The Palais des congrès de Montréal will generate nearly $234,000,000 for the city's economy

Quarterly Report - January 1 to March 31, 2013
Annual Review 2012-2013

MONTREAL, May 16, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In the fourth quarter of its financial year, the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal confirmed 5 new international¹ conventions and 11 national² conventions, representing an increase of 14% in convention bookings over the same period last year. These major events, secured in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal and Palais Ambassadors, will generate an estimated over $50M in economic spinoffs.

In terms of exhibitions, 21 events were newly confirmed in the fourth quarter, up 31% compared to 2011-12. Consumer shows performed particular well, with a more than 71% increase in number of events for the same period last year.

"The excellent fourth quarter results in terms of confirmed events secured for the future show that the Palais and Montréal are attracting the biggest associations and promoters," emphasized Marc Tremblay, President and CEO of the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal. "The bedrock of our 2010-2013 strategic plan, which focused on business performance and revitalizing the customer experience, yielded tangible results for the city and the province, despite the slow economy affecting most of the world. The figures speaks volumes and indicate that we adopted the right strategies, and that we might very well have the best teams in America for developing new business. I am grateful to them!" continued Tremblay.

Annual review 2012-2013 - confirmed events: A full schedule
Overall in 2012-2013, we confirmed 388 events for the coming years, which will mean a total of over 178,000 room nights for the province's hotels. The convention market performed especially well with the confirmation of 48 major conventions. While bookings for exhibitions totalled 53, including 25 trade shows, thus adding to an  already full schedule and speaking to Québec's thriving industrial and business climate. This market posted an increase of over 35% in economic spinoffs generated, to top $65,000,000. In all, the events confirmed in the year ended this past March 31 will generate nearly $234,000,000 for the city's and province's economy.

Annual review 2012-2013 - hosted events: Major economic spinoffs from trade shows
The Palais des congrès de Montréal ended the 2012-2013 period having hosted 359 events and having attracted more than 642,000 business tourists. The economic spinoffs from these events are estimated at nearly $182,000,000, mostly from conventions. Exhibitions reached a historic high by generating more than $64,000,000 for the economy, up over 26% compared to 2011-12.

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 by virtue of having been shortlisted twice, in 2010 and 2012, 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 recently announced that it reserved the land adjacent to the Palais, to give the Palais' executive management team time the continue studying and reviewing their plans for an eventual expansion.

A popular venue for major, large-scale events
Many of the noteworthy conventions held in 2012-2013 were confirmed with the collaboration of Ambassadors from the Palais des congrès de Montréal Ambassadors Club:

• 11^th Civicus World Assembly
  Executive Ambassador: Michel Venne
  625 participants and nearly $1.1M in economic spinoffs

• 2012 UICC World Cancer Congress
  Emeritus Ambassador: Eduardo L. Franco
  Executive Ambassador: Michel Gélinas
  7 500 participants and $7.4M in economic spinoffs

• American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP)
  Executive Ambassador: Émile Bouchard
  1 258 participants and $3.3M in economic spinoffs

• IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium
  Executive Ambassador: Ke Wu
  9 000 participants and $25.7M in economic spinoffs

• WCIT - World Conference on International Telecommunications
  Appointed Ambassador: Bernard Courtois
  1 624 participants and $3M in economic spinoffs

Year-to-date events confirmed for future years (April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013)
International and national conventions: 48
Estimated room nights⁵: 171 660
Estimated economic spinoffs: $168 892 621

Results from conventions hosted (April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013)
International and national conventions: 31
Room nights: 79 920
Economic spinoffs: $117 583 569

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 spinoffs for Québec and has contributed proudly for nearly 30 years to sharing knowledge and enhancing Montréal's international reputation as a first-rate destination. To learn more: www.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: www.tourisme-montreal.org.

1. Including U.S. conventions 2. Including Québec conventions 3. UIA 2011 4. IACCs

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
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Alexandra Graveline
Manager, Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]