September, CityFolk brings more than 30 acts spanning folk, rock, country, hip hop, and alternative genres to Lansdowne Park. This eclectic event also features local vendors, craft beer, and family-friendly programming.

Other summertime favourites include the Ottawa Jazz Festival, a week-long celebration of jazz, soul, and funk that fills venues city-wide, and Escapade Music Festival, a high-energy electronic music experience known for its immersive production and international talent. 

Ottawa Tourism’s Travel Trade team sales blitzes and missions

Ottawa Tourism’s Travel Trade team has been busy with several sales blitzes and a major London Sales Mission. The international sales mission included 10 members who were able to meet with 23 UK tour operators through one-on-one appointments and networking lunches. The members also had the opportunity to train around 50 UK travel agents. This successful mission allowed members to meet new companies, as well as build relationships with companies with whom they are already working.

In Canada, Team Ottawa hosted a series of impressive sales blitzes in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. Organized in collaboration with Tourisme Outaouais, these events followed a mini marketplace format, featuring pre-scheduled appointments between participating members and regional tour operators and receptive agencies.

Members had the chance to showcase their products and services to over 45 clients, resulting in over 450 individual meetings. The events took place over a day and a half in Toronto, a full day in Montreal and a morning in Quebec City.

Each event also featured a networking lunch, offering a valuable chance for members — as well as representatives from Ottawa Tourism and Tourisme Outaouais — to engage in informal conversations and strengthen relationships with attendees.

Ottawa Tourism’s Travel Trade at Rendez-vous Canada 2025

From May 27-30, Ottawa Tourism’s Travel Trade team attended Rendez-vous Canada 2025 in Winnipeg, one of the country’s biggest travel trade events. The gathering brought together global industry leaders for four days of networking, partnership building and highlighting Canada’s top tourism experiences.

Ottawa Tourism hosted over 100 clients, tour operators and industry partners for an exclusive networking reception before the marketplace officially opened. These initiatives, organized in partnership with Tourisme Outaouais, continue to strengthen Ottawa’s position as a top destination for groups and FIT.

Rendez-vous Canada returns in 2026 to Toronto from May 26-29.

AC Hotel by Marriott Ottawa Downtown now open

Groups and FIT have a new place to stay in the heart of Ottawa! The AC Hotel by Marriott Ottawa Downtown welcomed its first guests on April 24, 2025, offering 159 sleek, modern guest rooms and standout amenities including a pool, sauna, fitness centre and five sunlit meeting rooms.

Located in the vibrant ByWard Market area and just steps from the Rideau LRT Station, the hotel is within easy reach of top attractions like the National Gallery of Canada and CF Rideau Centre. Designed with a European-inspired aesthetic, the property includes thoughtful touches such as EV charging stations, USB-A outlets and daily breakfast at the stylish AC Kitchen.

The AC Hotel is part of a growing list of Marriott-branded properties coming to Ottawa, with a Moxy Hotel set to open in early 2026, followed by a Renaissance Hotel in 2027.

New Ottawa Wine and Cider Tour

Embark on a 7-hour escape through the National Capital Region’s top wineries with Lady Dive’s Ottawa Wine and Cider Tour. Groups and FIT can enjoy curated tastings at three distinctive wineries, each paired with local food offerings. The tour departs from the ByWard Market up to twice weekly in the morning — visit the website for current schedules and availability.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa opens in July

Canada’s first Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is set to open July 3 in Ottawa, transforming the former Rideau Carleton Casino & Raceway into a dynamic new destination for visitors. This all-in-one entertainment complex will feature a 150-room hotel, 1,500 slot machines, 40 live-action table games, high-limit gaming and an 1,800-seat Hard Rock Live theatre — with standing room for up to 2,200 guests. Visitors can also enjoy more than 10 dining and nightlife options, including the legendary Hard Rock Cafe and the award-winning Council Oak Steakhouse.

Unlock Ottawa deals with a Lady Dive pass

With the purchase of a 1-day, 2-day, or combo pass for Lady Dive’s double-decker tour, groups and FIT travellers unlock exclusive deals at select restaurants, attractions and museums. Visitors can show their tour bracelet to redeem offers, which vary by participating location. Full list available online.

Arbraska Laflèche’s eco-adventure expansion launches this summer

Arbraska Laflèche, an outdoor amusement park just 30 mins from Ottawa in Gatineau, is getting a $2.6-million makeover. Designed with sustainable travel in mind, the park’s expansion introduces unique outdoor attractions perfect for group tours and FIT travellers seeking immersive, nature-based experiences.

Visitors can now bounce through a whimsical 12,000-square-foot world of nets suspended high among the trees in Uplå, a joyful forest immersion that invites guests of all ages to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature. Later this year, the park will debut Obā, a multimedia journey through time inside Canada’s largest cave in the Canadian Shield — complete with soundscapes, light projections, and an awe-inspiring look at Earth’s origins.

Set to open in spring 2026, Nesta will offer guests a chance to spend the night in treehouse-like cocoons, gently swaying above the forest floor. 

Arbraska Laflèche already welcomes over 600,000 annual visitors, and these new additions are expected to draw even more outdoor adventurers to the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Whether planning an active group itinerary or a FIT getaway with a sustainable twist, this forested playground offers a bold new reason to explore just beyond the city.

Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship walking tour

The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) serves as Ottawa’s central hub for Holocaust education, offering programs focused on remembrance, combating antisemitism, community engagement and school outreach. Now integrated into the city’s educational landscape, CHES invites visitors to explore the National Holocaust Monument through a free walking tour app.

The National Holocaust Monument IWalk is designed to engage both students and educators, providing meaningful resources that foster remembrance and learning. The IWalk experience guides participants through the devastating legacy of antisemitism during the Holocaust and highlights its ongoing relevance today.

Cycle Canada's national capital region

Groups and FIT travelers can explore Ottawa’s scenic beauty on wheels thanks to the city’s extensive network of bike paths. From gliding alongside the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to cycling along the Ottawa River Pathway or tackling the rolling hills of Gatineau Park, there’s a route for every skill level. Local operators like Escape Bicycle Tours offer convenient bike rentals and guided tours to help visitors make the most of the experience.

Summer thrills at Camp Fortune

Just 15 minutes from downtown, Camp Fortune is a top summer adventure destination for groups and FIT travelers in the National Capital Region. Highlights include peak-to-peak ziplines with a 50-foot free fall, a thrilling mountain pipe coaster through the forest, and an aerial park featuring suspended bridges and walkways. It’s an ideal choice for student groups and families seeking a mix of adrenaline and nature.

Virtual Coffee Break FAM – Parc Omega

Parc Omega is a four-season wildlife park, but summer offers unique outdoor animal experiences, including birds of prey demonstrations and guided talks on wolves, beavers and wolverines!

You can watch the Virtually Ottawa Coffee Break FAM tour here.

Planning a new tour to Ottawa but can’t get here just yet? Explore Canada’s capital through our many virtual guided tours and FAMs.

Discover itineraries and packaged travel ideas curated for groups and FIT. You can also contact the Ottawa Tourism Travel Trade team here or explore the Travel Trade toolbox.

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