Windsor

Windsor's position as the southernmost destination in Canada—latitudinally in line with Napa Valley, Calif., and Barcelona, Spain—contributes to the city's agreeable climate and likely plays a part in warming up its residents.

"Windsor is a great community that welcomes groups," says Gordon Orr, managing director of the CVB of Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island. "The people here are customer service-oriented. We're a friendly, foreign, small-town city with a major metropolitan city right next door."

Situated a stone's throw to the north of Windsor—1.75 miles, to be exact—is Detroit, Mich., where groups often venture to check out a major league sporting event or live theater, among a variety of other attractions. Orr maintains that Windsor and its neighbor often shine the spotlight on one another to promote the area as an international destination.

"We use Detroit as a regional marketing tool and they use us," he says. "It's a tunnel or bridge ride away to a new country; it's a fantastic experience."

While there's much to explore in Detroit, delegates will find plenty to occupy their free time in Windsor, including a private charter with Pride of Windsor Cruises; a shopping spree at Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets; or a stroll through the new $24 million Art Gallery of Windsor, which features exhibit galleries, a sculpture court and an events room with an outdoor terrace overlooking the waterfront.

"The gallery is great for off-site functions and board meetings and has wonderful views of the Detroit skyline," Orr says.

At Casino Windsor, which features a 389-room hotel, live entertainment and restaurants, delegates can try their luck on more than 3,000 slot machines and 80 table games.

Founded in 1858, the Canadian Club Brand Center houses the Hiram Walker & Sons Limited distillery, purveyor of Canadian Club Whisky.

"The facility is available for private rentals, and it offers great tours and eating facilities," Orr says. "It piques the interest of delegates."

Windsor enjoys more restaurants per capita than Toronto, according to Orr, and its Via Italia, or "Little Italy," has about 20 eateries, as well as clothing boutiques, bakeries, outdoor cafes, and an inviting ambience that includes planters and benches along expanded sidewalks.

"The restaurants market themselves collectively," Orr says, explaining that dine-arounds are popular in the neighborhood.

Among Windsor's fabulous parklands and gardens is O'Dette Sculpture Park. Open from dawn to dusk, the park spans the area from the Ambassador Bridge to the Canadian Club Brand Center, overlooking the Detroit River and featuring 25 original pieces of art.

Windsor is entirely manageable on foot; its Coventry Gardens, another popular park area, for instance, is situated only about three miles east of the city's center, where the bulk of Windsor's meeting space is located.

The Cleary International Centre, which features nearly 40,000 square feet of function space that includes a 1,200-seat performing arts theater, a 69-seat executive theater and the 13,700-square-foot Canadian Club Room, is Windsor's premier group venue. The facility is attached to the 305-room Windsor Hilton and the 207-room Radisson Riverfront Hotel, both situated on the river. Located only minutes away from the convention center is the Casino Windsor, the 128-room Quality Suites and the 145-room Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites.

Ideal for 300 to 500 delegates, Orr says that the majority of Windsor's group business is based provincially and nationally from Toronto and Ottawa.

"We would like to generate more interest from the Midwest United States," he says.

Beyond Windsor

While the CVB of Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island is a regional bureau that promotes the area in its entirety, Orr says that its convention infrastructure is based in Windsor.

"We promote the whole region, but our meetings are booked in Windsor," he says, adding that pre- and post-meeting tours of neighboring Essex County and Pelee Island beautifully complement any meeting's itinerary.

In Essex County there are a number of B&Bs, according to Orr, as well as historic spots such as Fort Malden National Historical Site, which was a key British defensive point during the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837.

"Essex County is high on soft adventure ecotourism, such as canoeing, birding and biking," Orr adds. "It also has nine wineries; ice wine is a huge product for us."

Among the stops on the South Coast Wine Route are Colio Estates Wines, Grape Tree Wines, Erie Shore Vineyard, and Pelee Island Winery.

If time allows, delegates may ferry out to Pelee Island for an afternoon of relaxation.

"It's a paradise, a fantasy," Orr says. "You're not bothered by laptops or phones there. Pelee Island caters to those who truly want to escape and get away from it all."

The island, home to only about 250 residents, is considered a quiet tourist destination that offers a variety of bed-and-breakfasts, a few restaurants, beaches, and Point Pelee National Park, which boasts a large visitor center and encourages birding, picnicking and hiking.

For More Info

CVB of Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island
519.255.6530     www.visitwindsor.com