The World Junior Championships will kick off in Ottawa in December, bringing tens of millions of dollars of economic activity to the city, as well as a chance for local businesses to spice up their offerings to tourists.
It will also be an opportunity for the city’s service industry and the business community as a whole to cement its reputation as a world-class destination that is suitable for large-scale events.
“There is a tremendous economic and social benefit to our local community hosting large-scale events, such as a coordinated effort between Ottawa Tourism, La Tablée des Chefs, Hockey Canada, and Lionhearts (local community partner), which will recover food from all official tournament locations over the 9 day tournament from arenas, hotels and the volunteer village,” says Lesley Pincombe, vice-president, business and major events at Ottawa Tourism.
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Canadian Tire Centre -
Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa Senators -
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Credit James Peltzer -
Credit Mark Gorokhovski
World Junior Championships to showcase a diverse Ottawa
“By supporting the World Juniors and showcasing Ottawa as a welcoming, diverse city for people to enjoy, that reputation can serve us well to attract other desired sporting and cultural events to Ottawa.”
The World Junior Championships will be hosted in Ottawa for the first time in 15 years from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2025. Teams from 10 countries will compete in 29 games that will be hosted at both the TD Place and the Canadian Tire Centre. In addition to the games, Fan Fest at Aberdeen Pavilion will engage visitors and the local community, while teams and their entourages will have the opportunity to get a taste of Canadian culture and Ottawa’s renowned hospitality.
Approximately 350,000 fans are expected to converge on the Ottawa region with an estimated economic impact of $50-million.
To make the most of the international tournament, which will attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, Pincombe encourages Ottawa’s local business community to get involved. This could include displaying pageantry to welcome the World Junior Hockey Championships, or restaurants creating special menus inspired by the teams’ home countries, such as Slovakian, German, or Swedish cuisine.
“Hang a welcome sign”
“We are hoping that the business community will help welcome visitors, offer the games for viewing, hang a welcome sign and offer hockey themed activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy,” Pincombe adds.
Ottawa Tourism is fully prepared to welcome people from around the world with a landing page offering a one-stop shop with key information for visitors. Local businesses with unique offerings are encouraged to connect with Ottawa Tourism to ensure their services are highlighted to incoming guests.
The organization sees the tournament as an opportunity to position Ottawa as a premier destination for major events. The local business community is vital to this effort, showcasing the city’s hospitality.
“We are dedicated to attracting more events and garnering positive feedback from both organizers and the visitors to our city. Word of mouth is a powerful calling card for a bright hosting future,” says Pincombe.
