TOUR
TIMES
The official Travel Trade Newsletter of Ottawa Tourism
OTTAWA, CANADAS CAPITAL
Ottawa is Canadas capital city, a
dynamic showcase destination popular
with visitors from across the country and
around the world. Its a city where you
can discover and celebrate Canadas
heritage at impressive landmark sites,
national museums and annual festivals.
Built at the meeting point of three rivers
A MILLION SIGNS OF SPRING!
Named the Top Canadian Destination in
2015 by the American Bus Association,
the Canadian Tulip Festival takes place
in Ottawa May 8 18, 2015. This
year marks the 70th anniversary of
the Liberation of the Netherlands by
Canadian troops which resulted in the
gifting of tulips shipped from Holland to
Ottawa. Beautiful Commissioners Park
at Dows Lake is the Festivals main site,
with over 300,000 blooms, floral fireworks
and a Liberation Caf serving tea and
snacks. A new Princess sculpture
commemorating the gift of tulips and the
150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA
SPRING 2015
on Ontarios border with Quebec,
Ottawa is a diverse city where youll
hear English, French and many other
languages spoken in the streetsand a
place where you can experience urban
out our group and student products plus
delights, natural beauty and outdoor
suggested Ottawa Itineraries online.
adventure. Find out more about our
services for the travel trade and check www.ottawatourism.ca/traveltrade
wartime birth of Dutch Princess Margriet
in Ottawa will be unveiled. Bring your
cameras and your sense of wonder!
www.tulipfestival.ca
Get Involved
The Canadian Tulip Festival has updated
their website for the upcoming 2015
festival. The festival requires over 300
Volunteer tasks include shuttle and
volunteers from May 8 18, 2015. If
ground ambassadors, floaters, Junior
you or someone you know has time to
Youth and Logistic Team volunteers.
volunteer, please have them contact
the Canadian Tulip Festival website. tulipfestival.ca/volunteers

BYTOWN MUSEUM UPDATE
Housed in Ottawas oldest stone
building, the BYTOWN MUSEUM traces
the history of Ottawas early years from
the construction of the Rideau Canal
through the rough and tumble days
of Bytown, to the citys emergence as
Canadas capital and beyond.
Temporary Exhibitions
Hidden in Plain Sight: Ottawas History
in the Background
April 9, 2015 January 3, 2016
The Building and Burning of
Parliament
January 29, 2016 October 31, 2016
Bytown Museum:
A Century of Community
February 3rd, 2017 through to February
19th, 2018
The Bytown Museum is planning two
signature events for 2017! June 27th
it celebrates the day it opened its doors
in the Commissariat in 1952. On October
25th it marks 100 years since the
founding of the Bytown Historical
Museum in 1917!
UPDATE: PARLIAMENT HILL TOURS
Parliament has recently
announced some
important changes
affecting tours of the
Parliament Buildings and
Peace Tower.
There will be no tours or visitors allowed
inside Parliament (not even the Peace
Tower) during Caucus meetings on
Wednesday mornings.
Tours during regular House sittings
150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA
Museum Eats!
The Bytown Museum is now offering
two healthy and unique meal options for
groups: LumberJack Breakfast and Boxed
Lunch on the Run. Group and FIT clients
can also enjoy cold beverages or specialty
coffees and selection of teas as well as
pre-packaged food items. Contact the
Museum for info (613) 234-4570
Extended 2015 Hours
SUMMER HOURS
Saturday May 16Sunday October 11,
2015: Open Daily 10 am to 5pm and
open until 8 pm on Thursdays with free
admission after 5 pm.
EXTENDED SUMMER HOURS
Saturday June 20Sunday August 30,
2015: Open Daily 10 am to 7 pm and
open until 8 pm on Thursdays with free
admission after 5 pm.
www.bytownmuseum.com
Audio tours of the Bytown Museum are
available in English, French, German,
Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish and are
included with the price of admission.
will continue but will pause during
Question Period.
The maximum number of people per tour
has been reduced to 30 from 50.
Bags larger than 18 long X 14 wide
X 8 deep are not permitted in Centre
Block. Larger bags should be left on the
bus or at the hotel.
More information:
www.parl.gc.ca/Visitors/index-e.html
MONEY
MUSEUM
The Bank of Canada Museum
(formerly the Currency Museum) will
re-open in July 2017completely
re-designed and modernized to provide
an exciting and innovative visitor
experience thats all about money!
www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca
MMMMM
BACON
Canada Agriculture and
Food Museum
Saturday,
September 12, 2015
The Canada Agriculture and Food
Museum presents Baconpalooza,
a sizzling event with something for
everyone, on Saturday, September 12,
2015. Celebrate all things bacon and
go hog wild for the food trucks, beer
and cocktail tents, squeal in delight at
the smoking and BBQ demonstrations
and live entertainment. And be sure to
check out the market, where you can
even bring home the bacon!
School Programs at the Museum
School groups can discover life on
the farm as they explore its seasonal
cycles, make food from scratch, and
see farm technology at work.
www.cafmuseum.techno-science.ca
 HOTEL NEWS
Ottawas Newest Hotel:
The Holiday Inn
Express Orleans
The Holiday Inn Express Orleans is
located just 20 minutes from downtown
Ottawa and features 103 beautifully
designed guestrooms. Complimentary
parking and internet is also available to
guests of the hotel. 613-824-8444
www.hieottawaorleans.com
Hilton Garden Inn
Located right near the Ottawa Airport,
Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport, is
still just 15 minutes from downtown.
This soundproof hotel provides a range
of services and amenities for your
comfort and convenience, including a
complimentary airport shuttle service
which operates between 4:00am
and 12:30am. The hotel is currently
expanding, adding an additional tower of
100 guest rooms and expanding
its restaurant.
www.ottawaairport.hgi.com
150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA
PRODUCT UPDATES
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Tour and Fly at the Canada Aviation
and Space Museum
A special package available May to Oct.
Groups: Over a half day period, admission opportunity of a lifetime.
and guided tours of the Canada Aviation
and Space Museum, one of the world's
best, and a behind-the-scenes visit to the casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/
Reserve Hangar will be offered to the entire whats-on/biplane-rides.php
group, with rides available in a vintage 1939
Canadian Museum of History and
Canadian War Museum
Both of these important national
museums are offering new
group packages.
Early Start
Available this May and June at the
Canadian Museum of History, this
package includes group arrival and
breakfast at 8am, followed by a guided
tour or an IMAX film at 9am before the
Museum opens.
Dinner Dances
Available at both museums for student
operators with choice to add a buffet
dinner prior and snacks during the
event. Prices with or without DJ and
entertainment offered, depending on
space availability.
open cockpit biplane - the best view of
Canada's Capital Region and a once-in-
a-lifetime experience. Please note, only
half of the group members will receive
rides during the time frame of the tour.
Flights are two passengers per flight.
FIT: Includes adult admissions, Reserve
Hangar tours for the Canada Aviation
and Space Museum, one of the worlds
best, and a flight in a vintage 1939 open
cockpit biplane - the best view of
Canada's Capital Region and an
Reservations: call 613-316-7229 or
email: race_day@msn.com
Dining
Very affordable group meal options
for breakfast, lunch and dinner are
available at both Museum cafeterias.
IMAX Evenings
The Canadian Museum of History is
now offering groups the chance to
choose the IMAX film of their choice for
evening viewings.
Multi-lingual Visitor Guides
Updated visitor guides are available in
English, French, Chinese, Japanese,
German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
www.historymuseum.ca
www.warmuseum.ca
 PRODUCT UPDATES
Continued
Holtz Spa
Sleep Spa Series
Jet lagged, overworked, need a quick
nap to refresh? The Holtz Spa Sleep
series will lull you into deep relaxation
mode with Chamomile and Lavender
Aromatherapy Massages and Facials.
A 20-minute naptime post-treatment
means you dont have to move just
nap! Our service providers will tuck
you in and wake you up, refreshed,
revitalized and rested!
The Slumber Massage promotes deep
relaxation with a blissful combination
of Swedish, Hot Stone and Lavender
Chamomile Aromatherapy Massage
with an added 20-minute naptime.
Holtz Sleep Facial is a holistic body,
mind and skincare treatment that
National Gallery of Canada
See Canada in one day through the
Worlds largest Canadian Art Collection.
Every visit is unique because 1,200
art works are displayed on rotation
and special exhibitions are presented
throughout the year.
New Exhibitions
Spring / Summer 2015
Alex Colville
Apr 23 Sep 7, 2015
Highly anticipated exhibition.
One of Canadas most celebrated
iconic artists.
Alex Colville, To Prince Edward Island (detail),
1965. NGC, Ottawa. Photo NGC.
Chagall: Daphnis & Chlo
May 25 Sep 7, 2015
A captivating love story narrated visually
through a set of colour lithographs
between a goatherd and shepherdess.
150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA
incorporates a Lavender Chamomile
Relaxation Massage, our famous
European Facial and healing Reiki
Energy Balancing for total rejuvenation
and stress relief with an added
20-minute naptime. No need to count
sheep you will be off to never-never
land in no time! Please contact Holtz
Spa to make reservations for FIT clients
at special Travel Industry rates.
www.holtzspa.com
Fall / Winter 2015
Monet
Oct 30, 2015 Feb 15, 2016
Famous impressionists study of a
bridge during the 1870s in France.
Spring / Summer 2016
Vige Le Burn
Apr 3 Sep 5, 2016
French painter recognized as the
most important female painter of the
18th century. Official portraitist of
Marie Antoinette.
Fall / Winter 2016
Alex Janvier
Oct 21, 2016 Fev 17, 2017
A pioneer of contemporary Canadian
aboriginal art in Canada.
www.gallery.ca
Calypso Theme Waterpark
Calypso Theme
Waterpark
Located minutes east of Ottawa,
Calypso is the largest waterpark in
Canada. With state of the art water
rides, a huge wave pool, a river run, fun
slides galore, white water experience
and the Calypso Palace Wave Pool,
there is something for everyone. Calypso
has a variety of packages available for
groups. Contact Calypso today and
ask about the Beyond Imagination tour
package for your next group coming to
Ottawa. 613.443.9995 ext:0
www.calypsopark.com
Lady Dive
Lady Dive offers a fun and informative
way to tour the city. Visitors can select
the classic double-decker bus for
their bilingual, fully-narrated tour of
Ottawa landmarks and history, as well
as enjoy hop-on, hop-off privileges
at eight stops looping around the
city. Amphibus will run from May 1st
to October 12, 2015 and the Double
Deckers From April 25th to October
18, 2015. Offering hop-on, hop-off and
double-decker buses with 8 languages.
www.ladydive.com
 PRODUCT UPDATES
Continued

Ottawa Walking Tours

New for May October 2015
Art In Public Spaces Tour. Led by a former curator of the National Gallery of Canada,
this fascinating tour takes in some of the many works of art in public spaces in downtown Supreme Court of
Ottawa. Learn about the art and the artists who made these incredible works, the role of
public art in the capital, and the materials used for these impressive works.
Canada
www.ottawawalkingtours.com Supreme Court of Canada tour guides
are all law students and help familiarize
visitors with the operations of the
Canadian judicial system and explain
how legal issues of public importance
are dealt with by the Court. When the
Court is in session, it is possible to sit
in on the hearing of an appeal. Guided
tours are available year-round.
www.scc-csc.gc.ca

Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is more than
just a respected part of the Canadian
experienceits an iconic brand
honouring national achievements and
themes since 1908. As an interesting
and educational destination thats open
daily12 months a yearvisitors
are invited to tour the Mints Ottawa
manufacturing facility where the precise
art and craft of coin-making is revealed.
The 2015 theme is the 50th
Anniversary of the Canadian flag. Pauls Boat Lines
www.mint.ca
After several decades of service, Pauls
Boat Lines will no longer offer guided
Shaw Centre tours on the Rideau Canal.
www.paulsboatcruises.com
The Shaw Centre is now catering meals for coach tours and student groups.
Ottawa, Canadas Capital is in a transition
Culinary experiences through food and beverage pairing are also available for groups.
phase and we hope to be able to
www.shaw-centre.com
announce new sustainable programming
but it is highly unlikely that a comparable
operation will take place along the Rideau
Canal in 2015. Boat cruises on the
Ottawa River will be available and offered
by Pauls Boat Lines, Lady Dive Tours
and Capital Cruises.
Ottawa offers many experiences that
may be viable alternatives for your
group and FIT clients. For a list of these
Group and FIT suggestions, contact
traveltrade@ottawatourism.ca

150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA
 PRODUCT UPDATES
Continued

VIA Rail
Convenient, comfortable and affordable, Canadas passenger
train serviceVIA Railis a great travel choice that offers
numerous daily departures to Ottawa from all major cities in
southern Ontario and southern Quebec. Ottawas Central Station
is just minutes east of downtown, and a satellite VIA Rail station
is located to the west of the city at Fallowfield-Barrhaven.

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150 Elgin Street, Suite 1405, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 | 613.237.5150 | WWW.OTTAWATOURISM.CA