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By Luc Charbonneau, Director, Business Development and Strategic Alliances, The Palais des congrès de Montréal
Did you know, that…?
+ Montréal leads the North American convention cities by hosting more international conventions than any other North American city. In fact, UIA ranked Montréal first in the Americas five times in a row from 2011 to 2015! Associations often get attendance records in Montréal since the city is so attractive to delegates.
+ The Palais des congrès de Montréal (convention centre) is located downtown, within a 10-minute walk from 15,000 hotel rooms. 4,000 of these rooms are even linked to the Palais by the underground city. No need for shuttle buses here! And with its European flair, its North American vibe and its welcoming bilingual population, Montréal is yours to discover safely all year-round.
+ With 11 higher learning institutions and 200 research centres, Montréal is a city of knowledge and innovation which is very active in different sectors such as life sciences, aerospace, environment, AI and ITC. Associations can easily find speakers, scientific content and site visits to give a local taste to their meeting program.
Where to meet?
Tourisme Montréal lists more than a hundred meeting places to choose from. The main convention venue, the Palais des congrès de Montréal, is AIPC Gold Quality Standards certified and boasts 550,000 sq. ft. of versatile spaces.
The Palais des congrès offers everything under one roof! Leading event technologies, up-to-date green certifications, unique colorful venues with natural light, expert team of professionals and innovative projects such as its Urban Agriculture Lab.
Where to stay?
You’ll find the perfect place to call home in Montréal, whatever your taste, lifestyle or budget. The island has more than 24,000 hotel rooms, with 15,000 located downtown, and many connected directly to metro stations, shopping centres and the underground pedestrian network. From major American and international chains to quaint boutique hotels, you are sure to find the perfect home-away-from-home.
How to get there?
An international destination of choice, Montréal is easily accessed by land, water and air. Downtown is a mere 20 minutes from the Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport, which welcomes more than 16 million passengers per year and offers over 140 world destinations served by 30 carriers. Over 90 million people live within a 2-hour flight of Montréal, so an impressive pool of delegates can conveniently access our city.
Do you offer any special services/assistance for associations?
The Hague Convention Bureau offers a wide range of services that support events taking place in the city. We offer event support, financial support via the Conference Subvention Fund, contribute to marketing, promotion and PR efforts to support association events, assist in the bid-winning process, provide visibility to association events through various promotional outlets to dress the city in conference banners and signage, thus help associations in making a lasting impact on the city and within their organisation.
Do you have any personal recommendations or insider tips for Montréal?
To stay connected and efficient while you are in town, be sure to connect to MTL WIFI, the city’s free public Wi-Fi built around the Palais des congrès.
Montrealers speak English and French with remarkable ease, as well as a host of other languages. It doesn’t matter where you are or to whom you speak—from taxi drivers to concierges to sommeliers—conversation flows, so you can relax and enjoy every moment of your city experience. In fact, some 80% of businesspeople speak both English and French and the city boasts the largest bilingual workforce in Canada, so you’ll always be understood.
Montréal is a foodie’s paradise on any budget! From five-star restaurants and carefully prepared dishes from around the world to legendary local diners and street-side food trucks, Montréal offers one-of-a-kind experiences for all tastes, all year round.
Festivals and grand events are a cornerstone of life in Montréal. Name a season, art form or signature local dish and you'll find Montréal has a festival for it. From illuminated winter festivals of art, gastronomy and outdoor sports to international rhythms and circus performances in the heat of summer, the city's festivals and special events gather locals and visitors alike in the name of celebration. Relaxing under the sun or in the plush comfort of a theatre seat, festival-goers and artists from all walks of life come together to create Montréal’s truly unique festival vibe.
Stay effective during your stay at the Palais des congrès de Montréal by taking advantage of our newly configured halls, atria and corridors, equipped to enrich the delegates’ event experience and to optimize their productivity. New furnishings, such as communal tables equipped with power outlets, privacy armchairs, ottomans and benches, foster interaction, networking and comfort during breaks for both the delegates and organizers of the event. Modern, colourful and functional, the items promote wellbeing, meetings or teleworking. Enjoy!
Whom to contact?
Luc Charbonneau
Director, Business Development and Strategic Alliances
Luc.charbonneau@congresmtl.com
514 871-8122 or 1-800-268-8122
About the Palais des congrès de Montréal
The Palais des congrès de Montréal attracts and hosts conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events, and generates major tourism revenues and intellectual wealth for Montréal and Québec, while also contributing to Montréal’s international reputation as a premier host city. congresmtl.com