Citadel Halifax Hotel Makeover

Back in September we filled you in on changes in store for the Citadel Halifax Hotel. The Hotel has officially checked out its last guest and preparations are underway for the rebirth of the property and surrounding area, set to open in the fall of 2013.The complex will be transformed into a mixed-use facility, featuring two new 13-storey hotels and a 17-storey residential building combined with restaurant and retail space. SilverBirch Hotels and Resorts will build the Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn, both Hilton brand hotels.The Citadel Halifax Hotel makeover will transform this prime location in downtown Halifax and give... Read More

The 2012 Halifax Meeting & Convention Planner has Arrived!

Big news - we’ve officially released our 2012 online Halifax Meeting & Convention Planner! This tool is designed to aid meeting and event professionals in hosting successful events in the Halifax region, and lives on the web, right where the planning begins. The Meeting & Convention Planner contains valuable and comprehensive information on venues, suppliers, accommodations, and meeting services as well as insight into the host of uniquely Halifax dining, entertainment, and pre- and post-convention tour/activity options that will transport delegates from boardroom to boardwalk in no time. Our easy to read flip book format, complete with hot links, helps you... Read More

Halifax Hotspots

Halifax is a hotspot for both business and for business travelers. After conducting business all day, you want the opportunity to wind down, have fun and get out there and explore your surroundings - Halifax is the place for all three. The strength is in our compact downtown. A lot of our meeting space and hotels are located in downtown Halifax, an area that is completely walkable from one end to the other in about 20 minutes. But don’t mistakenly think that means we’re lacking in things to do! Within this condensed core we pack in all the history, art, culinary,... Read More

Oh Canada!

A big round of applause goes out to the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), Canada's national tourism marketing organization, for promoting product and industry development around the world so well that for the second year in a row, Canada has been named the #1 most powerful country brand in the world.At the 32nd annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London, England in November, FutureBrand, a leading international brand and design consultancy, announced that Canada remains in the top spot in its 2011 Country Brand Index (CBI), the most comprehensive global study of how travelers perceive countries around the world. The rankings... Read More

Green Space: Not Just Parks Anymore

Are you an event planner who wants to host unforgettable experiences for your delegates but also cares about giving back to the environment and not leaving a Bigfoot-sized carbon footprint? There are many hotels, restaurants, and unique venues in Halifax available for corporate and private groups that keep you in Mother Nature’s good green books. One unique venue on the Halifax waterfront with a fabulous view of the ocean, 43,000 sq. ft. of flexible space, and an environmental conscience is the new Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market. It is located in the Seaport District directly behind the Westin Nova Scotian and near... Read More

Halifax International Security Forum - Year Three

Halifax welcomed the return of the Halifax International Security Forum last week. For the third year in a row, International Ministers of Defence, Ambassadors, 4-Star Generals, Business Leaders, Academics and Foreign Press descended on our city to discuss "international security threats in a unique setting that leads to building democracy, creating opportunity and promoting peace."It was a busy weekend for the city and for organizers of the Forum. Forum President Peter Van Praagh, Vice President Joesph Hall, Board Members and Canada's Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay played host to 300 delegates including Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, U.S. Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, U.S. Senators John McCain, Mark Udall &... Read More

Information Marketplace at Saint Mary's University

On November 1st, Destination Halifax along with fourteen DH member companies held an information marketplace at Saint Mary’s University. The event, held in the Loyola Conference Hall, attracted 33 key university academic and administrative staff. During the event, DH member company personnel were able to provide information about their respective conference service offerings and in return gather qualified leads for potential future meetings and conferences. Tables were set up with displays, offering the ideal networking environment. A gift certificate for 20 lbs of fresh Nova Scotia lobster was awarded to one lucky attendee. Feedback from both DH members and Saint... Read More

Get Down to Business with MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter

As part of the Back to Business: Professional Development Series, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Atlantic Canada Chapter will be hosting an event at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 on November 23, 2011 from 8:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Registration deadline is November 21, 2011.This thought-provoking professional development session will help you map your path to success.Event Summery: Keynote SessionMPI’s most requested speaker, Deborah Gardner, will explore the truth of negotiating in “Naked Negotiating – Who Has the Power Within Today’s Hospitality Profession?”"As a negotiator, are you deploying proven, new practice strategies and tools that ensure consistently successful... Read More

Planning a Meeting or Event? Destination Halifax Can Help!

CVB, DMO, DMC – you may have heard these acronyms before, but what do they mean? Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) all function similarly to promote a region and encourage business and leisure visitors to travel to that destination. Destination Halifax is pleased to be your DMO for the Halifax Regional Municipality.Christine Shimasaki, Managing Director of empowerMINT.com provides some insight into the value of DMO’s in the meeting planning process:“On the way to finding the ‘just right’ fit for your meeting, you may find yourself caught in the Goldilocks Dilemma with... Read More

Clutter Free Meetings - the Next Green Meeting Initiative

We're taking additional steps to become green when it comes to meetings. Meeting planners have been asking us to reduce waste for several years now - less bottled water, less paper hand-outs, and more of a focus on reducing clutter. Westin Hotels & Resorts has introduced Clutter Free Meetings. Pens, pads, mints and water are traditionally placed on each table in a meeting room. With Clutter Free Meetings, these items are available on a table near the back of the meeting room so that delegates can help themselves as they enter. To further assist in minimizing waste, water coolers and glasses... Read More