80,000 convention-goers expected at the Palais; $121M for Montréal's and Québec's economy

MONTRÉAL, May 27, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Between now and yearend 2015, the Palais des congrès de Montréal will host 10 major national¹ and 18 international² conventions that will generate nearly $121,000,000 in estimated economic benefits for Montréal and the province. These events will attract over 80,000 business tourists and exhibitors, and translate into almost 106,000 room nights being booked in hotels across the city.

"Business tourism related activities have a significant impact on the city's and province's economy, not to mention the developments and the information being exchanged at these events that help move sectors like healthcare, aerospace and IT forward," says Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. "The flexibility, efficiency and quality of our facilities and event technologies make our venue ideal for large-scale conventions," adds Larivée, as evidenced by the AIPC Gold Quality Standards certification the Palais earned in March. It is the highest recognition of quality awarded by the international convention centre industry, thus further entrenching the Palais' role as a leader on the global business tourism scene.

The following conventions, confirmed in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal, will bring together professionals and experts from all over the planet, who will seize their time in Montréal to discover the city, its attractions, restaurants, festivals, etc. – a city, which incidentally, has been rated the top host city in the Americas by the Union of International Associations three years running.

Some of the conventions coming to Montréal

Date	Convention	Participants	Economic benefits
May	45^e Journées dentaires internationales du Québec 2015	12 000	$20.2 M
May	American Geophysical Union 2015 Joint Assembly	2 000	$4.0 M
May	Annual Aesthetic Meeting	1 500	$5.6 M
May	CIM 2015 Conference and Exhibition (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum)	1 500	$4.8 M
June	ASME Turbo Expo 2015 - International Gas Turbine Institute	2 000	$5.5 M
July	2015 Annual Convention - American Association for Justice	3 000	$7.7 M
October	International Continence Society (ICS) 45th Annual Scientific Meeting	4 000	$5.7 M
October	American College of Chest Physicians	2 500	$8.0 M
November	Assemblée générale annuelle et Congrès annuel de l'Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec	3 000	$4.1 M
December	NIPS 2015 (Neural Information Processing Systems Foundation)	2 400	$7.2 M

About the Palais des congrès de Montréal
The mission of the Palais des congrès de Montréal is to attract and host conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events. A public institution with a commercial vocation, the Palais generates major economic benefits for Québec and has contributed proudly for over 30 years to sharing knowledge and enhancing Montréal's international reputation as a first-rate destination. To learn more: congresmtl.com.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership with regard to the concerted hospitality and promotion efforts aimed at positioning Montréal in leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with changing market conditions. For more information, visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.

¹ Including Québec conventions – ² Including U.S. conventions

SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal

Source: Chrystine Loriaux, Adm.A., B.A.A., Director, Marketing and Communications, Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal; For information: Amélie Asselin, Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs, Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal, [email protected], Phone: [phone]; Pierre Bellerose, Vice-President, Public Relations, Research and Product Development, Tourisme Montréal, [email protected], Phone: [phone]