Check out Halifax's new Sustainable Business Events Guide
Halifax is working together on climate action, towards a net-zero economy.
We know we are at the beginning of our sustainability journey. There is plenty to do, and even more to figure out. We are making this a priority, as we work to make our approach to business events a greener one.
Discover Halifax has partnered with Destination Canada, alongside other Canadian DMOs, to join its Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan, which will assess our current sustainability initiatives, identify areas to improve, and provide a national standard for hosting business events sustainably.
Stakeholders within Halifax are ahead of the game.
The Halifax Regional Municipality has been leading the way since 2020 with HalifACT, its plan to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. The plan has been recognized with several Clean50 Summit awards, and listed on the 2022 CDP Cities A List.
There are many other factors that make Halifax a sustainable destination. Our region’s longstanding green initiatives include significant investments into renewable energy, public transit and green initiatives, including green spaces and bike lanes.
Our Halifax hotels and venues are helping us host sustainably.
In addition to being members of the Global Green Key Program, our properties boast many sustainability features. Here’s a quick peak into their sustainability features.
Halifax Convention Centre
The Halifax Convention Centre works to source local products every day. It’s Local Program supports 70+ local farmers, fishers, and producers to ensure sustainability is always top of mind. Clients can be proud that through the Local Program, they are leaving Halifax better than when they arrive.
Its culinary team handcrafts nearly every item with the freshest local ingredients and its Local Pop-Up Market invites delegates to meet the makers, sample their wares, and take a piece of Nova Scotia home. For information on how the centre and delegates can make a big impact together, visit halifaxconventioncentre.com/delegate-experience/local.
Hotel Halifax
Hotel Halifax is a paperless hotel where possible, and has water bottle refill stations located throughout the property, which reduce single-use plastics. Its sustainability-minded room features include low-flow shower fixtures and LED lighting throughout. For more information, visit hotelhalifax.ca/go-green.
Lord Nelson
The Lord Nelson prioritizes sustainability throughout its property, in areas including waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, water-saving and energy-efficient room fixtures, and sourcing sustainable food options from local suppliers. In addition to these efforts, the Lord Nelson also encourages its staff to be sustainable, supporting their use of the Halifax Transit SMARTTRIP EPass Program. Learn more about the EPass Program here.
The Westin Nova Scotian
Recent renovations at the Westin Nova Scotian have taken place in its guest-facing spaces and behind-the-scenes. These updates include newly added sustainable features such as; water-saving and energy-efficient laundry machines that recycle water, LED lighting throughout, and heating & cooling systems that lower the hotel’s energy footprint. For more information, visit serve360.marriott.com.
Sutton Place Halifax
Sutton Place Halifax is planting trees each time a guest opts to forego stayover cleaning for their room. When this option is chosen, the company plants 10 trees on guests’ behalf. Since the initiative’s launch in 2022, over 76,000 trees have been planted. This equals over 19,000 tons of carbon sequestered and 9.4 hectares of forest replanted. For more information, visit suttonplace.com/halifax/amenities/trees.
Cambridge Suites
At the Cambridge Suites, sustainability-minded practices include reducing energy consumed from laundry, and offering guests the option to have sheets replaced every four days to lighten their carbon footprint. The hotel features recycling & composting and water refill stations throughout, and donates linens to local groups for reuse. For more information, visit cambridgesuiteshalifax.com/stay-green.php.
Prince George Hotel Halifax
The team at the Prince George Hotel Halifax know luxury can also be green. Its Green Prince Program is proof of this, and helps the team divert nearly 80% of the hotel’s waste from landfills. The hotel’s events team also orders food strategically, avoiding wasted ingredients and single-use plastics. For more information on this program, visit princegeorgehotel.com/the-hotel/green-prince-program.php.
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront
The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, as a Marriott property, is committed to reducing energy and water usage by a further 20%. Its rooms feature energy-efficient fixtures & appliances, and are cleaned with biodegradable cleaners. Local food suppliers and zero-waste products ensure the property produces as little waste as possible. For more information, visit serve360.marriott.com.
Ambassatours Gray Line
The Ambassatours Gray Line team works to reduce its environmental impact by closely managing garbage & recycling separation and beverage waste disposal on its tours. Black water from vessels is pumped into the city sewer system, rather than the harbour, and all engines run as little as possible to reduce emissions. This means no idling boats or busses. For more information, visit ambassatours.com.