BREAKFAST: The Business of Tourism, Making Halifax a Premier Events Destination

As our city continues to grow with new residents, so too does our meeting, convention, and event business.

When reflecting on the last several years, Halifax’s hospitality and event industry has much to be proud of. From the exhilaration of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey championships and the largest ever multisport event in Nova Scotia with the North American Indigenous Games, to the city-wide celebration of Canadian music during the 2024 JUNO Awards and consecutive record-breaking years at the Halifax Convention Centre. Businesses big and small have played an integral part in delivering experiences that leave lasting memories, and ensure locals want to keep buying tickets and visitors make plans to return. 

Whether hosting memorable moments at Scotiabank Centre, or welcoming delegates and international experts at the Halifax Convention Centre, Events East has been at the centre of this growing and thriving events ecosystem. Under the leadership of President and CEO Carrie Cussons, they have met or exceeded all business and financial targets outlined in their last five-year strategic plan. At the time it was written, the desire for Halifax and Nova Scotia to become a favoured events destination was bold and ambitious. Today, that vision has become a reality. 
Since 2018, Halifax Convention Centre and Scotiabank Centre have welcomed a combined 3.2M visitors to 1,500 events, generating half a billion dollars in impact. 

Before the new convention centre, approximately 4-5 national and international conferences were attracted to the city each year. Now more than 40 such events are taking place annually. This underscores the importance of investment in public infrastructure like convention centres to stimulate economic activity and be a catalyst for development, tourism, and vibrancy in the downtown core.

Join us for a conversation between Halifax Chamber CEO Patrick Sullivan, and Events East CEO Carrie Cussons. They will discuss the power of live events to create economic and social impact, reflect on recent growth and successes, and look to the future as Events East prepares to answer the question: Where might we go from here?