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Halifax has been selected to host one of the largest global conferences for professionals in the oceans sector.

November 20, 2019 – Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax has been selected to host one of the largest global conferences for professionals in the oceans sector. Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) have named Halifax as the host city for OCEANS 2024. OCEANS conferences around the world uniquely bring together the ocean technology industry with the latest science, engineering, and research.

“The ocean engineering and technology community in Halifax and Atlantic Canada is stronger and larger than it has ever been,” said Christopher Whitt, with the Canadian Atlantic Section of IEEE. “2024 is the perfect time to bring OCEANS back to Canada’s ocean hub.”

OCEANS 2024 will be held on September 23-26, 2024 at the Halifax Convention Centre. Approximately, 1,500 out-of-town participants are expected to attend the conference accounting for 3,900 overnight stays. Direct spending as a result of the event is expected to be close to $2.4 million.

Discover Halifax, a non-profit destination marketing organization, partners with a number of stakeholders to promote the region and attract meetings and conventions. The proposal for the OCEANS 2024 event was a collaborative effort with partners including the municipality, Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax Partnership, Nova Scotia Business Incorporated (NSBI) and the oceans sector.

“We’re thrilled Halifax was chosen for OCEANS 2024,” said Ross Jefferson, president and CEO at Discover Halifax. “We know it will be a truly memorable event that will showcase why Halifax is one of Canada’s premier destinations for meetings and conventions, in addition to being home to a thriving oceans economy.”

Quotes:

“We are excited to host OCEANS 2024 in Halifax, and to welcome ocean technology and industry thought leaders from around the world to Canada’s ocean city. The ocean drives Halifax’s economy and culture, attracting visitors who enjoy our east coast lifestyle and Maritime hospitality, and companies that benefit from our talent, location, cost and innovation advantages.”

  • Wendy Luther, President & CEO, Halifax Partnership

“We can’t wait to welcome Oceans 2024 to our state-of-the-art Centre and our amazing city. This event aligns perfectly with our strategy to attract conventions that showcase Nova Scotia’s sectors of comparative advantage to the world.”

  • Carrie Cussons, President & CEO, Halifax Convention Centre

“Ocean-related industry is an important driver of economic growth for our province, employing more than 35,000 Nova Scotians in companies leading in underwater acoustics, sensing and imaging, marine communication and navigation, and autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles. Nova Scotia is an ideal location to host Oceans 2024.”

  • Laurel Broten, President & CEO, Nova Scotia Business Incorporated (NSBI)

Quick Facts:

  • According to NSBI, ocean-related industries generate approximately $4.5 billion, or roughly 15 per cent of the provincial GDP.
  • The ocean sector accounts for one-third of total research and development spending.
  • Nova Scotia has more than 300 companies working in the oceans sector, notably in underwater acoustics, sensing and imaging, marine communication and navigation, and autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles.
  • The world’s ocean economy is expected to double to over $3 trillion over the next decade, and Nova Scotia with its sister provinces in Atlantic Canada are world leaders in ocean innovation.
  • In 2018, Halifax was named the Top 10 Global Destinations on the Rise by TripAdvisor.

Additional Resources:

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About Discover Halifax

Discover Halifax is a non-profit, membership-based marketing and sales organization in partnership with the Halifax regional government, the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia and participating industry members. Since its inception in 2002, Discover Halifax’s goal is to promote Halifax as a destination of choice for leisure and business travelers.

Halifax welcomes 5.3 million overnight stays each year, who spend over $1 billion. Halifax alone represents over 54% of all visitation to Nova Scotia, and 34,000 people are employed in the tourism industry.

Media Contacts:

Monica MacLean,
Communications director
Discover Halifax
mmaclean@discoverhalifaxns.com
902-401-2308

Christopher Whitt,
IEEE Canadian Atlantic Section Past Chair, OCEANS 2024 Halifax General Chair
cwhitt@ieee.org
902-402-1729