To help celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary this year I’ve been focusing on highlighting what to do when visiting Canada. Here in my hometown Ottawa, I decided to spend the night at The Lord Elgin Hotel, which opened in 1941 and is named after Canada’s first Governor-General James Bruce 8th Earl of Elgin. Right in the heart of downtown Ottawa, the grand twelve-storey hotel has a copper roof like the Parliament Buildings which are located just a short walk away.
The Lord Elgin Hotel
As of November last year The Lord Elgin Hotel completed a major renovation to the hotel, which each of the rooms getting a $28,000 facelift so I decided it was the perfect reason to visit the hotel and see the changes that were done.
Rich with history, this hotel has hosted plenty of celebrity guests including U2’s Bono, Blondie, and even the Dalai Lama. Walking around the hotel, you can help but appreciate that despite the remodels to update the hotel, some of the historic architectural features, such as the original mailbox, or gold elevator doors remain.
My Room
For my stay, I was in the Elgin Class room located on a corner of the building giving you windows on two sides of the building so you can see more of downtown Ottawa. My newly renovated room was massive, with plenty of floor space in the bedroom, a large comfortable king bed, and a desk perfect for business travelers as it offered a comfortable work chair and ample desk space.
I have to admit I was beyond surprised to find roses waiting in my room upon arriving at my room, which was a first for me at a hotel. The small gesture from the hotel made my stay feel more luxurious, as the entire chamber smelled faintly like roses, which happen to be one of my two favorite flowers.
Keeping to neutral tones and warm woods, the updated room provided plush house coats and a Keurig coffee maker perfect for those who need a cup of coffee the moment they wake up.
Durning my stay I was impressed by the friendly customer service at the hotel, and the fast room service which had a large menu to pick from.
The bathroom appears to be where the most of the renovations were focused, offering a large marble shower. I appreciated that unlike some hotels that only offer soap, and hair products The Lord Elgin Hotel provided a more extensive range of toiletries from mouthwash, lotions, soaps, and many other supplies which were wonderful.
The hotel is an excellent choice for business travelers, being right downtown it is close to everything. I certainly took advantage of the free hotel wifi, and ample outlets around the room made it easy to work from the desk or check my emails from bed in the morning.
The Verdict
Located right across the street from Confederation Park, which often hosts festivals and events (such as Winterlude, Jazz Festival, Ottawa Race Weekend) The Lord Elgin Hotel is a short walk to a variety of attractions including The National Arts Centre, The National War Memorial and The Parliament Buildings. The convenient location, affordable rates, and spacious traditional rooms make it a good choice for those looking to visit Ottawa to take part in the 150th celebrations taking part all year round.