Halifax has its sights set on a new convention centre to boost business

While the proposed new Halifax convention centre is still in the formative stages, the region's meeting planners are already excited about the possibilities it will present. "A new convention centre will keep our city on the 'shopping list' of meeting planners who book major conferences and events," says Kim George, the president of the Atlantic Canadian chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

The city's current 100,000-square-foot World Trade and Convention Centre isn't big enough to host many major shows. The new centre, as proposed by Joe Ramia's Rank Inc., for the block between the city's Argyle and Grafton streets that once housed The Chronicle Herald offices, would provide 300,000 square feet of convention space, a 400-room hotel, and office, retail, and residential space.

The proposal has attracted support beyond the meetings industry. "The new convention centre should be on everyone's radar," Bob Mussett, a senior vice-president and the managing director of CB Richard Ellis, told a business group last November. "It will be hugely positive for our broader economy, no matter what business you're in."

Indeed, national figures underline the economic impact of the meetings and convention industry; each year the industry generates $32 billion in direct spending in Canada. Factor in the indirect and induced spending, and the number balloons to $71 billion. But attracting that amount of business takes space. According to MPI, meeting planners cite "available venues that meet space requirements" as their second biggest priority, right behind cost.

Both the province and the Halifax Regional Municipality are involved in the planning process; the goal is for the new centre to be operational by the beginning of 2013. Milestones to date include the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the developer in May of 2009, the completion of a business case study, and the submission of a detailed proposal later this month.