The Concierge

Having a knowledgeable concierge team at the hotel is key to ensuring service excellence. A concierge is a resource for whatever the guest might need. A perfect example would be a small group that suddenly required a tour of the city. It took one call to our limousine company and voila, a private tour for 30 people!

What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Ottawa has a wide variety of outstanding restaurants. Signatures Restaurant is a great choice; it is affiliated with the Cordon Bleu Cooking School; a group can even do a cooking demo before making their way to dinner! At the top of my list is Wilfrid’s Restaurant, located within the hotel, which offers groups a private dining area for up to 45 people. Another popular selection is Eighteen; it features a unique heritage setting with modern decor. Other great options include Social, Metropolitan and the Empire Grill.

What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
I would first ask the organizer what experience they wish to have, since Ottawa offers a wide range of locations, including trendy, elegant, fun, or casual. One idea that I love for groups is having a salsa lesson and then heading over to Caliente’s, a salsa dance club. A favorite for me, and many of our delegates, is Zoé’s Lounge, which is located off the main lobby of the hotel; it features live piano and vocal music. Another popular request is martini lounges, and I have a couple of top picks, including The Velvet Room and Collection/Bar 56. For the casual request, the Heart and Crown Pub is a great location, and so is McLaren’s Pub, where you can even shoot some pool.

Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
I would definitely recommend taking a stroll along the Rideau Canal; this is great no matter what time of year. Another very nice location is the pathway behind the Parliament Buildings, along the Ottawa River. Of course, Sussex Street is great if you want to stroll along and pop into some shops along the way.

Are there any quirky places we should check out?
The Parliament Hill cats are worth a gander while visiting the Parliament Buildings. These domestic cats have some chic digs and they are often found on their porch waiting to say hello to passers-by. Just outside of downtown Ottawa is the Diefenbunker, which was built as a four-story underground bunker, where members of Canada’s polical elite would ride out the effects of a nuclear attack.

If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
If you only have an hour or two, my suggestion is that you walk through the ByWard Market, the oldest continuously operated farmers market in Canada, with a variety of vendors, shops and cafes. While you are walking through you must try a BeaverTail, a famous traditional pastry treat! You should also make some time to visit one of Ottawa’s many national museums.

What has been an unusual request from a group?
We receive a myriad of requests, some more unusual than others. We have been asked to help set up a treasure hunt for a group who was not at all familiar with the area. The catch was that they could not go anywhere that started with a certain letter. We don’t ask why; we simply assist.

What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
Since we are located in the heart of the nation’s capital, we have seen many unique and important events play out in front of our eyes. A great example would be the Politics and the Pen Dinner. This event hosts the who’s who from all political parties and pairs them with famous Canadian writers. The G20 Finance Ministers Conference and the G7 Economic Summit are two other events that are etched in my memory as impressive and very exciting.