About Us

MISSION

We provide comfortable and affordable accommodation for those needing to be near The Ottawa Hospital facilities or treatment centres.

At Rotel, we strive to offer a supportive, caring environment and to alleviate stress for patients and their loved ones. Rotel delivers clean, inexpensive accommodation in a safe, quiet location near the Ottawa Hospital General campus, providing comfortable private rooms for outpatients, patients’ family and friends, as well as visiting medical staff or students.

Rotel was created to provide low-cost and comfortable accommodation near CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital.

HISTORY

Rotel has been helping the community and visitors-in-need for over 35 years. Primarily serving the communities of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, Rotel has also welcomed guests from all over Canada, including Canadian military members from abroad.

Many years ago, the members of the Rotary Club of Ottawa South realized that with the development of several hospitals in the Ottawa area, out-of-town patients needing treatment could feel isolated and lonely. They knew, too, that having loved ones close-by was proven to quicken the healing process. Unfortunately, there was nowhere affordable nearby for family and friends to stay while visiting patients at the hospital.

To solve this problem, the Rotary Club of Ottawa South decided to build a nearby, low-cost motel. This was a huge undertaking at the time, and close to $2 million was raised by Rotary Clubs, other service clubs and the community throughout Eastern Ontario. In July 1986, a 51-room motel opened its doors on the grounds of the Ottawa Hospital’s General Campus on Smyth Road. Rotel has been providing safe, clean, comfortable and private accommodations for over three decades.

RELATIONSHIP TO HOSPITALS

Our convenient, affordable motel is a welcoming place where hospital staff can confidently refer out-of-town families and friends of hospital patients. Specialized hospital clinic staff can do the same for travelling outpatients.

We are located on the Ottawa Hospital General campus, meaning that many hospitals and medical clinics/centres are within walking distance.

DONATE

Rotel is strictly a non-profit organization, with its Board of Directors positions staffed by volunteers, and it is a registered charity. The nightly room rate and donations are applied to staffing, ongoing operating costs, repairs, and a capital fund to cover major repairs, renovations or additions.

All donations are greatly appreciated, and we issue receipts for income tax purposes.

To make a donation or to learn more, please visit our Donate page, or call us at 613-733-1412 or 1-800-267-4700.

FACILITIES

Rotel offers a family-friendly home-away-from-home environment, with a lounge on both the first and second floors, an outdoor lounge, a serenity garden and a professionally designed play structure for children to safely burn off some energy. Our rooms offer privacy and comfort. We are pleased to offer a variety of amenities to our guests including: 

Clean, non-smoking rooms with ensuite bathrooms

Free parking close to many hospitals and specialized clinics while a registered guest

Free Wi-Fi while a registered guest

Private bath, refrigerator, and telephone*

Smart TVs with cable television service in each room

Specially equipped rooms for the disabled**

Common lounge with:

• microwave
• vending machines with coffee, soft drinks and snacks (for a fee)

Laundry facilities (for a fee)

Outdoor serenity garden

Professionally designed outdoor play structure for children

Easy access to all major bus routes

Note that we cannot provide sleeping accommodation for infants who do not sleep in a bed, so guests should provide their own sleeping accommodation for such infants.

* To ensure affordable room rates, long distance telephone calls are extra.
** Specially equipped rooms include connecting doors, ceiling track lifts, wheel-in showers and handgrips. The main entrance has been built to accommodate motorized wheelchairs.

Note: Due to coronavirus, all guests must wear a face mask in public areas of Rotel; it can be removed in your own room.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No; however, nearby local bus and taxi services are available.

All credit card transactions must be made in person by the owner of the card, or via Rotel’s secure online booking page.

Unfortunately, the only rooms guaranteed to be on first floor are the rooms designated for the physically disabled. You may call Rotel on the day of arrival and we will confirm whether or not a room is available on the first floor. Rotel does have an elevator to the second floor.

Cooking appliances are not permitted in the rooms. However, we do have a microwave available for guests in our lounge on the first floor.

Rotel does not have a restaurant; however, you can order in from nearby restaurants. Pamphlets and takeout menus are available in your room.

Yes, the cost is $1.00 for the washer and $1.00 for the dryer.

Yes, all rooms have a small fridge.

We are the only Rotel in Canada and are situated in Ottawa, Ontario.

Yes, Rotel has an average occupancy rate of 80% and we are sometimes completely booked. Be sure to reserve as soon as possible (ASAP).