Choose Halifax for any number of reasons; incredible oceanfront views and a walkable downtown core, or its world-class convention centre and thriving cross-sector innovation. No matter the reason, the outcome is always the same: inspired meetings, engaged delegates, and lasting impressions.
Discover Halifax’s extraordinary selection of historic and modern venues and accommodations—all offering versatile settings to host inspiring meetings, unforgettable receptions against the backdrop of our beautiful sea-side city.
Unlock a world of curated supplier partnerships, sustainable planning tools, and exclusive delegate-saving privileges designed to elevate your event and not your budget.
Find the support you need to simplify logistics, maximize ROI, and create a bespoke event that is tailored to your group in a way that only Halifax can. As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) we’re here to help every step of the way, free of charge.
It takes a lot of thought and planning to determine where to host a conference or event. And while foundational considerations like venue, facilities, hotel room blocks, and budget are important, it’s also safe to say that at a very basic level, there are many cities that are comparable in these key areas. So what really makes an event stand out?
When all the basic needs are considered equal, the tie breaker is often what each city has to offer outside of the conference walls, but we find fewer event planners consider how the city can also shape the event. Hosting an event in a place and hosting an event that feels ofthe place are two very different things. Both can help elevate your event.
The Why
Research shows that when an event is authentic to the place it’s hosted, attendees report higher satisfaction scores with the overall event. Engaged and inspired attendees are also more likely to keep that good energy flowing by carrying it back inside the conference room walls. Conversations become livelier, thinking becomes broader, and the overall impact and learning from the event can be far greater.
For associations and repeat conferences, events that integrate a destination’s culture, food, and experiences create stronger emotional connections. Suddenly, you’re not just travelling to another hotel ballroom, you’re travelling to a place where you’ve started to build an emotional connection and a community rapport. Attending a yearly conference becomes a highlight, instead of just another business obligation to fulfill.
In Halifax, hosting an event that feels ‘of the place’ means taking full advantage of our coastal location, rich culture, community-minded values, and sustainability practices. It’s about creating an authentic experience while leaving a positive impact on both attendees and your host city. And it’s easier to do than you may think.
Coastal Character
Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
Halifax is a city that is heavily influenced by the sea—whether in the form of our maritime history, foggy coastal mornings, or evidenced through our growing reputation as a global leader in ocean research and innovation.
For visiting events and conferences, there are several ways to incorporate this coastal character into your event. Location is perhaps the most obvious way—the Halifax waterfront boardwalk is the perfect place to unwind after a day of sessions. It’s highly walkable and accessible for those with different physical needs. Several venues across the city offer ocean views from their facilities, which means delegates can take in the scenery in between sessions and meetings.
Our coastal character can also be incorporated into conference receptions and overall event themes. This can look like lively lobster dinner parades, East Coast musicians providing after-dinner entertainment, nautical decor or gifts, and a whole lot more.
Cultural Connections
Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia
Event planners can also bring coastal character to their events through creating cultural connections with the Acadian, African Nova Scotia, Indigenous, and Celtic communities who have contributed to so much of our coastal identity. This can be in the form of welcoming storytellers, musicians, and artists as part of your programming, through traditional food and beverages, or by providing opportunities for delegates and attendees to learn more about the culture that shapes our region.
Local Flavours & Makers
In Halifax, buying local isn’t just a trend, it’s part of the culture. Using what we have, supporting small businesses, and eating with the seasons are all common practices here—even for events at scale.
An easy way to incorporate local flavours is through working with the catering team at your venue to prioritize fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and menu items. Venues like the Halifax Convention Centre have a focus on incorporating local ingredients on their menus as standard practice. Many other culinary teams can also adapt to offer local options upon request. And don’t forget the beverage side of things—Nova Scotia is home to a growing wine region, not to mention numerous microbreweries, cideries, and meaderies that specialize in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options to whet your whistle.
Event planners may also want to consider working with local makers for keepsakes or gifts for conference attendees so delegates can take home a piece of Halifax when they leave. Our team can provide some options if this is an area you’re interested in learning more about.
For a more organic option, delegates can take part in Halifax’s Show Your Badge Program, which offers a discount at select shops, services, experiences, and restaurants to visiting delegates who show their conference badge.
Sustainability
We take sustainability seriously in Halifax and believe in progress over perfection. To that end, Discover Halifax has a Sustainable Event Planning Guide, which serves as a roadmap to help events and conferences contribute to community well-being and encourage environmental stewardship. The Guide offers practical information to help you plan your next event and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals framework, which provides a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to sustainability.
Impact Beyond the Event
Kits For A Cause – Impact Opportunity
When thinking about events that are really “of the place”, there’s no better way than actually getting involved in the broader community. Increasingly, we’re working with planners and conveners who are looking to make a longer-term community impact by using their events and gatherings as a catalyst for positive change.
This area has become so popular that we’ve curated Opportunities for Impact on our website, which includes well thought out, easy-to-execute experiences, educational speakers, and carbon reduction programs specifically designed for conferences and large groups. Aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it’s easy to find an initiative that aligns with goals of your host organization—from local film screenings to furniture building, and more.
There’s no limit to the ways you can create impact beyond your events. We can provide more examples or brainstorm ideas, just ask!
In Conclusion
The Alexander Keith’s Brewery
Hosting an event that is in Halifax that is also distinctly of Halifax has never been easier. Below are some quick links to some of our marquee programs mentioned throughout the article:
Get in touch today if you’re ready to book your next conference or event here and experience everything the city has to offer for yourself. We can’t wait to welcome you!
