Our recent research for a project in Ottawa, Ontario revealed some exciting new hospitality-related developments happening in the area. These developments will have an impact on tourism, employment, and the general economy in Ottawa and the surrounding areas in 2024 and beyond.

• The owner of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators recently confirmed plans to move the team to a newly constructed arena in downtown Ottawa, replacing the Canadian Tire Centre in west Ottawa. Located within the LeBreton Flats district, the new arena will be part of a mixed-use entertainment district that is slated for completion sometime in the next few years.

• Construction on a new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino began in south Ottawa in mid-2023, at the site of the existing Rideau Carleton Casino. This $350 million project will rebrand and expand the property, adding enhanced dining and entertainment outlets, including a new 1,800-seat concert venue. Scheduled for completion in mid-2025, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will employ roughly 700 workers.

• Canadian developer Germain is moving forward with plans for a new Alt Hotel at the Ottawa International Airport. Representing a total investment of about $55 million, the hotel will be connected to the airport terminal, and it is expected to open in 2025.

• Splitsville Entertainment, a Canadian chain of bowling entertainment centers, has announced plans for a new location at the Kanata Centrum retail center, at the site of the former Future Shop electronics store. In addition to bowling lanes, this new attraction will offer a restaurant, bar, arcade games, and space for birthday parties and other special events. The Splitsville at the Kanata Centrum is scheduled to open in early 2025.

• A new Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort is planned in Cornwall, Ontario, along the U.S./Canadian border about 130 kilometers southeast of Ottawa. This project is expected to create roughly 500 permanent jobs and attract more than half a million visitors to the area each year. Representing a total investment of about $350 million, this will be the second Great Wolf Lodge property in Canada, joining the existing resort in Niagara Falls.