MONTREAL, June 2, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Just a few days before the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada gets underway (held from June 6 to 8 in Montréal), Tourisme Montréal is looking with optimism to the summer season ahead and confidently anticipating a 3% growth in tourism. A number of factors will contribute to this positive performance: the city's dynamic festival scene, growth in the cruise market, numerous conventions and sporting events being held in town, and a favourable economic context for tourism.
In 2013, Montréal welcomed 8.4 million tourists whose spending amounted to $2.5 billion. Tourism is thus a leading economic sector for the city that supports some 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.
"The coming summer season promises to be profitable for Montréal's tourism industry. Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions will all benefit from the anticipated 3% growth," said Yves Lalumiere, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. "The U.S. economy and a favourable exchange rate are creating a positive environment for tourism, and our sales and marketing initiatives targeting the business market are designed to leverage this growth."
Montréal comes alive with festivals
Based on its international profile as a cultural and creative hub with a wide variety of shows and artistic events, Montréal attracts many culture lovers during the summer season. Once again this year, its dynamic festival scene and the quality of its programming will make the city a must-visit destination. Several major events help boost enthusiasm to a fever pitch, such as the Francofolies, Mutek, the International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, Montréal Complètement Cirque, Osheaga, the Fashion and Design Festival, and many more!
Many convention and sporting events scheduled
Named the top spot in North America for hosting international conventions1 for the second consecutive year, this summer Montréal will host and impressive number of conventions and business meetings. This market has been booming since early May, and major conventions are expected to arrive throughout the summer months.
See below for a list of just some of the multi-hotel conventions Montréal is hosting in the coming months:
May
- American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) 2014 Annual Meeting - 2,400 delegates;
- International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), 18th Annual International Meeting - 3,000 delegates.
June
- American Orthopaedic Association, 2014 AOA/COA Joint Meeting - 1,500 delegates;
- Irish Dance Teachers North America, 2014 North American Championships - 4,000 delegates.
July
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, ASABE/CSBE joint 2014 Annual International Meeting - 1,500 delegates;
- International Political Science Association, 23rd World Congress of IPSA - 2,500 delegates.
August
- International Union of Crystallography, 2014 General Assembly & Congress - 2,500 delegates;
- Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2014 Summer Convention - 2,300 delegates;
- World Meteorological Organization, 2014 World Weather Open Science Conference - 1,500 delegates;
- International Union of Food Science and Technology, 17th World Congress of Food Science and Technology - 1,500 delegates;
- International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, 19th World Congress - IFSO 2014 - 2,000 delegates.
Tourism Montréal would like to acknowledge the contribution made by the Montréal Convention Centre team, which supports the growth of business tourism and our sales initiatives.
Several major sports competitions are scheduled for this summer, including the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 and the FINA World Masters Championships 2014.
Finally, the cruise sector continues to grow thanks to the concerted efforts of the Montréal Cruise Committee. From May to October 2014, 55 international and domestic cruise ships are due to arrive in Montréal, for a total of 56,606 passengers.
Tourists and Montrealers central to campaigns
To support the city's tourism growth, Tourisme Montréal is planning to build on interactive strategies that leverage the Web and social media. This summer's main target markets will be Ontario and the north-eastern United States.
The #MTLMOMENTS campaign will be used to enhance and showcase the authentic and spontaneous "moments" experienced by Montrealers and tourists. Capitalizing on the social photography and mobility trends, the goal of this initiative is to increase awareness of the destination online, but also to begin a conversation with potential visitors even before they arrive on-site.
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, visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.
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1 According to the 2013 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings.
SOURCE: Tourisme Montréal
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Alexandra Graveline
Manager - Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
514 844-3558
[email protected]
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