Montreal is becoming an increasingly attractive tourist destination for businesspeople: In 2014, business travel and convention tourism accounted for 24.3% of tourist spending in Montreal. The Palais des congrès de Montréal, the city’s convention centre, plays a critical role in this sector and in promoting the destination. The 353 events held at the convention centre in 2018–2019 drew a record 915,761 participants, generating $215 million in economic spinoffs and untold intellectual benefits.

Business travel is a booming sector in Canada.

But despite its success, business travel faces challenges such as technological advances, the ecological impact of international events and the pressure to reinvent the event experience while keeping prices affordable. These kinds of challenges grew once new safety standards for group events became necessary.

“Everyone wants a C2 experience, but 98% of clients don’t have the budget. We’ll never be the biggest convention centre in North America, but we can focus on quality, originality and our environmental impact. People love the Montreal experience. The convention centre must showcase Montreal’s creativity and set the stage for a future full of bright ideas from young entrepreneurs,” said its CEO.