ly-performing musicians,or to enjoy an ice cream cone at Cows, which bills itself as having the “best ice cream cone you’ve ever tasted.”
In the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, I am entranced by hundreds of artifacts from the Titanic (Halifax is where many of the ship’s dead are buried), and I discover the dark past of the city when, in December of 1917, the SS Mont-Blanc, a munitions ship exploded killing 2,000 and injuring over 9,000.
With several hours to go before my plane departs what else is there to do but - Kayak! I drive on down the coast,not too far from famed Peggy’s Cove and its iconic light- house, and pull into East Coast Outfitters. My guide for the next 2-1/2 hours is Adam Zita,who takes me on an exhilarating trek across an azure-black bay. I feel spirit-free as the sun cascades over me and cool zephyrs from the Atlantic Ocean just beyond baptize me with their salty sprays. A workout to be sure, but nothing the mildly physically-fit can’t handle. I envision groups (of up to 40) going out on the water and picnicking on the smooth, sandy beach of a small,uninhabited island.
The city recedes as I drive back toward the airport.
Twenty-eight years is far too long to have stayed away from Nova Scotia, and I am already making plans for my return there within the next two or three years. I am eager to see how far the city will come once that convention center is up and run- ning and what is in store for Halifax’s tourism and culinary trade as the world continues to learn about its maritime magic.
One aspect that’s sure to remain the same about Nova Scotia, though, is its people.
Mr. 15E was right: Everybody really is nicer here.
Ken Alan is theVice President of Concierge Services for Equus Capital Partners. He is the founder of the Philadelphia Concierge Association and a contribu- tor for several regional publications.
kalan@bpgltd.com
Advice from Roberts Event Group Danielle Pinto, director, business development for Roberts Event Group
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re a hospitality professional with an unpredictable schedule. Even if you love your job, that lack of struc- ture will eventually take its toll – mentally, emotionally, and physically.
When we discuss work/life balance, we talk about setting boundaries between the personal and the professional. But I find it hard to compartmentalize life that way.
Instead of drawing a line between work and life, I try to weave them together. You need a certain level of buy-in from your employer, and you can’t expect to achieve perfect balance. But with the right resources, I think any of us could achieve some level of work/life integration - which is way better than none at all.
A few ideas:
1. Treat self-care time as an appointment with yourself. Want to get to the gym three times this week? Mark those times in your calendar the same way you would any other meeting.
2. Eat right when you’re on site. I’ve successfully dieted, even as I’ve made a living at networking events and business lunches, by keeping track of what I consume. I consult an app on my Smartphone (My Fitness Pal is my current favorite) to search for and record nutritional information. It’s discrete, and it helps you make good choices on the spot.
3. Get your workout on the job. As hospitality industry professionals, we’re on our feet A LOT. I use a Fitbit to track my activity when I’m on site. I don’t feel as guilty about skipping the gym if I know I’ve walked 15 miles around a con- vention center.
4. Multitask your meeting commute. Driving to a meeting or event? Queue up a Podcast. Choose topics that appeal to you, and not only will you have learned something, you’ll have arrived at your destination equipped with topics for business networking chatter.
5. Be in the moment, for a moment. I maximize short breaks by using a medi- tation app on my Smartphone called Mindfulness. If I can’t find a quiet place, I grab my ear buds and sit in a bathroom stall (not ideal, but it works). Trust me, after 5 minutes of guided meditation, you’ll feel like you’ve taken a half-hour nap.
www.robertseventgroup.com Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 77
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