Skip to main content
colourful houses in st johns

St. John’s: Home to colourful houses and so much more

St. John’s: Home to colourful houses and so much more

Colourful buildings, friendly residents and breathtaking vistas are just a few of the things that travellers associate with St. John’sicons.external-link-icon, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. But did you know that it’s also a major destination for global business events and conferences? Organizations come from all over the world to meet in the vibrant city, where modern convention spaces, team building activities and hospitality are unlike any other. Here's why. 
 

Get to know St. John’s  

St. John’s is one of the oldest cities in North America. Its rich heritage, along with natural beauty and endless attractions, make it a popular destination. Many travellers are drawn to the city’s charming and vibrant cityscape — especially the colourful row houses that line the streets of the city’s downtown core, which are often referred to as Jellybean Row. 

There is also an abundance of historic sites, not to mention galleries and museums to see in St. John’s — such as The Rooms, the province’s largest public cultural space and home to an extensive collection of artifacts, art and archival records. Mornings are well spent at Cape Spear, home to the first sunrise on the continent each morning, as well as the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province. The Signal Hill National Historic Site is another important landmark in St. John’s: it's where the first transatlantic radio transmission was received in 1901. 

With more than 18,000 miles of coastline, visitors also have plenty of opportunities to spot the whales, seabirds and icebergs that make their way down its shores, as well as take in the amazing views that come with being in the most easterly city in North America.  

A natural resources hub 

St. John’s leadership in the natural resources sector — and expertise in the energy, mining and minerals, and oceans economy — make it a popular destination for business events. Visitors can discover this expertise at world-class facilities like the National Research Council’s Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centreicons.external-link-icon and C-COREicons.external-link-icon, as well as top-notch educational institutions like the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labradoricons.external-link-icon.  

When conference-goers meet in the city, they can tap into its brain trust and connect with some of the industry’s brightest minds. They can also preview made-in-Canada solutions to the world’s greatest challenges and explore innovations helping create a more sustainable world during B2B exchanges, hosted innovation tours and more. 

This industry and research leadership, combined with the warmth of Newfoundland and Labrador hospitality, make this distinct city a popular choice for events in the natural resources sector.

Cathy Duke, CEO of Destination St. John’s

Memorable business events 

Along with its reputation for wide-open spaces and nature, St. John’s also boasts modern, world-class facilities and amenitiesicons.external-link-icon to host memorable meetings. The St. John’s Convention Centreicons.external-link-icon, located in the heart of the city, offers 47,000 square feet of meeting room space and is designed with flexibility to accommodate both big and small events. There’s also a plethora of unique venues, from the Johnson Geo Centreicons.external-link-icon to the Emera Innovation Exchange Conference Centre on Signal Hill.icons.external-link-icon  

With 23 hotels and more than 3,500 guest rooms, St. John’s also has a variety of accommodations, including international brands, luxurious inns and charming seaside cottages. And thanks to its easy access to natural attractions and experiences, there are also plenty of ways to entertain guests. From experiencing the liveliness of the bars and restaurants on George Street to taking in the beauty of the thousands of miles of incredible coastline during hikes, the possibilities are endless. 

“At Destination St. John’s, we want to make your event the absolute best it can be,” adds Duke. “We partner with providers who will create an unforgettable group experience that will leave your delegates wanting to return. Our goal is to make the planning process as smooth as possible, so your group can enjoy the colourful city that we call home.”  

Easy to get to 

St. John’s is the closest Canadian province to Europe, and has the same latitude as Paris and Seattle, which means it’s a haven for transatlantic travellers and a bustling commercial port. Travellers can also fly on one of the many carriers into St. John’s, including Air Canada, Porter Airlines, PAL Airlines, Sunwing, Air Transat and WestJet. The St. John’s International Airport is also only a 15-minute drive to the downtown core. 

Meetings with purpose 

By enriching programming with industry innovators and meaningful localized tours, business event organizers can attract more delegates, increase revenues and inspire future generations. 

“We call that ‘meeting with purpose’, adds Duke, pointing out that St. John’s is poised to show off its expansive natural resources sector. 
 

Plan your meeting in St. John’s HEREicons.external-link-icon