What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the National Arts Centre (NAC)? Most likely it’s a memory of an exceptional performance you watched.
However, the Crown corporation also has five visually stunning banquet rooms which host about 750 events a year, including meetings, conventions, galas, cocktail receptions, and weddings – making it a prime location to hold your next business event or conference.
Discover NAC’s ‘undiscovered’ spaces
After its renovation a few years ago, the NAC also unveiled four sparkling new meeting rooms: the O’Born Room, Al Zaibak Lantern Room, Rossy Pavilion, and Canada Room.
“Each of these rooms have been thoughtfully and uniquely designed, with varying sizes and seating capacity, and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stunning views of the downtown,” says General Manager of Food and Beverage Nelson Borges.
The O’Born Room, for example, is known for its 32-foot floor-to-ceiling windows offering an extraordinary 360-degree view of Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, and surroundings. It recently hosted the Alliance of Area Business Publishers (AABP) Summer Conference cocktail party, hosted by OBJ, this past June.
All the rooms are soundproof, have great acoustics, and have been built along the building’s perimeter to safeguard against clashes with performing arts events. They’re outfitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, minimizing the need for clients to bring their own, and don’t have permanent furniture or fixtures – making it easy for clients to transform the room to their requirements.
Ensuring a first-class event, from start to finish
The NAC’s world-class catering team consistently aims to exceed guests’ expectations. “Every client who books an event with us is provided with a dedicated sales manager who assists at each stage, from room selection, to event planning, to menu selection,” explains Senior Sales and Catering Manager Lisa Levia. “A banquet captain then takes over who ensures the plan is perfectly executed. On the day of the event, the banquet manager ensures everything is running seamlessly. We also follow-up after the event for feedback.”
NAC can provide all the professional-grade equipment, entertainment, and décor you need, or you can bring your own.
First-time clients can expect attractive rates when booking events in one of the banquet rooms, as can repeat clientele who book multiple events in a year or clients flexible on dates, given the lower off-season rates.
Experienced, top-notch staff and the ‘best food in the city’
“The biggest asset we have is our incredible staff who are all fully-bilingual, well-trained, seasoned professionals. While the hospitality industry in general has a high churn rate, most of my team of 140 employees have been with us for decades,” says Borges.
When people book an event at NAC they’re usually wowed by the rich and panoramic views, but what they don’t expect is the exceptional food. “Our food quality is top-notch and always consistent,” Borges explains. “We use seasonal produce sustainably and locally sourced, have our own rooftop vegetable garden, and we make our own honey.”
NAC also has some of the most seasoned chefs in the city and a multicultural kitchen team, 70 per cent of whom are people of colour. “We’re well-equipped to cater to any kind of event, be it an international conference or an ethnic wedding, with customized menus for every client,” says Borges. “This is why we don’t permit outside catering for any event – because we already offer the best food in the city.”
The Resident Chefs program, featuring emerging culinary talent from across Canada, also contributes to this diverse culinary offering. Currently in its sixth year, selected chefs are invited to spend a week in residency, curate a menu for the NAC restaurant, and cater an event.
Additionally, NAC’s catering team works closely with Global Affairs Canada to cater for official events featuring visiting dignitaries, such as an official dinner held for former U.S. President Joe Biden at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, followed by an after-party at NAC’s Canada Room.
“The trust and confidence that Global Affairs Canada has in our protocol service team is proof that no event is too challenging for our highly-skilled team,” Borges adds.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments at the NAC to help make your next event a first-class experience.
