James Lancaster explores how the Canadian capital’s reputation as a technology hub is attracting international associations …

The Canadians have form when it comes to exploiting their industrial strengths to attract international conferences – it’s been a central plank in the government’s business events strategy for years, chiefly through the work of tourism promotional body Destination Canada.

Six sectors have been identified as bearing the stamp of Canadian expertise: advanced manufacturing, life science, agribusiness, digital, natural resources and finance and insurance.

Ottawa, the nation’s capital and seat of government, employs almost 200,000 people in the field of public administration, and packs a punch in healthcare and education, too.

But the city’s forte is undoubtedly technology.

Per capita, Ottawa’s digital industry sector is larger than Silicon Valley’s - and it draws on its reputation as a ‘technology hub’ to attract the attention of conference organisers.

Technology is the driving force behind Ottawa’s economy – fuelling growth in the life sciences, software development, communications, aerospace defence systems, cyber security, smart mobility and retail technology. Ottawa, lest we forget, was the birthplace of Shopify.

There are more than 1,800 tech or ‘knowledge-based’ businesses in the National Capital Region. Global giants like Nokia, Ford, Ericsson, Ciena and IBM share the Ottawa ecosystem with homegrown heroes such as Kinaxis, Ross Video, Fullscript and Mitel, and startups and scaleups like Rewind, Fellow, Noibu, Assent, Solink and Mindbridge.

The vibrancy of the city’s tech scene – coupled with the fact that Ottawa is the most educated city in Canada (almost 50 per cent of people aged 25-64 in Ottawa have a bachelor's degree or higher) - is proving catnip for organisers of international business events and conferences.

Ottawa

Ottawa map

"Invest Ottawa is guided by a vision to help realise Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognised, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city..."

Canada Museum of History

In 2023, Ottawa hosted a range of engineering and tech conferences including: the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers and the 28th IAVSD Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and on Tracks. A further dozen conferences were also hosted across various tech sectors, five of which were international. And 2024 is shaping up to be another stellar year for tech-related conferences, with ten events confirmed so far, many linked to associations.

Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programmes and services that catalyse the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. Since 2013, the economic development body has supported some 14,000 companies, contributed to the creation of more than 14,700 jobs, helped companies raise $1.86bn in capital and attracted $1.47bn in domestic and foreign direct investment to Ottawa. The CBRE 2023 North American Top Tech Talent Report notes that Ottawa has the highest concentration of tech talent across 50 North American markets at 13.3 per cent of all jobs, more than double the 50-market average.

“Invest Ottawa is guided by a vision to help realise Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognised, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city,” says Sonya Shorey, president and CEO, Invest Ottawa, Area X.O and Bayview Yards.

"Ottawa's burgeoning status as a tech hub is a direct result of our commitment to creating an environment where innovation, entrepreneurship, and growing businesses can flourish. The increasing number of tech-focused business events and conferences hosted here in Ottawa underscores our city's diverse, collaborative community and our ability to attract and nurture top-tier talent and leading businesses."

Ottawa's commercial offering is also supported by its top educational post-secondary institutions, who are home to more than 168,000 students, with a significant portion specialising in STEM fields. This has contributed to Ottawa being recognised as Canada's most educated city, with 61 per cent of the workforce holding post-secondary degrees.

“Ottawa’s tech offering continues to go from strength to strength, which in turn impacts the conference market, particularly in the association sector as we see more and more organisations look to us as a host for their next event,” says Lesley Pincombe, VP, meetings & major events, Ottawa Tourism.

Of course, all this would matter not a jot, if Ottawa lacked the meetings infrastructure that bigger cities might take for granted. Luckily the city boasts excellent flight routes from North America and Europe and scores well on safety, diversity, inclusivity, and high quality of life. As a G7 capital with significant event infrastructure, including a multi-award-winning congress centre, Ottawa is well-equipped to host large-scale international events. The city’s cultural richness, bilingualism, and vibrant tech and business ecosystem create a unique and welcoming environment for event attendees from across the world.

Rideau Canal Parliament Hill Fairmont Chateau Laurier Shaw Centre

2024: TECH-RELATED EVENTS HELD IN OTTAWA

GeoIgnite Canada 2024
2024 IEEE NSREC
ATLAS Hadronic Calibration Workshop 2024
NREN Assembly and CANARIE Summit 2024
NATO Military Conference 2024
AC-9 AC-9C AC-9M Committee Meeting 2024
IEEE World Forum on Internet of Things 2024
Manufacturing Matters 2024
Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) Conference
17th International Conference on Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete (ICAAR)

Hotels will boost Ottawa’s meetings infrastructure

Four new hotels are coming to Ottawa over the next three years.
The introduction of AC Marriott, Moxy, Renaissance and Hard Rock Hotel will provide state-of-the-art facilities and accommodation, providing the city with additional capacity and alternatives to the city’s current hotel stock.
“Ottawa has, in recent years, solidified its position as a premier destination for conferences and events,” says Pincombe. “The addition of these four hotels will not only ramp up our city's accommodation offering but also provide state-of-the-art venues capable of hosting large numbers of delegates in style and comfort.”
The first, the AC Marriott Ottawa is scheduled to open its doors in autumn 2024.
This sophisticated hotel will offer a blend of modern design and classic comfort, featuring bright and airy meeting rooms, cutting-edge conference facilities, and exceptional dining options. It will offer 159 guestrooms and five meeting rooms totalling 3,648 square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows as well as lounges and exterior space
Following closely in spring 2025, Moxy Ottawa, renowned for its contemporary design, will launch bringing 224 guestroom and a vibrant and playful atmosphere to the city's hospitality scene.
Both the AC Marriott and the Moxy Ottawa will be in the Byward Market, within walking distance of the Rideau Centre, the University of Ottawa and the Shaw Centre.
Later in 2025, the iconic Hard Rock Hotel Ottawa is set to open. Bringing Hard Rock's legendary hospitality and rock 'n' roll spirit to Ottawa, it will feature stylish rooms, world-class entertainment, as well as meeting and events spaces to fit any bill. It promises 150 guestrooms and 22 suites as well as a 1,800-seat theatre with standing room for 2,200 guests. In addition, it will boast a casino, restaurants, bars and lounges.
Finally, in 2027, Renaissance Ottawa will make its debut in downtown Ottawa, offering a luxurious distinctive style and personalised service. Renaissance Ottawa will feature 230 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space.
“Each of these hotels will support the city’s growing conference and events business and their strategic locations mean easy access for both domestic and international gatherings,” concludes Pincombe.

Shaw Centre

How Ottawa is reducing delegate food waste

A new initiative aims to tackle food waste while addressing food insecurity in Ottawa, writes Holly Patrick.

The partnership between Ottawa Tourism and La Tablée des Chefs, a non-profit organisation which aims to feed and educate, will help event venues facilitate the donation of surplus food to local community organisations. La Tablée des Chefs will collaborate with donors and community groups to ensure food is distributed sustainably and safely.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in our efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable tourism and event industry,” said Ottawa Tourism president and CEO, Michael Crockatt. “We are proud to join forces with an organisation as talented and thoughtful as La Tablée des Chefs, with whom we know we can make a meaningful impact on both environmental and social fronts, towards the broader well-being of our community.”

Jean-François Archambault, founder and CEO of La Tablée des Chefs, added, “We are really encouraged by Ottawa Tourism’s leadership in being the first destination organisation to directly join our efforts to move the industry in the right direction. Food waste is a real concern, and I am happy to see we can turn this into something so positive for everyone involved.”

Ottawa Tourism’s initiative is designed to build relationships between conference and event venues and local community organisations, providing a direct link for the donation of surplus food. This collaboration ensures that event hosts can make a positive impact on the destination's community, knowing their efforts contribute to a greater cause.

Ottawa’s Destination Stewardship Plan emphasises the necessity for the tourism industry to elevate sustainability and social responsibility. This programme aligns with the Plan’s goals, demonstrating Ottawa Tourism’s dedication to addressing food insecurity by acting as a liaison and facilitator between hospitality partners and La Tablée des Chefs.