World's transportation industry to assemble at the Palais des congrès in 2017

MONTREAL, Nov. 24, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal will host two major global transportation industry conventions in 2017: the 62^nd UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, as well as the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and ITS America Annual Meeting. These two international events will attract 13,000 delegates and 560 exhibitors to Montréal, who will collectively book 36,400 room nights in hotels across the city. The economic benefits for the Montréal community will be significant, estimated at over $33 million from both conventions combined.

"You cannot secure conventions of this stature without every segment of the tourism industry and transportation sector pitching in," indicated Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. "At the heart of the Number One host city in America for international events, Montréal and the Palais are thoroughly equipped to handle conventions predicated on increasingly higher turnouts and high delegate satisfaction rates." Montréal was elected host city of these two events namely as a result of the combined efforts of the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

Dates	Events	Participants	Room nights	Economic benefits
May 13 to 17	62^nd UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition 2017	5,000 delegates 350 exhibitors	14,000	$13,500,000
Oct. 29 to Nov. 2	Intelligent Transportation Society of America-24th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and 2017 ITS America Annual Meeting	8,000 delegates 210 exhibitors	22,400	$19,800,000

A hassle-free experience for exhibitors
With its 18 loading docks, large capacity freight elevators, vast multipurpose rooms and expertise hosting major exhibitions, the Palais des congrès de Montréal is the perfect place for these events. Their exhibition components will require moving and showcasing transportation equipment such as subway cars and other colossal vehicles, making the Palais' state-of-the-art facilities ideal for ensuring everything runs smoothly.

A big year for celebrations
In 2017, Montréal will be more festive than usual as celebrations marking the city's 375 anniversary, Canada's 150th anniversary, the 50th anniversary of the Montréal metro system and Expo 67 are held in neighbourhoods citywide. What's more, the Transportation Association of Canada will be celebrating its 100th anniversary! The level of energy in Montréal will be sky high, and international business tourists will no doubt be flocking to the city during that time!

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.

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]