Latest news with #TourismeMontréal
Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Business Tourism: Montréal once again crowned North America's number one destination Français
MONTRÉAL, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - For the ninth consecutive year, Montréal has been crowned the best destination in North America for hosting international association events, according to the prestigious annual rankings of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which classified more than 11,000 international gatherings held around the world in 2024. Thanks to its expertise and sustained commitment to innovation and excellence in business tourism, Montréal once again outranked major North American metropolises like Toronto, Washington, DC, Vancouver and Chicago. The city also maintained its second position in the Americas, behind Buenos Aires, and preserved its enviable position in the global Top 30 (28th in the world), surpassing cities like Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai and Munich. This renewed leadership is the fruit of an effective collaboration between the Palais des congrès de Montréal and Tourisme Montréal, and the exceptional synergy of the sector's key players—hotels, restaurants, universities and event partners. Together, these dynamic forces have contributed to positioning and maintaining Montréal as a first-rate destination for major international gatherings. Among the key events in 2024 was the 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology, with 2,138 participants, the One Young World Summit 2024, which drew 1,900 young leaders from around the world, and the 32nd Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB), with its 1,600 delegates. In all, 70 international events were held in Montréal, enabling it to maintain first place on the podium in 2024. Above all, these events were wonderful opportunities to share knowledge and build collaborations with experts the world over: a precious contribution to Montréal research in key sectors such as life sciences, health and information technologies. This ninth triumph for Montréal in the ICCA rankings is not simply a record of achievement, it's a tangible reflection of Montréal's dynamic business tourism and its capacity to attract large-scale international events. An ecosystem whose strategic vision and collective creativity showcase our metropolis on the international scene. Quotes "Montréal's ranking as the top destination in North America for nine years in a row is the fruit of a strategic collaboration between the Palais des congrès, Tourisme Montréal, and leading researchers in Montréal, whose expertise and commitment make all the difference. By choosing our metropolis, international associations are not simply selecting a place, they're allying with an ecosystem that enriches their event and amplifies their participants' experience." – Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal "Each year, our teams work hard to process hundreds of files, organize site inspections and confirm thousands of overnight stays. Business tourism constitutes a major lever for the metropolis, both economically and in terms of promoting academic excellence and research. The ICCA's multiple recognitions are an honour, and I commend the exceptional work of our teams, who contribute tirelessly to making Montréal shine on the international stage." – Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal About the Palais des congrès de Montréal A creative solutions centre and a showcase for the city's spirit and expertise, the Palais des congrès de Montréal has been promoting and hosting large-scale events since 1983. Generating significant economic, social and intellectual benefits, it encourages innovation and acts as a force for progress for both Montréal and Québec. The Palais is firmly committed to sustainability and takes numerous innovative, concrete steps to make it a central component of its business development. With one of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the world, the Palais actively contributes to the international reputation of Montréal, the top host city for international events in America for eight years in a row. About Tourisme Montréal Tourisme Montréal is a 100-year-old private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. To this end, the organization is piloting innovative hospitality strategies with a two-fold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a memorable experience and maximizing tourism economic spin-offs in a sustainable way with long-term impacts for the city. Uniting nearly 1,000 businesses and organizations working directly or indirectly in tourism, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal
Cision Canada
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Tourisme Montréal Launches Summer Season with a Focus on Stability and Confidence Français
, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - Tourisme Montréal is launching its 2025 summer season under the banner of stability, market diversity, and the richness of its tourism offering. In a global context that remains in flux, maintaining performance on par with last year is not only a sign of resilience but also a testament to Montréal's lasting appeal. "This stability in Montréal means that the city continues to attract visitors thanks to its cultural vibrancy, gastronomy, international connectivity, and ability to reinvent itself. We remain consistent in our foreign investment strategy — an approach that's proving successful and strengthening our global position. This summer promises to be true to Montréal's DNA: inclusive, creative, and deeply human," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. An Increasingly Connected Destination In total, 156 destinations in nearly 50 countries are now directly accessible from Montréal, with new routes added to Naples, Valencia, Edinburgh, Cincinnati, and Bermuda. The French market continues to stand out, with increased air seat capacity — up 23% for Nantes and 3% for Bordeaux. A Vibrant Event Lineup Montréal's summer will be energized by a series of major festivals and conventions, boosting both tourism traffic and urban life. Hotel occupancy between June 1 and September 30 is forecasted at 80%, with peaks reaching 85% during key events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Not-to-Miss Highlights This summer, Montréal is also innovating with new activities and entertainment experiences: Montréal's culinary excellence recognized with the arrival of the Michelin Guide Bungee Montréal, Canada's highest bungee jump, at the Quai des Convoyeurs LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil, performed at the Old Port F1 Academy, an all-female motorsport competition held during the Grand Prix Major shows at the Bell Centre: Shakira, Katy Perry, Linkin Park, among others An Invitation to Unleash Your Inner Fun Through its summer promotional campaign, Tourisme Montréal encourages both visitors and locals to "unleash their inner fun." Whether through music, flavors, discoveries, or emotions, Montréal offers a spontaneous connection to joy and a true zest for life. Additionally, the organization has launched an initiative in the northeastern United States highlighting a major advantage: the value of the U.S. dollar in Montréal. Stretch your dollar further in Montréal conveys the idea of amplified value through playful visuals — like an oversized bagel or ice cream cone. About Tourisme Montréal Tourisme Montréal is a 100-year-old private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. To this end, the organization is piloting innovative hospitality strategies with a two-fold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a memorable experience and maximizing tourism economic spin-offs in a sustainable way with long-term impacts for the city. Uniting more than 1,000 businesses and organizations working directly or indirectly in tourism, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to
Montreal Gazette
13-05-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Summer in the city: Tourisme Montréal expects about 4 million visitors again this year
By Tourisme Montréal is hoping for a slight increase in the number of visitors during the busy summer tourism season, but in a climate of global economic uncertainty, stability will be a good sign. Last year, more than 11 million people visited the city, including about 4 million during the summer months. This year, Tourisme Montréal CEO Yves Lalumière said he expects those numbers to be relatively similar. 'We have confidence, and we're going to be happy to be positively stable,' he said. Visitor numbers could increase or decline by about one per cent, Lalumière said. Lalumière said it's hard to predict how many visitors will come from the U.S., which has been the largest source of visitors from outside Canada. But the number of people coming from other countries is expected to rise. This year, airlines are adding flights to Edinburgh, Scotland; Naples, Italy; and Valencia, Spain, following recently added flights to South Korea, Japan, India and Morocco. 'That's three new flights,' Lalumière said. He said that as the number of flights to and from the U.S. declines, some airlines are redeploying their resources. That diversity of destinations bodes well for tourism, he said. 'What gives me confidence is the international flights are doing well,' he said, adding that the number of visitors coming to Montreal from Latin America, Morocco and Asia is rising. The number of seats on flights from France is increasing from 33,000 a week to 36,000 a week, he said, and there are still 66,000 seats on flights between Montreal and the U.S. 'Some of the flights have been redeployed, but there's still lots of flights from the U.S. into Montreal,' Lalumière said. The number of visitors from the U.S. expected this summer is harder to predict than in the past, Lalumière said, and could rise or fall by up to five per cent. Advertising will target Americans' interest in Montreal's festivals and food and also highlight the fact that their dollar will go further here than at home. Lalumière said monthly surveys show that 37 per cent of Americans know there's a favourable exchange rate when visiting Canada, but very few know how much more the U.S. dollar is worth than its Canadian counterpart. An advertising campaign with images like that of 'a bagel that's longer, an ice cream cone that's three feet tall' will highlight the favourable exchange rate for American visitors, Lalumière said. Some ads will have a dynamic calculator with the exchange rate. Lalumière said he expects the arrival of the Michelin Guide in Montreal this week to have a big impact on tourism. 'It will add a new breed of customers to our list, especially the Americans,' he said. The number of visitors from other parts of Canada is expected to rise by between three per cent and five per cent as Canadian travellers look to stay in the country instead of going to the U.S., he said. Business travel is also strong, with 77 groups scheduled to hold conferences in the city this year and more expected in 2026 and 2027 as international and Canadian organizations look to host events in Canada, rather than in the U.S. Lalumière said he expects Grand Prix weekend June 13-15 to push hotel occupancy to about 90 per cent and give the summer tourist season a strong start. 'It will be a different recipe, more Canadians, a bit more international and maybe a little less U.S., but the jury is still out on the U.S. at this point, so we feel confident,' he said.
Cision Canada
29-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
An innovative alliance between the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and UQAM: a new agreement that will showcase the metropolis Français
MONTRÉAL, April 29, 2025 /CNW/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) signed a historic tripartite agreement—the first of its kind—marking a turning point in how to collaborate to attract and support international-caliber conferences and congresses, and turn Montréal into a business tourism hub and an ever more dynamic and influential city. A collective strike force Where once they worked as volunteers to attract international congresses, members of UQAM's faculty will now be able to receive structured and financial support. Faculty who commit to organizing congresses that bring together 500 participants or more will be offered co-funded release time from courses. The goal is threefold: to give them the means, the time and the momentum to attract more congresses, to promote their expertise, and to enhance Montréal's profile. This new agreement is built on the simple but powerful belief that by pooling their expertise, networks and resources, the three partners can achieve so much more—together. An agreement with multiple spinoffs The agreement is based on several strategic orientations, including: Bringing additional vitality to the Quartier Latin and promoting Montréal as a university metropolis, by relying on an enhanced urban experience in the downtown core Promoting major sectors of influence in the metropolis and the expertise of UQAM's faculty The Knowledge Collective: a strategic ally for UQAM professors The Knowledge Collective, a joint initiative of the Palais des congrès de Montréal and Tourisme Montréal launched in 2024, seeks to be a key strategic partner in organizing international congresses. This single point of access offers personalized assistance and concrete resources to streamline the process for specialists from a given filed in attracting international events to Montréal. With the expertise, resources and network of the Palais des congrès and Tourisme Montréal, these professionals enjoy support in reaching their objectives. Faculty at UQAM wishing to attract a major international event to Montréal will be able to turn to The Knowledge Collective for made-to-measure support and contribute to promoting both their research field and the metropolis. QUOTES "After launching The Knowledge Collective in April 2024 to support initiatives to attract international gatherings to Montréal, we're delighted to be taking a further concrete step with the signing of this historic agreement. Already recognized as a premier destination for international association events in the Americas, according to the Union of International Associations and the International Congress and Convention Association, Montréal is sure to consolidate its position as a business tourism leader on the international stage." – Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal "This pivotal agreement is an important step in strengthening ties between UQAM, Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès. It will promote innovative and lasting collaborations, by drawing on the expertise and leadership of our faculty—the drivers in attracting major scientific congresses—and will actively contribute to the international promotion of Montréal as a metropolis of knowledge, culture and innovation. It also aligns with our desire to contribute to the vitality of the Quartier Latin and downtown." – Stéphane Pallage, Rector of UQAM "This historic alliance marks a decisive turning point in confirming Montréal as one of the world's great business tourism and knowledge cities. By concretely assisting local experts through a solid support structure, we're providing them with the means to promote their expertise, attract a greater number of international congresses and enhance the metropolis's influence. The Palais des congrès is proud to be at the heart of this exceptional synergy that will sustainably amplify Montréal's economic, scientific and cultural impact on the world stage." – Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal About Tourisme Montréal Tourisme Montréal is a 100-year-old private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. To this end, the organization is piloting innovative hospitality strategies with a two-fold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a memorable experience and maximizing tourism economic spin-offs in a sustainable way with long-term impacts for the city. Uniting nearly 1,000 businesses and organizations working directly or indirectly in tourism, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to About UQAM The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) is a French-language public university of international stature. The originality and unique characteristics of its programs, its cutting-edge research, often focused on social issues, and its creative innovations have contributed to building its renown for the past 56 years. Dynamic and innovative, UQAM offers more than 365 programs, half of which are at the masters and doctoral level, in management, arts, communication, political science and law, science, education, health, humanities and social sciences. An active contributor to social, economic and cultural advances, UQAM has produced more than 310,000 active graduates in a diverse range of fields. About the Palais des congrès de Montréal A creative solutions centre and a showcase for the city's spirit and expertise, the Palais des congrès de Montréal has been promoting and hosting large-scale events since 1983. Generating significant economic, social and intellectual benefits, it encourages innovation and acts as a force for progress for both Montréal and Québec. The Palais is firmly committed to sustainability and takes numerous innovative, concrete steps to make it a central component of its business development. With one of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the world, the Palais actively contributes to the international reputation of Montréal, the top host city for international events in America for eight years in a row.
Cision Canada
25-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
2025 cruise season launch: Port of Montreal's Grand Quay all set to welcome close to 60,000 passengers and crew members Français
MONTREAL, April 25, 2025 /CNW/ - The Port of Montreal is pleased to announce the official launch of the 2025 cruise season, heralded by the return of Victory Cruise Lines' Victory I. With 58,000 passengers and crew members expected during the season, and tourist attractions spanning the Great Lakes and international destinations, Montreal affirms its position among North America's top cruise destinations. It's also an opportunity to mark the start of high season at the Grand Quai, which offers public spaces and events to the city's citizens and visitors. A great season ahead The 2025 cruise season features 42 operations from 13 cruise lines and 21 different ships, for an estimated total of close to 60,000 passengers and crew members. For the 2025 cruise season, the Port of Montreal highlights the new vessels calling at Montreal for the first time: Seven Seas Splendor (Regent Seven Seas Cruises), Silver Shadow (Silversea Cruises), and Allura (Oceania Cruises). "The Port of Montreal is proud to launch a new cruise season that manifests the vitality of our city and its appeal to cruise lines and travellers from around the world. Beyond the tourism aspect, cruises generate significant economic benefits for the local and regional community. It's also a great opportunity to showcase our river, our expertise and our hospitality," said Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal. "At Tourisme Montréal, we are proud to see that 97% of cruise passengers are satisfied with their experience in Montréal. Our city continues to establish itself as one of North America's top cruise destinations. Our unique position as a preferred embarkation port for luxury ships brings tangible economic benefits to the city—across accommodations, dining, and cultural experiences. Wishing everyone a great season ahead!" said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. Major benefits for Greater Montreal The cruise industry remains an important economic driver and a real asset as a tourism draw for the city. In 2024, the economic impact was estimated at $25 million, not including the contribution of the river excursion sector, which attracted close to 120,000 passengers. Every cruise ship arrival brings direct business to the city's shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions, generating direct and indirect jobs. This momentum also supports local initiatives that promote Montreal's cultural heritage while stimulating the local economy. Victory I: a lasting presence in Montreal To mark the season's first stopover, a commemorative plaque was presented to John Waggoner, owner of Victory Cruise Lines, with Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, and Captain Geir Lilleeng, master of the Victory I, also attending. The Victory I has a long history with Montreal. The ship first called under the name Saint-Laurent in July 2016 with the Haimark Line. It was then purchased by Victory Cruise Lines and renamed Victory I, before being bought by American Queen Voyages and renamed Ocean Voyager. In 2023, John Waggoner bought both vessels from the cruise line, renamed them Victory I and Victory II, and went back to the corporate name Victory Cruise Lines. Between 2016 and 2024, the two vessels made 35 calls to Montreal, carrying 7,167 passengers (PAX). By scheduling four stopovers this year, Victory Cruise Lines affirms its intent to develop Montreal as a must-see destination on its routes. Launch of the summer season at the Grand Quay The return of warm weather also signals the start of peak season at the Grand Quay. This summer's programming features a lineup of major events. Highlights include C2 Montréal, the Climate Summit in May, SAQ Inspire, Startupfest, the Salon de la Femme noire, and the Martinique Gourmande festival, which tops off the summer season. These events are in addition to the site's outstanding attractions: the green roof, Commencement Square along the river, and the Port of Montreal Tower with its spectacular views of the city and the St. Lawrence River. A unique setting to welcome visitors, residents and cruise passengers all summer long! Click here for the full schedule of cruise ship arrivals and departures at the Port of Montreal About the Port of Montreal Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is the largest container port in Eastern Canada and a diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods: containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. The only container port in Quebec, it is a destination port served by the largest shipping lines in the world. It is also an intermodal hub with a service offering that is unique in North America, featuring its own rail network directly dockside connected to Canada's two national rail networks. The MPA also operates a Cruise Terminal. The MPA factors economic, social and environmental components into its corporate initiatives. This commitment is governed by a sustainable development policy whose guiding principles focus on involvement, cooperation and accountability. Port activity in Canada supports some 590,000 jobs and generates $93.5 billion in economic activity. About Tourisme Montréal Founded in 1919, Tourisme Montréal is a private non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as a world-class destination for various leisure and business tourism markets. As such, the organization leads innovative tourist welcome strategies with a twofold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a high-quality experience and maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Now uniting more than 1,000 businesses working directly or indirectly in the tourism industry, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism offer and makes recommendations on issues with regard to the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, please visit SOURCE Montreal Port Authority
