We invite you to work with us to identify opportunities in the tourism industry and improve the quality and competitiveness of your business. From business coaching to guides and toolkits, Tourism Nova Scotia has a range of resources to help you reach your business goals.
See Business Resource Summary (pdf)
Business Coaching
Business development
Get one-on-one coaching to start or grow your business. Our business development team offers market research insights and industry best practices to help you become more competitive, and can help you navigate available resources.
For questions about our resources or to connect with one of our business advisors, please contact a member of our business development team:
Nick Fry
Manager of Business Development
902-478-9561
nick.fry@novascotia.ca
For business advisory services, please contact:
Jennifer McKeane
Business Development Advisor
Regional contact for: South Shore, Eastern Shore, Northumberland Shore and Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley
902-717-3623
jennifer.mckeane@novascotia.ca
Leena Roy
Business Development Advisor
Regional contact for: Cape Breton, Halifax, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores
902-478-1704
leena.roychowdhury@novascotia.ca
Chanel Mazerolle
Program Administration Officer
902-220-4873
Chanel.Mazerolle@novascotia.ca
Experience Development
Learn how to identify the customers who are most likely to be interested in what you offer. We’ll help you set your business apart from the competition by coaching you to create experiences that help travellers connect with Nova Scotia’s people, places, and culture. Our experience development team can guide you through creating, planning, and pricing travel experiences that will help raise your profile, attract customers, and contribute to your business goals.
Tools and Resources
Toolkits
Whether you are looking to develop a new experience to sell to visitors, or hoping to expand your marketing and sales channels, these toolkits provide the information and resources you need to get started.
Nova Scotia Experience Toolkit
Learn about different types of travellers, experience development planning and pricing tools, industry best practices, and marketing insights to help you create an experience that will set you apart from the competition and create more demand for your business.
Travel Trade Readiness Toolkit
The Atlantic Canada Travel Trade Readiness Program equips tourism operators with tactics, processes and best-practices to help you expand your business by working with travel agent, tour operator and online travel agency partners.
Access the Travel Trade Readiness Toolkit
How to Work With Travel Media Toolkit
Working with travel media is one of the best, and most cost-effective, ways to promote a business or experience to a new audience. The How to Work with Travel Media Toolkit will help you get started with building relationships with journalists and influencers to create inspiring stories and content that resonates with travellers.
Business Guides
Use these guides to get started or expand your business activities. Each guide provides practical advice, best-practices, and further resources to help you whether you are new to the tourism industry or a seasoned operator.
A Guide to Starting and Running an Accommodation Business in Nova Scotia
This guide will help you work towards your vision of starting an accommodation business in Nova Scotia, or help you enhance your established business to raise your appeal for travellers.
Operating an Accommodation Business
See regulations, best-practices and resources for accommodations businesses. This page includes profiles of recently opened and expanded accommodation businesses in the province and shares what the operators are doing to set their business apart and attract customers.
Find Resources for Your Accommodation Business
A Guide to Starting and Running a Restaurant in Nova Scotia
See what it takes to start and successfully operate a restaurant in Nova Scotia. In this guide, the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia offers insights and suggestions to help you improve your business.
A Guide to Planning and Hosting Festivals & Events in Nova Scotia
Get advice on each step of planning and hosting a festival or event in Nova Scotia – including choosing a venue, coordinating staff and volunteers, marketing your event, and ensuring a fantastic experience for your guests.
Read the Festivals & Events Guide
COVID-19 Business Supports & Resources
Find federal and provincial programs and resources to help your business deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Webinars
Tourism Nova Scotia Webinar Series
Get practical advice on business planning, website optimization, marketing, research insights, developing experiences and packages to appeal to Maritime travellers, and more. These one-hour webinars feature panelists with a range of expertise to help you navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and come out even stronger.
Digital Technology Resource Hub
DigiPort is a one-stop resource to access services, training, and support to improve your online presence and digital marketing.
DigiPort is delivered in partnership between Tourism Nova Scotia and Digital Nova Scotia, and helps tourism businesses and organizations connect with qualified digital service providers and access articles, videos, tip sheets, webinars and workshops to help you be more visible online, reach potential customers, and close the sale. Nova Scotia tourism businesses and organizations can register to access DigiPort at no cost.
Business Navigators
The Province of Nova Scotia's Business Navigators can help you navigate provincial regulations and requirements for new businesses including any licenses, permits, or inspections.
Phone: 902-424-4475
Toll-free: 1-844-628-7347
busnavigation@novascotia.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
The Business Navigators have also prepared starter guides for an overview of how to start businesses including campgrounds and accommodations, restaurants, food trucks and breweries.