The Lord Elgin Hotel offers over 14,000 square feet of meeting space for conferences, banquets, board meetings and weddings, with up to 225 guests at a reception in its largest room, the Pearson Ballroom. The hotel stands at 100 Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa, steps from the National Arts Centre and a short walk from Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal.
Seminars and company events
Groups have met here for more than 80 years, and the sales team is organized by client type: corporations and universities, associations and unions, and government and embassies. That reflects the address, close to federal offices and to the Rogers Centre Ottawa, the city's convention center, which is under five minutes away on foot.
For a plenary session, the Pearson Ballroom seats 195 theatre-style or 120 classroom-style. Breakouts can run in the Ontario and Quebec Rooms, which share a foyer on the lower lobby level, or in the Laurier, MacDonald, Lady Elgin and St. Laurent Rooms. The MacDonald and Lady Elgin Rooms can be blacked out for presentations. Hybrid events are supported, with a dedicated guide and brochure from the hotel.
Seven boardrooms on floors two through eight take 12 to 40 people. Each has natural light, an en-suite washroom and ergonomic swivel chairs, which suits interview days, budget reviews or small executive sessions.
Weddings and receptions
The Pearson Ballroom hosts weddings of up to 110 guests with a dance floor. The Trillium Room and its patio offer a more recent setting, and a newly renovated room with gold accents and chandelier lighting takes intimate weddings of up to 70 people. The hotel keeps a list of recommended vendors for florals, linens, dance floors and DJs.
Rooms and capacities
The Pearson Ballroom, on the mezzanine, measures 2,200 square feet and divides into Pearson A and Pearson B: 225 for a reception, 195 theatre, 104 at rounds of eight. The Ontario Room, 1,800 square feet, takes 150 standing and 130 theatre. The Lady Elgin, MacDonald and Quebec Rooms each take around 100 standing. The Trillium Room has a 592 square foot patio, and the Confederation Room on the top floor has a working fireplace.
Accommodation
Delegates can stay on site in ten room categories, from Classic Queen rooms to the Churchill and Rideau Suites, including Parkview rooms facing the park and accessible rooms.
Catering
All food and drink is provided by the hotel, with the exception of a wedding cake. The executive chef cooks classic Canadian dishes with local produce, and alongside the standard banquet menu the hotel offers an Indigenous-inspired menu. Vegetarian, gluten-free and other dietary needs are covered. Forty One Restaurant, with an outdoor patio, serves hotel guests.
History and setting
The hotel opened in 1941 and now marks 85 years in business. Its stone facade and steep copper roof make it a familiar landmark on Elgin Street, and the lobby has recently been renovated.
Getting there
The hotel is in the center of Ottawa, within walking distance of Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the Rogers Centre Ottawa. Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is the nearest airport, and the VIA Rail station is a short drive away.
