Launch of Guide to Creative Montréal - The first tourist guide to focus on Montréal's cutting-edge creativity

MONTREAL, April 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The official launch of the Guide to Creative Montréal was held last night at the Monument National with many tourist and cultural industry players in attendance. For the very first time, Montréal's indelible creativity is showcased in a comprehensive tourist guide that illustrates the city's buzzing arts and culture scene. This one-of-a-kind publication by Ulysses Travel Guides is the result of a collaborative effort between Tourisme Montréal and several partners.

The Guide to Creative Montréal includes ten self-guided tours throughout various city neighbourhoods. Each tour features five major themes: digital arts, visual arts, performing arts, music and design.

"With an abundance of events and venues highlighting the city's creativity, Montréal is a vibrant city distinguished for its modernity, originality and inspiration," underlines the Honourable Charles Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal. With the objective to develop cultural tourism, we believe that our creativity is worth showcasing as one of our city's greatest assets and a motor to tourist appeal."

According to a study executed by Tourisme Montréal, 75% of those surveyed agreed that Montréal stands out from other major international destinations because of its creative cultural activities¹. A growing phenomenon throughout the world, creative tourism could be considered as a lucrative avenue for the city to pursue. In fact, other urban destinations such as Barcelona and Berlin are focussed on developing this type of tourism in an effort to satisfy those visitors looking for cultural and artistic discovery.

"The objective of the Guide to Creative Montréal is to provide visitors from here and abroad with an authentic taste of Montréal as well as to spark rich and unexpected discoveries. The guide allows visitors to plunge into Montréal's fantastically creative arts scene, enjoy the city's joie de vivre, and visit places infused with this innovative and original spirit," explains Olivier Gougeon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ulysses Travel Guides and project leader.

In addition to essential events and venues, the guide, written by author and journalist Jérôme Delgado, spotlights lesser-known multidisciplinary artists and creators who drive Montréal's thriving arts scene. In addition, it points out major public artworks, impressive murals and startling graffiti projects. And for a real taste of Montréal's lifestyle, listings of the art scene's favourite cafés, restaurants, and bars where you can rub shoulders with Montréal's culture creators are also included.

Furthermore, an address book for autonomous visitors looking to discover creative Montréal on their own and a perpetual agenda listing various events is also presented. To visit Montréal on foot, by bike or by public transit, the Guide to Creative Montréal is a passport to explore Montréal's creative side.

The guide will be available as of May 1 at a price of $29.95 in bookstores everywhere, in both Montréal Ulysses boutiques (4176 Saint-Denis Street and 560 President-Kennedy Avenue) as well as its website. Published in both English and French, the guide will be distributed throughout Canada, the United States and in some European countries.

Tourisme Montréal and Ulysses Travel Guides would like to thank the Québec Ministry of Culture and Communications, the City of Montréal, Tourisme Québec and the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal (CRÉ) for their support in the creation of this guide, which falls under Montréal's cultural development agreement and the regional product development partnership.

For more information, please visit www.guidesulysse.com.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position the "Montréal" destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market. For more information, please visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.

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¹ Source: Study on Creative Consumer Culture by Tourisme Montréal in 2012 (available in French only).

SOURCE: TOURISME MONTREAL

Alexandra Graveline
Manager - Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
514 844-3558
[email protected]

Geneviève Décarie
Communications Director
Ulysses Travel Guides
514 843 9882, ext. 2231
[email protected]