The Business Inn & Suites

Guests are often out and about on business or seeing the sights, so the atmosphere at this hotel is quiet and travelers tend to keep to themselves. With its spacious suites and downtown location near Parliament Hill and office buildings like the World Exchange Plaza, the hotel draws corporate and government travelers, in addition to families and couples looking for self-catering accommodations and a stay that offer a good value. 

The hotel is located in downtown Ottawa next to Minto Park, and a short drive north of the Queensway highway. The Elgin/Somerset bus stop is a half-block away. The immediate area is a bit run down, but it's safe and filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. Nearly all the city's major attractions are within walking distance or a short bus ride. The hotel is within a five-minute walk of Confederation Park, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the Corktown Footbridge across the Rideau Canal, which features canoeing, canal-side running and hiking paths, and ice skating in winter. The CF Rideau Centre Mall and World Exchange Plaza are both within a five-minute drive, 10-minute bus ride, or 15-minute walk from the hotel. The bustling ByWard Market, Notre-Dame Basilica, and the National Gallery of Canada art museum are a little less than five minutes on foot from CF Rideau Centre. Parliament Hill is a little more than a five-minute drive and about 15 minutes by bus or on foot from the hotel. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is a 20-minute drive from The Business Inn & Suites. 

The Business Inn has 158 studios and suites in various configurations. Suites range from 390 square feet (36 square meters) tot 770 square feet (72 square meters) in size, so all offer plenty of space. Suites are done in a white, beige, tan, and brown color palette, with wood furniture, all-white bedding, and framed prints on walls. The look is a bit dated, functional, and bland, but units are clean and well-maintained. All come with an in-room computer with Microsoft Office, a 22-inch monitor, free internet, and printer. Living areas, Dyson air circulators, clothes steamers, comfortable beds with Simmons mattresses, free Wi-Fi, and 46-inch flat-screen TVs (some have two TVs) with movie channels and DVD players (upon request) also come standard. Each Suite also features a kitchen with dining area, full-size refrigerator, coffeemaker, oven and four-burner stovetop, microwave, cookware, and tableware. Some units have balconies with views of the city skyline. Bathrooms are spacious and are done with granite countertops, and all feature hairdryers and shower/tub combos. 

The hotel serves an excellent free breakfast buffet, featuring made-to-order hot egg sandwiches with ham, bacon, or sausage. The spread also offers waffles, hash browns, and a wide range of cold items. Free takeaway bags with water, fruit, cookies, and granola bars are also available. The hotel shares a building with a restaurant and bar serving burgers, pizzas, nachos, and other comfort food, and it has pool tables and large-screen TV. The on-site fitness center has a wide range of weights and cardio equipment, and a free laundry facility, meeting room, 24-hour front desk, and property-wide free Wi-Fi round out the amenities. Outdoor and indoor parking (for a fee) is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the hotel also has an overflow lot a short walk away.