Sean Buckland is the President of Ambassatours Gray Line, one of Halifax’s premier tourism operators and a long-standing leader in sightseeing and travel services.
Sean led the successful bid to bring the 2025 Gray Line Partner Summit (Convention and AGM) to Halifax, an international gathering of Gray Line licensees and tourism professionals from around the globe. This event marked a significant milestone for Halifax as a vibrant conference destination within the travel and tourism sector.
WHY HE DID IT
Sean and the Ambassatours team first set their sights on hosting the Gray Line Partner Summit in 2021, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. When the chance to bid again arose, they seized it. “Any event or conference we attend, it’s automatic that we try to host it here, but it was a long-time goal for us to host Gray Line here,” Sean says, reflecting the company’s ambition to showcase Halifax’s strengths on an international stage.
His experience bringing other meetings, including the Amphibious Vehicle Operators Group Conference in 2024, helped inform his approach. Beyond business objectives, Sean emphasizes Halifax’s natural appeal: “Halifax is a world-class city. The waterfront is incredible. We hear that time and time again from our guests.” Halifax’s unique combination of historic character, ease of navigation, and engaging waterfront experiences made it an ideal setting for this conference.
OUTCOMES
The Gray Line 2025 Partner Summit brought about 150 attendees from around the world, representing some 80 licensees from the global Gray Line network. The event included pre- and post-tours around Nova Scotia, two days of educational seminars and team-building sessions, and curated networking experiences, including a welcome reception on the Tall Ship Silva, a lobster dinner at Cable Wharf, and a tour and dinner at Peggy’s Cove.
Economic impact for Halifax is estimated at more than $350,000, contributing to the city’s broader business events ecosystem. Among all Gray Line conferences held to date, Halifax’s event ranked the highest in attendee satisfaction and organizational success, a benchmark Sean is proud of. “No other conference for Gray Line has ranked higher, so we’ve set the bar,” he says. “It’s easy to wow guests in Halifax.”
By bringing this international event to Halifax, Sean not only elevated Ambassatours’ profile but also highlighted Halifax’s capacity to host dynamic global meetings that blend professional programming with distinctive local experiences.
