March break is always fun and this year there are some cool events happening in Ottawa. We know that parents can get easily burnt out over the break but there are some tricks to avoiding it. There are always fun camps to take the kids to and activities to do at home, inside or outside. If you donÔÇÖt want to plan big itÔÇÖs always a nice idea to plan little things throughout the day to make it fun for the kids, but it doesn’t have to be a long crazy day that involves a tremendous amount planning.

Making a “party day” for the kids is always fun and simple. Make invitations and cupcakes and have some neighborhood kids/ friends over for a tea party. Have a slumber party and make pizza with the kids, visit dad at work and go for lunch, road trip to a local sugar bush is something the kids always would like and of course some crafty things are a good idea to keep the kids busy for a few hours.

Taking kids swimming or to a day camp is another way to get some time to yourself or if youÔÇÖre working itÔÇÖs a great way for the kids to have fun and it keeps you from trying to find a babysitter.

No matter what, there is always something fun to do for the break and it doesnÔÇÖt have to be crazy hectic. Ottawa has a lot going on for March Break that would make the week fly by. Have fun!

Family Day is one of the coolest holidays because you get a day off of work and its a day to just spend with your family enjoying each others company and hanging out. You dont have to make the day busy, its always nice to stay home with the family and relax, but there is always something going on in Ottawa to keep families on the go. Here is one neat idea.

This year for Family Day Fultons Pancake House and Sugar Bush will be opening. They have all kinds of amazing activities for the kids but also some cool things for parents. They have a nature trail, maple tour, horse drawn rides, face painting, and the best part MAPLE TAFFY! It is open from Feb. 18  April 22, 2012, and you shouldnt miss it. This is one of the places where you can go with the kids and get away for a day and become a kid again. Its when we start to feel the beginnings of spring the warmer sun, the melting snow.

I donÔÇÖt know about everyone else, but I will be checking it out with my family this year for sure. If you want more information you can go to the website and they have prices and more details on events happening.

http://fultons.ca/?page=spring_activities

Have an amazing Family Day no matter what youÔÇÖre planning.

ItÔÇÖs time to take a break from this cold weather, call up a baby-sitter for the kids and have a little celebration with your loved one. Celebrating is a great way to relieve stress and get your mind off of work, school, kids, ect. This year for ValentineÔÇÖs Day take a night off and do something wild. Get away for the night, and enjoy being catered to.

Hotels are booming around ValentineÔÇÖs Day because everyone wants to get away and have someone cater to them. The Lord Elgin has amazing romance packages that will knock your socks off. This year there is a special steamy romance package available from the 5th- 19th. We will provide everything for a romantic and intimate evening. You even get red roses on arrival in your room! DonÔÇÖt miss out on this one. Check out this amazing package on our website.

It’s easy to make a great night on the town if you decide to go for a romantic skate on the Rideau Canal and then get a Beavertail, after come back to the hotel and relax. There are also many restaurants that will have great deals for ValentineÔÇÖs that are affordable for everyone. Even if you donÔÇÖt feel like spending money you can always walk around town together, go skating, or even stay in and watch some cute movies with some popcorn. As long as youÔÇÖre with the one you want to be with, it will be a perfect ValentineÔÇÖs Day no mater what.

Our package for Valentine’s Day – http://www.lordelginhotel.ca/specials_packages/index.aspx

We want to know how you will spend your ValentineÔÇÖs Day. Tweet at us @lordelginhotel or write on our Facebook page to let us know.

Today I wanted to go around town and learn a little more about hotels near by. I set up a time to meet with an intern at Hotel Indigo and we showed each other our hotels. It was nice to see the difference between my environment compared to theirs. Hotel Indigo was lovely and it was great to get my own personal tour and learn about the history of the hotel. I had the chance to meet the sales team and other staff around the hotel.

Blaize Shaw, who is another public relations student and who is doing the same placement as I am but at Hotel Indigo, showed me some rooms, the fitness centre and the spa which was apart of another hotel. Hotel Indigo has other hotels attached in it so it made it a little confusing to get around but we managed. It was nice to be able to see a few hotels in one.

I got the chance to show The Lord Elgin as well and it was a good experience to teach someone about a hotel and its history even though I am still learning. I enjoyed looking at other hotels and seeing the different between them all. It was a fun experience and was nice to catch up with a classmate.

Charities, non-profits and associations face unique challenges when booking hotels for meetings. As the Senior Sales Manager for the Lord Elgin Hotel, the question I get asked most by associations and non-profits organizations is how they can save money without compromising the success of their event. The answer is always the same; be flexible. The more a meeting planner knows about the busy and slow times for a hotel, the more they can tailor their event to fit into the slow periods. ItÔÇÖs all about supply and demand. By booking your conference into the slow periods, you will save enormous amounts of money.

So the next question is always ÔÇ£so when are the slow periods?ÔÇØ ItÔÇÖs not always what you think. For our hotel, the slowest period is the summer. As a downtown hotel, we rely primarily on business, government and association travel. Even though tourism travel goes up in the summer, it is not large enough to compensate for the drop in regular business-type travel. Organizations do less travel in the summer because their staff is on vacation. So, if you can plan your meeting July or August, we can offer you a lower rate.
But many organizations feel they canÔÇÖt meet in summer for the same reason. So whatÔÇÖs next? If you canÔÇÖt meet in summer, try to meet during the ÔÇ£shoulder months.ÔÇØ These are the months that arenÔÇÖt as busy as the prime months but not as slow as the summer. Generally, the busiest months are May, June, September, October and November. That means January, February March, April, and December are slower. However, February can still be quite busy with Winterlude so which days you plan to stay are critical. Finally, at any time of the year, a city-wide conference can fill the downtown core for a short time and drive the rates through the roof. Just think about the NHL All-Star game scheduled for January 27/28-2012.

So just remember that off-season is best to save money with an understanding that at any time, a hotel might be sold out for special event. Be flexible with your dates. Ask your sales manager if there is any need periods that come with a discount. They will gladly share that information with you and you both will come out a winner.
Next blog will be about which days of the week can save you money as well.

Andrew Horsfield
Senior Sales Manager
Associations, Non-profits

Winterlude is just around the corner and I donÔÇÖt know how everyone else feels about it but I love this time of year. Last year was my first time going to Winterlude and seeing it up-close. I never knew what it was really about or what happened at it, all I knew was there were neat ice sculptures and beavertails!

Last year my friends and I decided to go downtown and check it out and boy am I glad we did. We were shocked that there were so many sculptures and since we went at night we saw the fantastic lights. It was absolutely amazing and despite the cold we stayed far longer than we expected.

A few days later in photography class our teacher decided that we should go on a field trip to do an assignment on Winterlude. We went during the day to take photos and skate on the canal. That was the first time I saw The Lord Elgin Hotel and to be honest I thought it resembled a castle. I imagined that it was an upper class hotel and you had to be somebody big to be able to stay there. Its nice that I get the chance to have my placement here.

Winterlude has many events that bring the city together for the winter season. It makes families and friends spend time together, whether it be skating on the canal, eating beavertails, shopping or taking part in Winterlude, itÔÇÖs amazing that Ottawa holds these events to keep everyone together and take part in community events. This is one reason why I love Ottawa. Ottawa always has something going on that brings tourists from around Canada to gather in our capital for one reason or another and most continuously return.

I would recommend checking out Winterlude this season because last year was amazing and I can feel this year will be even more excellent. From the Lord Elgin Hotel I can simply walk over the Confederation Park where the Ice Carving Competition is held, which means each day Im at my internship while Winterlude is going on I will be able to look out the window and keep everyone updated.

Keep updated with me on Twitter @lordelginhotel and like our Facebook page for more photos and posts with information on the hotel and Winterlude.

The energy of summer is so palpable here at the Lord Elginone of the many reasons I love working here. Yesterday was the first day of summer and you can feel the excitement build around us daily as we approach Canada Day.
I am so pumped about this summer in particular!! This Thursday (June 23rd), Robert Plante is playing in Confederation Park to kick of whatÔÇÖs going to be an awesome Jazz Festival. Friday, the Ceremonial Guard do their inaugural march up to Parliament Hill and we always go out and cheer them on. They are young guys who do this for their summer job and I canÔÇÖt help but think of my sons, who are about their age. It is such a fabulous tradition and for me, it signals the official kick off of our summer season.
And of course ÔÇô the really big ÔÇÿshewÔÇÖ ÔÇô Canada Day, is just around the corner and this year promises to be an absolutely phenomenal day. Prince William and his lovely bride are arriving in Ottawa on June 30th and the city is preparing in earnest for this special visit ÔÇô pulling out all the stops. We are serving up a wedding cake that is designed to look very similar to Kate and WillÔÇÖs. We will serve up the cake and iced tea at 2pm to passersby. We will also be preparing some fabulous grilled fare – barbequing on our patio outside Grill 41. As is tradition, the Ceremonial Guard will march by at 9:30am and of course the Jazz Festival provides free concerts all day in Confederation Park. ItÔÇÖs going to be a crazy fun day, as the city is expecting to see double the usual number of people and our hotel will be bursting with guests. We have been full for some time!! I will be here serving up cake and wouldnÔÇÖt miss it for the world.
This July marks our 70th birthday (July 19th) and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate!! We are named after Lord Elgin  who stays in touch with us regularly and visits occasionally; Winston Churchill visited in 1941, the year we were built. It is only fitting that Will and Kate visit on our 70th great timing!!
HereÔÇÖs to a great summer! Bring it on!

By- Taylor Lachance

Today marks my last week as a social media intern for the Lord Elgin Hotel. ItÔÇÖs very much a bittersweet ending, as I am excited to be finishing up my college degree but sad to leave the friends, experiences and memories I made during my time at the hotel.

Working with the sales team at the Lord Elgin was absolutely amazing. Each member brought something special towards the team, whether it was ShannonÔÇÖs baked goods, TessaÔÇÖs warm smile, or AndrewÔÇÖs theoretical passages on life. The team was like a big happy family, and they always made me feel like not only was I part of the team, but an employee too.

My daily routine at the hotel ranged from a number of tasks. I was of course in charge of the social media aspect, working with different social media tools, creating blog posts, posting videos and pictures, and establishing online connections with bloggers and professionals. I performed daily checks on hotel review sites, like Trip Advisor and Review Analysis. I also promoted the hotelÔÇÖs restaurant, Grill 41, over social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

I also assisted my fellow coworkers when they needed a helping hand. I performed administration work, such as filing, writing email messages, and setting up meeting rooms for clients.

At the Lord Elgin, I always felt like part of the team. My first day of work, I was politely greeted by my fellow employers and department heads, and everyone was always eager to assist me when needed. I was always given lots of appealing work to do, and both my professional and personal skills improved immensely. I am now a stronger writer, more confident when presenting my work, and feel like I can truly succeed in my field of business.

Thank you sales team, department heads, restaurant team and the front desk employees. You have made my time here at the Lord Elgin one I will cherish for time to come.

By- Taylor Lachance

Spring has finally arrived in our capital, and you know what that means? Festivals, events and happenings galore! We here at the Lord Elgin are looking forward to the major launch of the festivals. The line-up for all the major festival are being announced, and what a summer it will be  Robert Plant, KD Lang, Elvis Costello and more

Every year, our friends over at Ottawa Festivals throw a start up of the festivals shindig, in May. CEOÔÇÖS, managers and other very important people are invited to the rather posh event. Last year I had the opportunity of volunteering for the party, and what an experience it was. The event featured food, beverages, entertainment of all sorts and speeches from local celebrities. You couldnÔÇÖt ask for a better way to bring festival season to life.

My fellow employers at the hotel work closely with a few of the biggest festivals in Ottawa. Bluesfest, Jazz Festival, the Folk Festival and the Tulip Festival are our main partners this season.

OttawaÔÇÖs Bluesfest is the largest Blues festival in Canada, and attracts music lovers from all over the world. Artists from diverse genres make their way to Lebreton Flats to perform to fans, and of course the Bluesfest volunteers. Each year fans anticipate the launch of the line-up, which is due out later this month.

OttawaÔÇÖs Folk Festival is another main addition to the festivals. This not-for- profit, volunteer based event now run by Mark Monahan of Bluesfest, celebrates the creative side of dancers, artists, musicians, and storytellers at HogÔÇÖs Back Park in Ottawa. ItÔÇÖs sure to bring its own unique zest to our city this summer.

And last but not least, the one and only Tulip Festival. As a prestige partner, the Lord Elgin has a long-standing partnership with this festival. In itÔÇÖs early years the founder of the Festival, Malak Karsh and Don Blakslee, the General Manager of the hotel at that time, worked together year after year locally and at international trade shows to promote the Tulip Festival as OttawaÔÇÖs biggest tourism event of the year. It continues to be known internationally as the main draw for Ottawa. 300,000 tulips will be on display at this festival! ItÔÇÖs a spectacle of natureÔÇÖs you wonÔÇÖt want to miss.

Even if you donÔÇÖt receive a handwritten invite to the launch of the festivals, you are welcome to take part in the events that each festival has in store. Whether youÔÇÖre into flowers, volunteering or music: thereÔÇÖs something for everyone.

By-Taylor Lachance

Big things are happening for us down here at the Lord Elgin this April. Our partners, the Ottawa Convention Centre, have just hosted their grand opening of the newly renovated building. Ottawas Bluesfest, Folkfest, Capital Hoedown, and the Tulip Festival are all just around the corner. And, we cannot forget one of the highlight events of the century  we are proud to say the Royal couple are paying our city a visit!

I think itÔÇÖs safe to say we are ecstatic about Kate and William coming to Canada. Our hotel is almost booked solid, the inquiries for this much anticipated visit are creating such excitement and demand for our Canada Day weekend. Everyone, including residents and out of towners, are making sure they get a room reserved for the festivities.

Down here on Elgin Street, we ourselves are getting involved in the celebrations! We are setting up a special wedding package for a ÔÇÿroyalÔÇÖ stay at the hotel and are also presenting our own giant wedding cake right on Elgin Street! We are secretly hoping the newlyweds stop by for a slice.

During their stay in Canada, the couple will be nothing but busy. On Canada Day, they will be visiting Parliament Hill, and say hello to our Governor General David Johnston. After departing from Ottawa, they have a few other stops in store. William and Kate will make their way to the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

Canadians everywhere are preparing themselves for the April 29th wedding and the special visit. The wedding is set to air at 3 A.M. Eastern time.

We are hoping the Royal pair enjoys their time here in Canada. We want them to enjoy everything our country has to offer- beautiful sights, lovely people, and of course, poutine.