Montréal Attracts Top Meetings With Worldly Charm and Local Warmth
Meeting planners have long been known for their can-do spirit — a resilience that the industry needs now more than ever. According to MPI's latest Meetings Outlook, the percentage of event professionals expecting negative business conditions surged from 10 percent to 57 percent in just one quarter. Respondents cited mounting pressure from rising costs, shrinking budgets, and growing concerns about international travel. In this climate of uncertainty, it's not just about offering exciting travel experiences — it's also about reassuring attendees that their journey will be smooth and stress-free.
For planners seeking to balance the excitement of travel with convenience and affordability, nearby destinations with a proven ability to deliver fresh, memorable experiences are key. Montréal — ranked the number one international association meetings destination in North America by both ICCA and the UIA for nearly a decade — is stepping up to help planners navigate today's challenges and exceed attendee expectations.
Above all, the city wants to reaffirm one simple message: visitors are always welcome. 'Montréal has always been known for opening its arms to the world, and I can say with confidence that this will never change,' said Mylène Gagnon, Vice-President of Sales and Convention Services at Tourisme Montréal. 'For American meeting planners especially, we want to emphasize that Montréal remains one of the safest, most accessible, and most welcoming destinations you're ever likely to experience.'
photo caption: Mural Sans titre by M.Falconer - Produced by Festival MURAL 2023. Photo credit: EN Credit © Mural Sans titre by M.Falconer - Photo by Sylvie Li - Tourisme Montréal
Ensuring Seamless Travel for International Events
Planning the logistics of an international event is never simple — but choosing the right destination can make it significantly easier. In Montréal, Business Events Montréal offers a range of support services, including access to a certified convention services manager specializing in streamlining cross-border events. 'Our team also collaborates closely with turnkey partners like ConsultExpo, a trusted and experienced customs broker that guides planners and exhibitors through a clear, step-by-step process to ensure smooth entry of goods into Montréal,' said Gagnon.
The recent ISPOR conference — the leading global event for health economics and outcomes research — held in Montréal highlighted just how smoothly the city handles international events. When asked about customs challenges, the event organizer reported no issues at all. In fact, what stood out most was how easy the travel experience was. 'Although we're a truly global association, many of our staff and members are based on the U.S. East Coast. The ability to arrive in a city that feels distinctly international, yet is just a one or two-hour flight away, is fantastic,' said Paul Wong, Director of Global Events at ISPOR, the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research.
With Montréal's award-winning international airport providing year-round direct flights to nearly 150 locations worldwide, the city is a convenient destination for many international attendees. After landing, it's only a 12-mile (20 km) drive to downtown.
Delivering French Flair Within North America
Even when a smooth travel experience is assured, attendees should be rewarded for their efforts with a destination that offers unique cultural and experiential value.
With its French culture and rich heritage, Montréal allows visitors to feel all the thrills of distant travel without leaving North America. Old Montréal, the city's historic district in the heart of downtown, features centuries-old architecture and cobblestone streets leading to the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Highlights include the Neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and its immersive AURA Experience and the expansive Marché Bonsecours, a Renaissance Revival stone building that was the city's main agricultural marketplace for over a century. It now features sidewalk cafés, artisanal shops, art exhibitions, and numerous reception halls, including an impressive ballroom.
photo caption: Place d'Armes. photo credit: Credit FR © Daph & Nico - Tourisme Montréal
A UNESCO City of Design, Montréal offers a wide selection of exceptional event spaces spanning multiple eras of architecture. Standout options include Le 9e, restored in 2024 and modeled after the glamorous dining room on the Île-de-France transatlantic ocean liner. '[Le 9e] is one of the crown jewels of Montréal's art deco architectural legacy,' said Gagnon.
In addition to boasting enviable architecture, Montréal embraces the French spirit of joie de vivre. Its wealth of cultural festivals ranges from the world-famous Montréal Jazz Festival to L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, the world's largest international fireworks competition.
Fine Dining and Montréal's Distinct Terroir
Another key way to attract attendees is through fine dining. According to Hilton's 2025 Trends Report, nearly one in five travelers treats food as a deciding factor when choosing destinations. From poutine to haute cuisine, Montréal offers a selection of culinary experiences to tempt even the most discerning gourmand.
In addition to the city's 55 Bib Gourmand nods, three Montréal restaurants were awarded stars in the inaugural Québec MICHELIN Guide. They include Europea, along with local favorites Mastard and Sabayon. All three establishments reflect a deep appreciation for the unique terroir of la Belle Province, with ingredients sourced from Québec's rich agricultural offerings and artisanal food products ''from the field to the fork.'
Originating in French wine cultivation, the concept of terroir stems from the belief that all foods and beverages develop a distinct character derived from the territory in which they are grown and produced, with everything from soil composition to surrounding flora and fauna influencing flavor.
Beyond its French roots, Montréal is also a multicultural city representing over 120 ethnocultural groups. This diversity has given rise to a plethora of restaurants specializing in a variety of international cuisines. Perhaps most famously, the city is home to some of the world's best bagels, with two of the most popular shops being St. Viateur and Fairmount Bagel in the heart of Montréal's Orthodox Jewish community.
Innovation, Affordability, and Carbon-Neutral Convening
photo caption: Palais des congrès de Montréal - Taxi Bonjour. photo credit: EN Credit © Daph & Nico - Tourisme Montréal.
Of course, business events are ultimately about business, and in today's economic climate, the ideal destination needs to combine state-of-the-art amenities with affordability. Montréal delivers on both fronts. It is one of Canada's most affordable cities, and with the favorable exchange rate, U.S. organizers can look forward to cost savings of almost 40 percent.
Montréal is also well-known as a hub of creativity and commercial ingenuity, and its many cutting-edge venues help to sustain this innovative entrepreneurial spirit. The Palais des Congrès de Montréal, for example, was one of the first North American convention centers to become carbon neutral.
Business Event Montréal is doing its own part to push the needle forward with its participation in Impact AIQ, an AI-powered project designed to measure the social impact of business events. 'Impact AIQ is embedded directly into event design and will help us with the analysis and strategic planning of business events,' said Mylène Gagnon. 'It's a Montréal-led project with the ambition of inspiring transformation across the events industry.'
For more information about Business Events Montréal, visit meetings.mtl.org/en.
This content was created collaboratively by Business Events Montréal (Tourisme Montréal) and Skift's branded content studio, SkiftX.
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