Meet Susan Freeman on Canada’s Food Island, Business Events & the Magic of Prince Edward Island

In this episode of The Layover, we sit down with Susan Freeman, executive director of Meet PEI, the destination organization focused on bringing business events, conferences, and travelers to Prince Edward Island. Susan introduces PEI as a bucket-list island destination on Canada’s East Coast—connected by ferry to Nova Scotia, by bridge to New Brunswick, and by air through major Canadian cities including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Calgary. Susan shares why PEI has become such a memorable destination for both meeting planners and leisure travelers: it’s small enough to feel intimate, but layered enough that visitors can spend a week or two exploring its beaches, harbor villages, food culture, and hidden gems. Susan breaks down what makes Prince Edward Island stand out: \- A strong business events market, hosting groups from 10 to around 1,000 people \- A highly connected local community where partners, venues, and operators work closely together \- The island’s reputation as Canada’s Food Island, known for oysters, blue mussels, lobster, and seafood \- Warm summer beach season, crisp fall weather, and major culinary festivals \- Traditional lobster dinners, shellfish festivals, food-and-wine events, and local culinary experiences \- A slower, wellness-driven pace where visitors can breathe easier, walk the beaches, explore trails, and reconnect The conversation also explores how PEI balances meetings and leisure travel, with business visitors often arriving early, staying late, and returning later with family. Susan highlights the island’s ability to make people “feel the heartbeat” of the destination through food, culture, hospitality, and a strong sense of place. Whether you’re a meeting planner, seafood lover, wellness traveler, family traveler, or someone looking for a quieter East Coast escape, this episode offers a warm introduction to why Prince Edward Island leaves such a lasting impression. 🦞 Learn More Explore meetings, events, and travel opportunities in Prince Edward Island at meetpei.com. Want to dig deeper into a city or neighborhood? Check out our award-winning city guides at https://lostin.com/collections/guides -- we pour all of our love for travel into every guidebook, which includes recommendations for hidden restaurants, shops, and activities far from the well-known tourist areas and off the radar of mainstream travel accounts. We also share daily travel inspiration, city stories, and behind-the-scenes moments across our social channels, follow us to stay connected wherever you roam. Connect with us Web: https://lostin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lost\in\travel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostintravelguide TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostin\_travel