OTTAWA – The Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC), Canada’s newest and most sophisticated meeting place, was presented with the New Business of the Year Award last evening at a gala event hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) at the Fairmont Château Laurier.
“We are very pleased to recognize all Canadian Tourism Award winners as organizations and individuals who help make Canada a world-class destination.” said TIAC president and CEO, David Goldstein.
The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually by TIAC to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada’s tourism industry, and to reward those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer a superior tourism experience to travellers in Canada.
“I am humbled to be receiving this prestigious award” said OCC president Pat Kelly in his acceptance speech. “An amazing group of individuals, including our federal, provincial and municipal funding partners, our dedicated OCC Board of Directors, an inspired and innovative project team and committed OCC employees came together to make this project a reality.”
The New Business of the Year Award is presented to an entity that was launched within the past 18 months and has demonstrated innovation, ingenuity, hard work and perseverance to establish a strong, viable and successful new business in the tourism sector.
“Ottawa was always a spectacular meeting destination but was missing one critical element – a world class meeting venue.” said Pat Kelly “The new OCC allows Ottawa to take its rightful place on the international stage, and is a facility all Ottawans, and indeed Canadians, can truly be proud of.”
Just open seven months, OCC is already making an impact on Ottawa’s visitor economy. Over 500 events are forecasted to take place in its first year of operation, which will afford over 200,000 visitors a glimpse of the spectacular panoramic views that can only be seen through the Centre’s impressive glass façade.
The Canadian Tourism Awards have become the standard of excellence for businesses and organizations in the travel industry, showcasing the nation’s best tourism products, services and experiences.
OCC, known as ‘Canada’s Meeting Place’, opened on schedule in April 2011.
Ottawa Convention Centre is an Agency of the Government of Ontario.
