Have questions about Membership with Discover Halifax? Find information below and feel free to get in touch with us if you have additional questions.
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Am I eligible to become a member of Discover Halifax?
Membership is open to all tourism & hospitality-related businesses as well as individuals who wish to remain connected with the leisure or business market. To become a member, you must be located within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) from Ecum Secum to Hubbards and everywhere in-between.
If your business is located outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality, but within the Province of Nova Scotia, there are still opportunities for you to become a Provincial partner if you meet the criteria. Provincial partnerships are a flat fee of $400. Contact the Membership Team for more information if you are located outside of the HRM.
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What is included in a Discover Halifax membership?
Discover Halifax is proud to offer a membership that is simple, accessible & costs nothing to join. You are more than just a member; you are a stakeholder and we can build our industry together. With your membership, you will receive the following:
- Business listing on Discover Halifax’s visitor website (includes mobile site + public WiFi)
- Collective economic growth from marketing efforts and sales to attract meetings and conventions
- Access to Member Resources including rights-free photos and videos
- Access to a three-months-out confirmed booking report for meetings & conventions
- Monthly membership newsletters with regional tourism information to help your business grow
- Access to members-only Facebook page to stay connected to industry members
- Participation in the “Show your Badge/Show your Ticket Program”
- Access to additional paid-for member-only advertising opportunities like the Urban Walking Map and The Official Halifax Highlights Visitor Guide.
- Eligibility to vote at Discover Halifax’s Annual General Meeting
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What does a Discover Halifax membership cost?
There is no cost involved for a base Discover Halifax membership. It is FREE.
There are additional paid opportunities for members who wish to gain further visibility and leads in the leisure and business markets.
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What types of membership are offered by Discover Halifax?
- If your business is focused on the leisure traveller, there is one type of membership as described above at no cost.
- If your business is also focused on the meetings and conventions market, you will need to be a member first and can contact our Membership team to become an M&C supplier. This means you'll receive free information about market opportunities and value-added benefits.
- If your business is located outside of the HRM, you can still become a Provincial Affiliate for a flat rate of $400.
- If you would like to become a Provincial accommodation partner the cost is $400 + $17/room
- If you would like to become a Provincial venue partner the cost is $400 + $0.02 sq/foot.
- As a Provincial Affilate, you get similar benefits to our Membership with the exception of voting rights at the annual AGM.
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How do I access the meetings & conventions market. Where should I start?
Discover Halifax has a sales team who are focused on attracting new meetings and conventions business for the Halifax Regional Municipality from safe travel markets. Depending on your preferred level of involvement, our team can help create opportunities that work for you. You can contact our Membership team to receive more meetings and conventions information.
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What has changed with Membership?
- The biggest change is that the base membership is now FREE!
- We have removed the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels to have just one, simple, no-cost membership type.
- Membership is annual, and you have the option to “opt-in” to continue membership each year.
- Members receive an annual membership package that is valid for the calendar year (January 1 through to December 31).
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Why have you changed Membership?
We believe our industry is stronger when we all work together. We also believe that our connections with our members help us better represent our regions and the many experiences our members bring. It is our members that help us provide the stories and experiences that our visitors are seeking. By removing barriers to membership and making it simpler and more accessible than ever, we can focus on collectively working together for the common good of the tourism and hospitality industry.
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So, if membership is free, how is Discover Halifax funded?
At Discover Halifax, our primary purpose is to promote the Halifax Regional Municipality to safe travel markets. We accomplish this thanks to funding provided by the municipality and from hotel levies. These revenue streams and resources are pooled together to have a collective impact for the entire region.
Membership fees have been historically part of Discover Halifax’s budget, however, over the past number of years we have continued to build our Visitor Experience revenue and expect this to continue in the years to come. By removing the cost of membership, we remove the entry-barrier and provide more opportunities for businesses to be part of the industry.
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What has stayed the same with Membership?
We continue to offer additional opportunities to maximize benefits to your business!
- Business listing on Discover Halifax website (includes mobile site + public WiFi)
- Access to three-month confirmed booking report for meetings & conventions
- Access to additional paid-for member-only advertising opportunities
- Collective economic growth from marketing efforts and sales to attract meetings and conventions
- Monthly membership newsletters with regional tourism information to help your business grow
- Access to Member Resources including rights free photo and video galleries
- Access to members-only Facebook page to stay connected to industry members
- A vote at Discover Halifax’s Annual General Meeting
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I want to gain more visibility to leisure visitors. How do I do this?
There are advertising opportunities within our visitor tools that members get priority access to. This includes:
- Official Halifax Highlight Visitors Guide
- Walking Maps (Urban + Rural)
- Discover Halifax Leisure Website
Please contact our Membership team if you are interested in advertising opportunities.
- Official Halifax Highlight Visitors Guide
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How much does a Meetings & Conventions add-on cost?
By being part of the Meetings and Conventions community, we become more united in protecting and promoting the region. There are two different types of Meetings and Conventions add-ons that you can sign-up for.
Meetings & Conventions Supplier.
Cost: FREEMeetings & Conventions Hotel & Venue Partner:
$17/room Halifax peninsula hotels
$8/room Halifax off peninsula hotels
$0.02/square foot for Venue/Facility partnersFor more information, please contact the Membership team to discuss.
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How long is my membership active for?
Your Discover Halifax membership is valid for the full calendar year from January 1 to December 31. You are in control of your business listing content within our website and have the option to renew your membership each year.
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Where do I sign-up to become a member?
Ah, glad you asked! You can sign up by clicking here.
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How do I renew my membership?
You can renew your membership for free here.
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How do I access the member portal?
Login to update your business listing or business information. For example, you can update your business hours, a new image, or primary contact information. If you need to add or delete a contact a login for the member portal, or need help adding/deleting a contact please email our Membership team.
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How do I list or update my business listing on discoverhalifaxns.com?
You can login to update your business listing at any time. There is also a helpful step-by-step guide located in the Files section at the very bottom of the Home screen.
If you have any trouble updating your listing information, please contact our Membership team.
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I have a Meetings & Conventions add-on. How do I check for or answer leads that get sent my way?
When a new lead is sent to your organization you will get an email notification. To respond to a lead, or to view other leads you have responded to in the past, simply login. The boxes on the Home screen will show new and open leads waiting for a response or updates/messages on other leads.
To find previously responded to leads, go to Leads -> My Leads to search. There is also a helpful step-by-step guide located in the Files section at the very bottom of the Home screen. For questions about receiving and responding to sales leads in iDSS please contact our Sales Support Manager, Amy Myatt.
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I want to cancel my membership. What do I do?
Simply contact the Membership team to cancel.
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I’m a Meeting & Conventions partner. Where do I pay my invoice?
Log in to your account. Click on the “Invoices" tab on the navigation and select your payment method. Alternate payment methods are also outlined on your invoice.