By C. Gary Greenham
Some Centretown businesses say they stand to benefit from the proposed addition of convention space to Ottawa.
Roman Kassahun, the general manager of the Doral Inn on Albert Street, says in-town conventions are important to her hotel’s bottom line.
“We lose business coming to Ottawa when conventions can’t receive full accomodations,” Kassahun says.
Part of the proposal is to add a 400-room hotel built atop the Ottawa Congress Centre.
Such a prime location would equip many of the rooms with a scenic view of the Rideau Canal and the Parliament buildings.
In addition to the hotel, the proposal is anticipated to include a new convention centre over top of the Eaton store in the Rideau Centre.
The proposal also includes an addition of retail space where a parking lot now stands at the intersection of Rideau and Nicholas streets.
Kassahun says he doesn’t consider the competition the new hotel will bring as a drawback.
“That (new hotel) will draw people. With this new hotel people might think we (the Doral Inn) will lose business, but no. We pool resources and attract more business to come to Ottawa and enjoy all Centretown’s businesses.”
A study last year reported the Congress Centre lost about $10 million over 18 months because of conventions it couldn’t accommodate.
However, Hume Rogers, general manager of Capital Hill Hotel & Suites on Albert Street, says his concern will come when Ottawa’s convention calendar isn’t in full swing.
“During the months when conventions come, we’ll still be running fairly full. However, during the times when there are no conventions the amount of the available pie will be split among more members,” says Rogers.
Louise Crandall is the corporate services manager for the City of Ottawa.
She says a new convention hotel in Centretown won’t be too much competition for the existing smaller hotels in the area.
“I don’t think it’ll have a large impact because the people that will stay at the new hotel will be attending the conferences there,” Crandall says. “Frequently it’s hard to get hotel rooms in Ottawa so I don’t think it’ll have a major impact on the hotels in Centretown.”
Other Centretown businesses have an interest in the project as well.
Carlos Barbosa is the assistant general manager of Big Daddy Crab Shack and Oyster Bar on Elgin Street.
He said the proposal would benefit his business.
“Tourism and conventions definitely have an effect on business,” Barbosa says. “It can be the difference between a good week and a great week for the restaurant so the more conventions we get, the better for us.”
David Wright is the owner of the Snow Goose Canadian Arts & Crafts Ltd.
He says his Sparks Street store can only stand to benefit from more Ottawa conventions.
“Anything that brings more visitors to Ottawa is important to our business,” Wright says. “Fifty per cent of our business is with visitors.”