Halifax’s tourism industry is showing steady momentum, with 2025 being a record year for visitors, according to a yearly report. Discover Halifax’s 2025 Annual Report, released Wednesday, found the total combined hotel and short-term rental room nights sold in the municipality reached 2,008,350. Last year was the first time Halifax hotel room and short-term rentals surpassed two million nights, representing a two per cent increase over 2024. “People are coming from all around the world,” Ross Jefferson, president and CEO of Discover Halifax, told CTV News Atlantic. He noted there are about 1,000 Airbnb units and 7,000 hotel rooms in the municipality, with more on the way. “We’ve seen five hotels built in the last five years here in the downtown core, we know there’s more that are in various stages of proposals and development,” said Jefferson. Westin Hotel manager Glenn Bowie is seeing the growth firsthand. He said 2025 was their biggest year ever for conferences and it’s looking like they could surpass it again this year. He said they already have bookings well into the 2030s. “As we reflect on 2025, Halifax’s tourism industry demonstrated steady performance and continued momentum, even as it navigated capacity pressures and a shifting global environment,” Jefferson said in a news release. “These results reinforce the sustained appeal of HRM as a destination, and the growing demand across both leisure and business travel.” More indicators of strong performance from Discover Halifax’s report are: Some of the 2025 events highlighted in the report include the Canadian Curling Trials, Halifax Music Fest, the Women’s Hockey Rivalry Series and the Box Lacrosse National Championships. While Halifax may be the main attraction for many, reservations are strong in rural areas, too. “People are looking for a wellness type thing, they’re looking for a family relaxed type of experience,” said Dean Leland, Oceanstone Resort & Spa owner. “Not everybody is looking for a downtown hotel experience.” Jefferson added he’s seeing a lot of growth in interest from across Canada and with 15 direct flights to Europe, the market is trending upwards. High profile events like SailGP returning to Halifax are also contributing to a strong outlook for the tourism industry in 2026. “HRM is well positioned for the future, and we are ready to continue shaping a vibrant and sustainable tourism sector,” said Jefferson in the news release. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
