8 New Venues in East Canada for Spring 2024 Meetings and Events

In March, Hilton Toronto unveiled renovations to its guest rooms, as well as a redesigned lobby (pictured) and a brand-new French bar and brasserie, Frenchy. Located in the city’s downtown core, the property offers 600 rooms that now have new furniture better fit for the modern traveler and a lighter color palette. DesignAgency, in collaboration with Barney River, helped design both the new restaurant and the lobby, which features softened concrete surfaces, enriched sightlines, and improved flow between entrances and amenities. Individual desks replaced the traditional long check-in counter. Frenchy serves classics like moules frites and escargots for dinner, but it'll be open for breakfast and lunch too with Parisian-style offerings. Hilton Toronto boasts more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees for a reception.

Marriott's Moxy Hotels brand officially made its Canadian debut. Moxy Halifax Downtown opened in February, offering 160 rooms, a Bar Moxy, and 1,520 square feet of meeting space. The design of the main lobby pays homage to industrial Halifax, with steel bridge columns flanking the bar area, exposed brick, and an original cannon. It also features a custom-built DJ booth and an installation of vintage luggage as a nod to the city’s global influences. Tech-savvy touches in the rooms include motion-activated LED lights, keyless entry, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, and a retro phone where guests can listen to a themed bedtime story. Meeting space includes a boardroom and several private meeting rooms.

In March, Illuminarium at The Distillery District in Toronto officially opened its doors to event planners and experiential brands. The popular immersive experience venue spans 13,500 square feet and offers 7,000 square feet of customizable event space. Techy touches include 108 speakers built into the walls, 26 RGB pure laser projectors by Panasonic, and LIDAR sensors that blanket the space with interactivity. The venue has also introduced a new bar run by Legends Hospitality, featuring a beverage program and catering options. In partnership with Toronto-based AR and VR production house Secret Location, Illuminarium’s venue aims to use state-of-the-art technologies to activate all of the senses and enable guests to see, hear, and feel experiences. Planners can select from the venue's current content library or customize with logo integrations or picture-in-picture takeovers, or use tailor-made content crafted by its in-house designers. Host intimate dinners for more than 100 guests or other gatherings for more than 300.

In April, the partners in the Espace Montmorency development announced the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Montréal Laval in the heart of Laval's new downtown. The property features 188 rooms on 10 floors, a signature restaurant, and an open-air bar. The hotel is meant to meet the growing demand from corporate clients looking to organize conventions and events in Laval and seeking business travel accommodations. Hotel guests have access to all services offered in the Espace Montmorency complex, as well as a business center for meetings, individual workspaces, reception halls, and access to the complex's 60,000-square-foot green inner courtyard. The hotel offers 3,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate 150 attendees.

Although it debuted in Toronto last spring, Third Place has just begun in earnest to promote its venue to event planners. The versatile 3,000-square-foot space is designed for pop-ups, launch events, film and photo shoots, art exhibits, and other celebrations. With a chic, industrial aesthetic, it boasts brick walls and rustic ceiling beams. Built-in features include a large bar, seating, high-top tables, bar chairs, shelving details, a coat check area, and AV equipment. Civil Liberties runs the bar experience with a curated drink menu for planners to select from. In-house catering is helmed by Vit Béo. Third Place also works with a selection of preferred local catering partners like TOBEN Hospitality Group, Daniel et Daniel, ProvisionsTO, and Chau. The space can accommodate up to 130 guests.

Le 9e, the beloved restaurant on the ninth floor of the Eaton Centre in downtown Montréal, is set to reopen this spring after closing in 1999. Originally opened in 1931, the restaurant was known for its incredible art deco design and luxurious experience. The new iteration hopes to bring that back to life with its new era in the 21st century. The building's owners, Ivanhoé Cambridge and EVOQ Architecture, are working to preserve its heritage and style while giving a new life to the iconic venue through a restaurant and event spaces. Planners can utilize the 20,000 square feet of space for performances, exhibits, private gatherings, personal celebrations, and charitable functions with a maximum capacity of about 500. Details on the restaurant, Île-de-France, will be revealed toward the end of this fall.

In January, Great Canadian Entertainment announced the grand opening of a brand-new live entertainment and special events venue at Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel. Nestled on the picturesque land of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) near Lake Scugog, the property offers 116 guest rooms and 600 slot machines. Its new venue spans nearly 13,000 square feet, with a 14-foot ceiling, and has a capacity of 800. It's an ideal space for a wide range of events, from live performances and concerts to corporate gatherings.

An Australian-inspired eatery opened in Toronto in February. Electric Bill aims to bring Down Under vibes to the Bloorcourt neighborhood with a cheeky, laid-back bar scene and well-known Aussie dishes. Expect fare like Australian hand pies, beef sausage rolls, and lamington (a popular Australian cake) alongside vegetarian dishes like grilled napa cabbage, mushroom scallops, and a veggie burger. The owner worked with Werribee Workshop, a Canadian Australian design firm, to create a warm yet playful atmosphere in line with the best bars in Sydney and Melbourne. There's chic wallpaper with Australian birds, koalas, and native flora along with Australian posters, artwork, and other knickknacks. Planners can book a full buyout for up to 75 guests, and its outdoor patio can accommodate up to 49 people.