December 1 – 3 | THE WESTIN NOVA SCOTIAN
Conference schedule subject to change.
Monday – December 2, 2019 | |||
7:00am-5:00pm | REGISTRATION DESK OPEN | ||
8:30am-10:00am | OPENING & KEYNOTE PRESENTATION KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Rick Antonson – Cathedral Thinking and Charting Tourism’s Future |
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10:00am-10:30am | NUTRITION BREAK & SILENT AUCTION | ||
10:30am-11:45am | From the Land – The Interconnectivity of Agriculture & Tourism Discover how FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited is supporting new business development and promoting strategic and responsible community investment in food production and distribution. Listen to some of the innovative agri-tourism businesses, as they share their stories and speak to the growing interest by visitors in the Farm-to-Table experience. |
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10:30am-11:45am | Building to 365 Find out what is happening in various regions of Nova Scotia to extend the lucrative tourism season. Join our panelists as they share their success stories and challenges. Lend your voice to the discussion – How do we think differently – what are we doing around season extension and building a year-round tourism economy for Nova Scotia. |
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10:30am-11:45am | Tourism Start-Up Pitch Session Nova Scotia’s tourism industry needs innovators and creative minds to keep moving us forward. In order to reach our $4B growth goal, we need new ideas, risk-takers, and business visionaries. Meet regional finalists as they pitch their new business concepts to a panel of Investment experts. Who will be the 2019 Start-Up winner to chart a new tourism enterprise? |
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12:00pm-1:15pm | CHAIRMAN’S LUNCHEON Host Judy Saunders, TIANS Chair Connecting the Dots: the Economics and Evolution of Expanding Air Access KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Joyce Carter, HIAA President & CEO |
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1:30pm-2:00pm | MINISTERIAL ADDRESS SPEAKER: Honourable Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business and Minister Responsible for Tourism |
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2:00pm-2:30pm | KEYNOTE ADDRESS WITH MICHELE SARAN, CEO, TOURISM NOVA SCOTIA Adapting to Win: Finding Opportunities in a Changing Tourism Industry If we keep doing the same thing we’ve always done, we will get the same results we’ve always had. Travel has changed, travellers have changed, and so must we if we want to be a top vacation destination. Changes bring new opportunities and those who adapt will have the most success. Michele Saran explores the opportunities for Nova Scotia’s tourism industry to attract the travellers of today and tomorrow. |
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2:30pm-3:00pm | NUTRITION BREAK AND SILENT AUCTION | ||
3:00pm-5:00pm | Events Strategy Update – Communities, Culture and Heritage followed by
MONDAY CLOSING KEYNOTE – STEVEN WOOD SCHMADER Moments of Engagement |
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5:30pm-7:30pm | DISCOVERY CENTRE OPENING RECEPTION & B2B MARKETPLACE Join us as we walk across the street to unwind from the day’s events, rekindle friendships, discover innovative products and digest the latest culinary treats in one of Nova Scotia’s most exciting new attractions. |
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Tuesday – December 3, 2019 | |||
7:30am-4:00pm |
REGISTRATION DESK OPEN |
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8:30am-9:45am | INDUSTRY BREAKFAST & KEYNOTE PRESENTATION Presented by The Westin Nova Scotian Darrell Keezer, CEO and Founder of Candybox Marketing |
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9:00am- 3:00pm |
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR TOURISM SUMMIT DELEGATES Book one-on-one with Event Staff from Community Culture and HeritageStaff from the Events Nova Scotia will be available for one-on-one appointments on |
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10:00am-11:15am | Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Tourism Food tells an essential part of the story of a destination and has become a defining element of Nova Scotia’s tourism brand. Delegates will learn more about Kilunu (Our Food) and how the Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network (NSITEN) and partners are developing new opportunities to build the Indigenous culinary product as an integral part of the tourism growth strategy in the province. Find out how can you be part of this and leverage the exciting opportunities in indigenous tourism |
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10:00am-11:15am | Rural Placemaking Pitch Competition with Develop Nova Scotia Develop Nova Scotia is in the business of placemaking, which means people are at the heart of everything we do. We plan, develop, and manage strategically significant land and infrastructure with and for people. When it’s done well, together with partners and communities, it will inevitably turn public spaces into destinations that differentiate Nova Scotia to attract visitors. “Placemaking is, simply, creating places that people love. It’s a process and an outcome. Places that people love are places where people want to stay and live, where people want to start and grow businesses, and where people want to visit.” Develop Nova Scotia would like to work with you to help turn what differentiates your community into a placemaking project that could make your community more lovable and livable, an improved platform for business, and a place where visitors looking for authentic experiences want to hang out with locals. We’ll work with your community and contribute $10,000 to help bring your idea to life. Check out Full Pitch Information Here |
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10:00am-11:15am | What Will Our Legacy Be? The success of Nova Scotia’s tourism industry is dependent on the health of the natural environment. Despite this, there are growing pressures on the environment, placing visitor experiences and Brand NS at risk. Come hear from respected names and leading experts on how we can all work together to enhance the stewardship of our beautiful province. The Environmental Panel will be made up of Author and Journalist, Joan Baxter; Ecology Action Centre’s Raymond Plourde and Gabrielle Beaulieu, Biologist with Parks Canada at Kejimkujik National Park; Moderated by Earth Rhythms’ Celes Davar. |
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11:15am-11:45am | NUTRITION BREAK & SILENT AUCTION | ||
11:45am-1:00pm | Managing Risk with Your Events with Community Culture and Heritage Planning and hosting events in your community comes with risks, including everything from reputation, to financial and even environmental. Our panel members will share tips and insights into how communities and event organizers can ensure their events get off on the right foot. Panel Members include: JP Landry, Director of Licensing & Registration, Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division; Mike MacSween, Executive Director, Celtic Colours International Festival; Insurance Representative (Event Risk Assessment) |
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11:45am-1:00pm | Adapt to Grow Your Business – Leverage Tourism Nova Scotia Opportunities Now The tourism industry is rapidly evolving; how can your business adapt to attract travellers? Learn how Tourism Nova Scotia can help you identify specific actions to increase your profile, attract your best visitors and maximize sales. You’ll hear directly from Tourism Nova Scotia about the programs and resources available to support your business growth—from research and development to marketing and travel trade. Tourism Nova Scotia team members will be available for one-on-one speed-meetings following the panel presentation to discuss your ideas. |
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11:45am-1:00pm | It’s Time to Do Things Differently – Tourism Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion with Ann Divine Attraction and Retention of staff remains a key challenge for tourism businesses. How can you become more competitive through building a diverse workforce? There are options for you – join this interactive session, where you will begin to move from words into actionable solutions that will make your business more competitive in a tight labour market. |
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11:45am-1:00pm | 37 Ways Your Website Has Died (and How to Resurrect it) How do customers describe your company’s online presence? If they’d say, “outdated and corporate” instead of “inspiring and informative,” you’re doomed. Technology has changed the way Canadians interact with companies. It’s time businesses responded and changed how they connect with customers. So buckle up for a revealing session on the important realities of websites and learn how to build a digital presence to not only generate sales, but to win advocates for life. – With Keynote Speaker, Darrell Keezer |
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1:00pm-3:00pm | LUNCHEON & SILENT AUCTION CLOSE IN COMMONWEATLTH BALLROOM, FOLLOWED BY CLOSING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION IN ATLANTIC BALLROOM Living with the ‘Zerolimite’ Attitude – MARTIN LATULIPPE Today’s workplace is often fast paced, filled with rapid change, long hours and a commitment to maintain the highest standard of excellence. With ‘Zerolimite’ attitude you can harness the power to live in the moment and be more open to seeing the possibilities around you! This keynote is the best investment you’ll make in yourself, those you lead and the people you serve. With lots of laughter, storytelling and a good sense of purpose, Martin Latulippe shines a light on the good work we do to improve the lives of others and how to achieve our full potential! |
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3:00pm-3:15pm | CLOSING REMARKS FOR THE 2019 TOURISM SUMMIT | ||
6:00pm-7:00pm | GALA DINNER RECEPTION Sponsored by: Taste of Nova Scotia |
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7:00pm-9:30pm | 2019 CRYSTAL TOURISM AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE GALA DINNER JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE TOURISM EXCELLENCE IN NOVA SCOTIA! |
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9:30pm | POST GALA ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS IN ROY’S LOBBY LOUNGE |