Quarterly Report – January 1 to March 31, 2014 - Annual Review 2013-2014 - The Palais des congrès de Montréal will generate nearly $283,000,000 for the city's economy

MONTREAL, April 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Overall in 2013-2014, The Palais des congrès de Montréal confirmed 366 events for the coming years, which will bring in almost $283M for the city's economy in total. For Montréal hotels, the events held at the Palais will translate into nearly 250,000 room nights. The convention market performed especially well with the confirmation of 50 large-scale events, including 28 international conventions, an increase of 17% over 2012-2013. As for exhibitions, bookings totaled 56, including 27 trade shows, up 8% over last year and a reflection of Québec's thriving industrial and business climate.

"The competition is fierce and we have every intention of maintaining our top spot as the leading host city in America for international conventions," mentions Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal. "We will continue to forge ahead with our development efforts, through our strategic alliances, sales and marketing, in order to build strong ties with decision-makers and continue to maintain an active presence within the industry."

Quarterly Report 2013-2014
In the fourth quarter of its financial year, the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal confirmed 2 new international¹ conventions and 6 national² conventions. It is estimated that these major events, secured in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal and Palais Ambassadors, will generate nearly $45M for the Montréal and Québec economy.

In terms of exhibitions, 25 events were newly confirmed, up 19% compared to the same period last year. Consumer shows performed particularly well with a total of 11 confirmed events, or over $28M in economic benefits.

Annual review 2013-2014 - hosted events: Major economic benefits from trade shows
The Palais des congrès de Montréal ended the 2013-2014 period having hosted 332 events and having attracted nearly 766,000 business tourists and visitors, thus setting an attendance record. We should note the excellent turnout for the Montréal International Auto Show, which drew almost 201,000 visitors last January. The economic benefits from the events we hosted are estimated at nearly $209M.

The top host city³ in America for international events, Montréal's enviable reputation on the world stage continues to grow unabated, as does its standing among North American promoters. The Palais des congrès de Montréal also ranks among the world's leading convention centres after being shortlisted in 2010, 2012 and 2014 for the prestigious APEX award for World's Best Convention Centre by the International Association of Congress Centres ⁴.

Aware of the importance of securing the future of the Palais, the Québec government announced in 2013 that it reserved the land adjacent to the Palais, to give the Palais' executive management team time to continue studying and reviewing their plans for an eventual expansion.

A popular venue for major and large-scale conventions
Many of the noteworthy conventions held in 2013-2014 were confirmed with the collaboration of Ambassadors from the Palais des congrès de Montréal Ambassadors Club:

• 21^st International Congress on Acoustics
• Executive Ambassador: Michael R. Stinson
• 2 275 participants and nearly $6.6M in economic benefits
  
  
• Joint World Mining CIM & 30^th  ISARC 2013
• Executive Ambassador: Ferri Hassani
• 1 480 participants and over $4.6M in economic benefits
  
  
• 19^th International Conference on Composite Materials
• Appointed Ambassador: Suong Hoa
• 1 500 participants and over $3.7M in economic benefits
  
  
• 2^e Congrès International francophone de soins palliatifs
• Appointed Ambassador: Justine Farley
• 1 020 participants and over $2.2M in economic benefits
  
  
• Planetree Annual Conference
• Appointed Ambassador: Lucie Dumas
• 500 participants and nearly $1M in economic benefits

Year-to-date events confirmed for future years (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014)
International and national conventions: 50
Estimated room nights: 246 082
Estimated economic benefits: $227 844 171

Results from conventions hosted (April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014)
International and national conventions: 42
Room nights: 165 476
Economic benefits: $160 626 451

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 tourisme-montreal.org

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

SOURCE: Palais des congrès de Montréal

For further information:

Source:

Chrystine Loriaux, Adm.A., B.A.A.
Director, Marketing and Communications
Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal

For information:

Jimmy Laforge
Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs
Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal
jimmy.laforge@congresmtl.com
Phone: 514 871-5807

Alexandra Graveline
Manager, Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
graveline.alexandra@tourisme-montreal.org
Phone: 514 844-3558