Quarterly Report - January 1 to March 31, 2015 - Annual Review 2014-2015 - Palais des congrès de Montréal hosts record number of business tourists

MONTRÉAL, May 20, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - During the course of its 2014-15 financial year, the Palais des congrès de Montréal hosted a total of 347 events, which drew a record-setting 194,000+ business tourists. In total, 837,000 people visited the Palais to attend either a convention, meeting, gala, conference, consumer or trade show, representing the biggest overall attendance ever since the Palais opened its doors. The new record supplants the one set last year, which was 766,100. Overall, 48 conventions were held in the year -- 25 international¹ conventions and 23 national² conventions. The numbers add up to the best performance ever in the Palais' 32-year history! In terms of exhibitions, events totalled 49, the highest since 2008-09. In total, the events held made it possible for the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal to generate nearly $242,000,000 in economic benefits, representing an increase of almost 16% over last year and 23% more than the average for the last 5 years.

"The growing number of business tourists we attract spurs us to continue to be a leader in our industry and thus enable Québec to reap even more economic benefits from the major events we host," says Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal, who added: "Our city's reputation, hotels and the quality of our convention centre play a big role in that success, and it's something we can all be proud of."

Many of the noteworthy conventions held in 2014-15 were confirmed with the collaboration of members from the Palais des congrès de Montréal Ambassadors Club:

23^rd World Congress of the IPSA
Ambassadors: Mr. Stéphane Paquin (Appointed) and Mr. Guy Lachapelle (Emeritus)
2 500 participants and nearly $6M in economic benefits

The Congresses of the International Union of Microbiological Societies
Executive Ambassador: Dr. Pierre Talbot
1 780 participants and over $5.3M in economic benefits

17th World Congress of Food Science and Technology - IUFoST 2014
Appointed Ambassador: Dr. Michèle Marcotte
1 600 participants and nearly $4.1M in economic benefits

23rd Congress and General Assembly of the IUCr
Ambassador: Prof. Louis Delbaere
2 450 participants and over $7.2M in economic benefits

World Weather Open Science Conference
Emeritus Ambassador: Dr. Michel Béland
1 150 participants and over $3M in economic benefits

19th World Congress of IFSO
Appointed Ambassador: Dr. Michel Gagner
1 700 participants and nearly $3.5M in economic benefits

ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition
Appointed Ambassador: Mr. Wagdi Habashi
3 000 participants and nearly $7M in economic benefits

2014-15 Fourth quarter results
In the fourth quarter, the Palais confirmed 8 international¹ conventions and 11 national² conventions. These major events, secured with the collaboration of Tourisme Montréal and Palais Ambassadors, will bring in nearly $53 million for the Montréal and Québec economy. On the exhibitions side, 25 events were confirmed, which is comparable to last year. All told, the events confirmed during the quarter and in connection with business tourism will help generate nearly $77,000,000 for the economy and almost 49,000 room nights.

Annual review 2014-15 - confirmed events
During the year, the business development team helped confirm 358 events to be held in the future, which will translate into economic benefits estimated at nearly $181,000,000. These include 36 conventions, 18 international¹ and 18 national². A total of 48 exhibitions were booked during the same period, including 25 tradeshows. Together, the future conventions and tradeshows confirmed during the year will contribute to nearly 110,000 room nights being booked in hotels across the city.

The top host city³ in the Americas for international events, Montréal once again enjoyed an enviable reputation worldwide. Gold certified during the year by the AIPC Quality Standards, which measure a convention centre's quality and management performance, the Palais des congrès de Montréal was also shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious APEX award for World's Best Convention Centre⁴.

Year-to-date events confirmed for future years (April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015)
International and national conventions: 36
Estimated room nights: 106 098
Estimated economic benefits: $118 250 349 

Results from conventions hosted (April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015)
International and national conventions: 48
Room nights: 170 685
Economic benefits: $177 077 624 

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 U.S. conventions
² Including Québec conventions
³ UIA
⁴ AIPC

SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal

Image with caption: "The Palais des congrès de Montréal hosted a record of 194,000 business tourists during its 2014-2015 year (CNW Group/Palais des congrès de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150520_C5787_PHOTO_EN_16788.jpg

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, Hospitality, Product Research & Development, Tourisme Montréal, [email protected], Phone: [phone]