The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa officially opened to the public Thursday afternoon, the first “fully integrated resort” in Canada featuring a hotel and gaming facility. The $350 million facility on Albion Road in Ottawa’s south end features a 150-room hotel, a 24-7 gaming floor, bars and restaurants and an entertainment venue. “I think we’re got something that exceeds what we promised the City of Ottawa and the province of Ontario,” Jon Lucas, chief operating officer of Hard Rock International, told CTV News Ottawa. Gord and Michelle Wood travelled from Kingston for the opening of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa. They say they’ve visited more than 180 Hard Rock locations. “You get to meet people we love. We love what the brand stands for. Love all. Serve all. You know, everybody’s so friendly,” Gord said. The grand opening week includes a performance by David Foster and Katharine McPhee on Thursday, and a concert by Napanee’s Avril Lavigne on Saturday. “Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand,” Jim Allen, chief executive officer of Hard Rock International, said in a statement. “We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place.” In 2017, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation selected Hard Rock International to become the operator of the casino at Rideau Carleton Raceway. In June 2023, construction began on the new $350 million new hotel, casino and performance venue. “They were originally going to break ground in 2020 and then COVID hit and the world changed. The folks in Ottawa have been waiting a long time for this and the day is finally here,” Christine Crump, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa president, told CTV Morning Live. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa will feature a 150-room hotel, with 22 luxury suites. The more than 150,000 sq. ft. of entertaining and gaming space includes the Hard Rock Live performance venue with the capacity for up to 2,200 people, 1,500 slot machines, up to 40 gaming tables, and a high-limit gaming area. There will be 10 restaurants and bars at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, including the iconic Hard Rock Café. “It’s a choose your own adventure. For folks 19 plus, they can come in and stay as long as they like and choose a different restaurant every day,” Crump said. “We don’t just have gaming; we have the live entertainment theatre.” There is also a Rock Shop, with exclusive Hard Rock merchandise and music memorabilia on display from Canadian and international music icons. The lobby of the Hard Rock Live concert venue includes a mural featuring artists, and there is memorabilia displayed throughout the hotel and casino, including a high school yearbook from Alanis Morissette. “It means a lot for Ottawa. It’s a great day for our city. It’s a huge investment from Hard Rock,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said. “To see a global brand like Hard Rock choosing to invest in Ottawa is really remarkable,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said. “It’s going to be amazing for our local economy. It means 700 new jobs, a total of 1,100 jobs here on site, and it’s so great for tourism as well.” The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa will employ approximately 1,100 employees. “Everyone is so excited. Hard Rock has done a lot of training with the team and brought it up to Hard Rock standards,” Crump said. As part of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa grand opening, $100,000 was donated to the Ottawa Food Bank. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa is one of several hotels opening in Ottawa over the next year. The new AC Hotel by Marriott Ottawa Downtown opened on April 24, with 159 rooms, a pool, sauna, gym and meeting rooms. The Moxy Ottawa downtown is opening early in 2026, and a new hotel is scheduled to open at the Ottawa International Airport in late 2025 or early 2026. In Pictures Here’s what you need to know about the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Peter Szperling
