Brookstreet Hotel caters to local tech community with $12M reno project

In an effort to keep pace with the local tech community and stay up-to-date with the latest technology, the Brookstreet Hotel is preparing to re-open at full capacity next week after a complete renovation of its guest rooms.

In an effort to keep pace with the local tech community and stay up-to-date with the latest technology, the Brookstreet Hotel is preparing to re-open at full capacity next week after a complete renovation of its guest rooms. The four-star hotel at 525 Legget Dr. in Kanata Is at the centre of the local tech community and regularly hosts business and charitable events, including the Lumière and Kaleidoscope of Hope galas and Technata Career Fair and Tech Expo.  The reno project began in March and represents a nearly $12-million investment and a “big refresh,” said Mark Nisbett, vice-president of sales and operations at the Brookstreet.

“We've improved the hotel over the years, but we’ve now done a full renovation, which is basically stripping the rooms down, adding new flooring, new beds and bedframes, and there’s also a technology enhancement perspective,” he explained. Televisions in guest rooms have been updated to 55-inch, high-definition smart TVs. The internet service has also been upgraded for both hardwired or wireless access, featuring new switches and cables, Nisbett explained. “So we’ve upgraded a large portion of the property as well as improved access points and systems on the technology side,” he continued. “We're really excited to be able to show off the change in style and the upgrade we’ve done for a more modern, discerning traveller.” The renovation had been planned before the pandemic, but COVID-19 “put the project on hold,” Nisbett said. Now, the hotel is “excited” to show the local tech and business community that it can “keep up,” he added. “(The renovation) shows that we want to continually improve as technology changes, making sure that we're updated with some of that latest technology,” Nisbett said. “And that extends into the guest experience and the look and the feel of the rooms as well.” The hotel has been open for business at a limited capacity with between three and four floors closed at a time for construction. On Monday, the final 18 rooms will be completed.

“We will be fully operational, back at our 276 guest room capacity,” Nisbett said. “We’re really excited about the timing.” Next week, the hotel will host an international conference for meeting and event planners, who will be among the first guests to see the fully updated hotel.  More specifically, Nisbett said the newly renovated hotel is in a position to support the local tech community. At a time when the Ottawa tech sector continues to face challenges such as talent attraction and retention, higher taxes, higher operating costs and macroeconomic pressures, Nisbett said the Brookstreet wants to showcase its commitment to growing and evolving alongside its community. “Most of our corporate business is targeted, in many cases, to the tech community,” he said. “So the exciting thing is that when travellers do come to the hotel and they can see the next new guest room product, they'll look forward to coming back again or telling their colleagues about the renovation as well.” “We’re ensuring that we continue to be best in class when it comes to hotels in our segment and really cater to our customers,” Nisbett continued. “It's that continuous improvement that is important in making sure that we're up to all kinds of the standards as required by industry associations and that we’re creating the best experience for our guests.”