Race weekend, other events provide boost to Ottawa businesses this weekend
It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourism in Ottawa, with thousands of people travelling to the national capital for a number of events.
The president of the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association says hotels in the area are near capacity this weekend, as Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, the Ottawa Redblacks exhibition game, the Great Glebe Garage Sale and other events attract people to Ottawa.
At the Grand in the Byward Market, tourists lined up Saturday for a spot on the patio.
"Sales are always better during the marathon weekend," said David Mangano, owner of The Grand. "It’s one of our busiest weekends of the year and so our sales go up. It’s very busy and it’s very good."
Mangano says sales are up about 50 per cent on Saturday alone.
"It’s just a hop, skip and a jump to the market, so everybody gathers here after the race," he said. "Of course, they all come down the night before to carb up and eat as well.”
The Grand’s management prepared for the weekend by bringing in extra staff members and choosing a condensed menu for the occasion.
Overall, tens of thousands of dollars is being poured into the local economy during the festivities of the weekend, from restaurant and hotel bookings to shopping dollars.
However, not all businesses are benefiting from the events this weekend. It’s quite the opposite at one flower market stall in the ByWard Market.
"It should be a busy weekend, but it’s not busy at all in terms of sales," said Gabriel O’Brien, who works at the market.
O’Brien said it is likely because tourists don’t typically buy flowers and many local residents are avoiding the traffic jams downtown.
She is hopeful that Sunday will bring back the revenue after a slow start to flower sales this weekend.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.