Take the Lead aims to encourage and support local business and community leaders in attracting events to Halifax.
November 1, 2021 – Halifax, Nova Scotia: Today, Discover Halifax launched Take the Lead, a new program designed to inspire business and community leaders to take a leadership role in attracting high-value events to Halifax.
“Take the Lead is about encouraging leaders to consider their influence with boards, associations, events, or initiatives they are passionate about, and connecting with Discover Halifax to identify opportunities to bring events to their home city,” says Ross Jefferson, President and CEO, Discover Halifax. “Events like conferences, meetings, sports or cultural activities are vitally important to our economy.”
Through its sales and marketing programs, Discover Halifax has dedicated resources and expertise in event attraction, service, and promotion, making it well poised to lead the program.
While Take the Lead is a new program, Discover Halifax has worked with many local leaders who have brought successful international, national, and regional events to Halifax. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage wants others to consider doing the same.
“Take the Lead is for people who take great pride in their community and want to see our city shine. Events make our city better—more vibrant and exciting. And they provide a great platform to recognize local leaders,” says Mayor Mike Savage. “I want to challenge everyone in the business community or otherwise to think about your connections and work with Discover Halifax, who can help you bring events to our great city.”
Jefferson adds that getting involved with Take the Lead provides a valuable opportunity to experience personal, professional, and civic growth. In addition, events are vitally important to the local economy, making Halifax a better place to live, work, study, and visit.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings and conventions industry accounted for approximately $115 million in economic spending, with events supported by Discover Halifax contributing $58 million. Event attendants spend money locally on transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, shopping, entertainment, and more, which contribute to the economic and social well-being of the region.
Quick facts:
- Take the Lead aims to encourage and support local business and community leaders in attracting events to Halifax.
- Discover Halifax is an expert and leader in event attraction, planning and promotion.
- Discover Halifax offers free services that extend to event proposal development, venue selection, site inspections, designing delegate experiences, event promotion and more.
- Before COVID-19, the meetings and conventions industry accounted for approximately $115 million in economic spending.
Additional resources:
- Local hosts share their experience hosting events in Halifax: https://taketheleadhalifax.ca/meet-others
- Take the Lead promotion video (30-second): https://vimeo.com/639570456
- Take the Lead promotion video (90-second): https://vimeo.com/637310500
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 has been to promote Halifax as a destination of choice for leisure and business travellers. Halifax typically welcomes 5.3 million overnight stays each year, who spend $1.3 billion. Halifax alone represents over 54% of all visitation to Nova Scotia, and 34,000 people are employed in the tourism industry.
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Media contact:
Fallon Bourgeois
Director, Communications
Discover Halifax