Cindy VanBuskirk said development could occur at the corner of Rideau and Nicholas Streets and the corner of Daly Avenue and Nicholas Street in the next three to five years.
"We've got two terrific development sites on our property and I think that the expansion of the Congress Centre will really be a catalyst for us to finally go ahead and develop those sites, whether there is potentially a new hotel or a retail expansion. We couldn't do that while the Congress Centre project is underway because the site is so constrained, " said Ms. VanBuskirk.
She made the comments in an interview Wednesday night at a gala marking the 25th anniversary of the partnership between the Rideau Centre, the Ottawa Congress Centre and the Westin Ottawa.
Ms. VanBuskirk noted the Rideau Centre has adapted to several changing retail trends, such as the shift to larger, more accessible stores. When the shopping centre opened in 1983, it featured 240 stores, compared to the current roster of 170 retailers, she said.
Another partner in the downtown complex, the Westin Ottawa, has also undergone major changes, said general manager John Jarvis.
For example, the hotel had a fine dining room when it first opened, a feature that gradually faded away across the hotel industry, he said.
The Westin Ottawa is currently undergoing $35 million in renovations that will change the look and feel of the property, said Mr. Jarvis. Work on the entranceways should be completed in the coming weeks while a redesign on the guest rooms will start this fall.
Mr. Jarvis also noted the benefits of having the unique combination of a hotel, convention centre and shopping mall in a single complex.
"Being that we are in a cold weather capital, there are huge advantages to having that. Even on the hot days, when it is humid outside, it is nice to have that connectivity. It makes it very attractive for convention planners to pick a hotel like ours, where everything is right there. "
