BARRINGTON, N.S. — Hospitality and tourism-driven businesses, restaurants, resorts, cafes, breweries, gift shops, artists, galleries, theatres, museums, attractions, community groups – basically everyone on the South Shore who will be open for business in February – are being invited to set course for the 2020 Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl.
The fun starts with the Lobster Crawl Summit that will be hosted on Oct. 16 in the Municipality of Barrington.
The Lobster Crawl Summit is a “pep rally at heart,” says Donna Hatt, chairwoman of the South Shore Tourism Cooperative (SSTC).
“We’re inviting Lobster Crawl partners to come to Barrington, the Lobster Capital of Canada, for an intensive one day gathering," she says. "Of course, to keep the energy up, lobster will be infused into the luncheon and participants will take home some Lobster Crawl swag.”
The day’s agenda “welcomes Alain Bosse, the Kilted Chef who’ll host Lobster 101 providing industry with unique insights about our winter lobster fishery,” says Hatt.
“Pam Wamback of Tourism Nova Scotia will share insights about the international appetite for our Lobster Crawl and how to leverage that within our businesses. Partners like Taste of Nova Scotia and Kerra Aucoin will offer tips, hints and suggestions to take advantage of social media and capturing videos and images for marketing," she says.
"Menna Riley, our festival director, will celebrate the calendar of events ready to roll for the Crawl looking for voids in communities and experiences being represented," Hatt adds. "She’ll also be revealing our marketing plan and share thoughts on how to take advantage of opportunities and ensure we as the South Shore are working together to showcase the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, destined to be a Signature Festival in Canada.”
Now entering its third year, the Lobster Crawl is the only event of its kind in Nova Scotia and has already captured one national award. This summer, Tourism Nova Scotia, in partnership with the South Shore Tourism Co-Operative, won the 2019 Explore Canada Industry Award of Excellence for its Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl media campaign.
Taking place throughout the month of February along the South Shore from the Municipality of Barrington to Peggy’s Cove and all ports in between, the Lobster Crawl has been a key initiative of the South Shore Tourism Cooperative, said Hatt, after being identified in the SSTC’s three year winter tourism strategy as a unique opportunity for the region boasting the greatest potential for growth.
“Participating businesses and organizations have enthusiastically embraced the Lobster Crawl recognizing it as a means to grow their business levels in a traditionally slower time of the year, supporting demand for employment and generating incremental economic activity in their communities while honouring the lobster fishing industry, our heritage and culture,” said Hatt.
Growing from some 60 events in the first year and more than 100 in year two, with the deadline for registering events and packages for 2020 fast approaching.
"It seems we’ve really gotten our legs under us as the list of shell’abrations will exceed last year again,” says Hatt.
“The appetite for February overnight getaways, lobster rolls, lobster-infused dishes, lobster experiences along with live music, art showcases, and related special events has proven itself to be healthy in Nova Scotia,” says Hatt, noting promoters and organizers are working to expand the Lobster Crawl audience to out-of-province guests through various partnerships ultimately growing the number of overnight guests to the area.
To register for the Lobster Crawl Summit or for more information contact Menna Riley, Festival Director at [email protected]. For information on the 2020 Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl visit: lobstercrawl.ca
Lobster Crawl Summit a ‘pep rally’ for next February’s ‘shell’abrations’
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