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Québec Premier Christine Fréchette and Minister of Tourism Amélie Dionne confirmed today their plan to make the metropolis a North American leader in business tourism and announced their intention to move forward with a project to densify and modernize the Palais des congrès de Montréal. This is a strong signal from the Fréchette government that it’s committed to advancing this strategic initiative.
This new step will concretely advance discussions with various private and government players to confirm partnerships under this structuring project for Québec’s tourism and economy.
The objective is clear: to enable the Palais des congrès de Montréal to strengthen its hosting capacity so that it can bring in a greater number of major international events. The metropolis will be able to sustain its position as the number one destination in North America for holding international conferences in the context of growing competition from the rest of Canada and beyond.
The Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal’s project focuses on optimizing, densifying and modernizing existing spaces to increase the infrastructural capacity to host and to sharpen its competitive edge. The project will make it possible to add more than 13,000 square metres of surface area for conferences, host about 50 events a year, and increase annual foot traffic by 40% to attain some 1.1 million visitors.
The tourism spending generated, in particular in accommodation and restaurants, transportation and entertainment, could total close to $500 million annually—almost double the current average—while supporting thousands of jobs in Québec.
The project will also integrate hotel facilities. In addition to simplifying logistics for participants and organizers, improving the client experience, and making the Palais more competitive on the North American scene, the addition of hotel facilities could generate recurring revenue for the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
This project will also consolidate a more sustainable business model, capable of supporting the long-term growth of the organization’s activities and generating lasting economic spinoffs for Montréal and Québec.
When we invest in tourism, we’re investing in the Québec economy. Today, after years of waiting, we’re moving forward with the project to modernize the Palais des congrès de Montréal, a veritable gateway to the world. We’re continuing take steps to create wealth, for the benefit of Quebecers.
– Christine Fréchette, Premier of Québec
It’s vital that the Palais des congrès de Montréal be able to continue to play its important strategic role in Québec’s economy and society. This is precisely the goal behind the vision set out by our government today. I’m proud of this stimulating and innovative project that will enable the metropolis to reaffirm its status as the number one destination for international association events in North America.
– Amélie Dionne, Minister of Tourism
The Palais des congrès is a vital economic engine for Montréal and a powerful lever for promoting the entire metropolis. Advancing this modernization project gives us the means to attract more international events, and support our stores, hotels and restaurants, while bolstering Montréal’s attractiveness in a context of increased competition among major North American cities.
– Chantal Rouleau, Minister Responsible for Social Responsibility and Community Action, Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region and Member for Pointe-aux-Trembles
We applaud the Québec government’s commitment to supporting strategic infrastructure at the heart of the metropolis’s economic development. The work accomplished over the last few years allows us to take a concrete step forward today with a densification and modernization project that’s been revamped to better respond to market realities and the expectations of international event organizers. In a highly competitive climate among major business destinations, this process is essential to maintaining Montréal’s competitive edge and continuing to general lasting benefits for Québec. It also acknowledges the strategic importance of business tourism for our economy.
– Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal
We applaud the Québec government’s commitment to supporting strategic infrastructure at the heart of the metropolis’s economic development. The work accomplished over the last few years allows us to take a concrete step forward today with a densification and modernization project that’s been revamped to better respond to market realities and the expectations of international event organizers. In a highly competitive climate among major business destinations, this process is essential to maintaining Montréal’s competitive edge and continuing to general lasting benefits for Québec. It also acknowledges the strategic importance of business tourism for our economy.
– Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal
Tourisme Montréal welcomes this important decision for the future of the metropolis. In an extremely competitive global market, the status quo was no longer viable. By greenlighting this project to modernize and densify the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Québec government is sending a powerful message: the city intends to remain a top-ranking international destination for business tourism. This announcement will enable us to seize opportunities that were passing us by, generate greater economic spinoffs, and strengthen the promotion of the metropolis on the international scene.
– Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal
The hotel industry has been greatly anticipating this announcement. Business tourism is one of the main economic drivers in Montréal, representing close to 40% of its tourist activity. With our steadily growing hotel supply and stiffening international competition, the modernization and densification of the Palais des congrès de Montréal is vital in enabling the metropolis to host more large-scale events, maintaining its North American leadership, and generating lasting economic benefits for all of Québec.
– Dominique Villeneuve, President and CEO of the Association hôtelière du Grand Montréal
For more than 15 years, Montréal’s economic community has acknowledged the strategic importance of expanding the Palais des congrès de Montréal’s hosting capacity. By choosing to modernize and densify this key infrastructure, the government is taking decisive action in favour of our competitiveness. Business and scientific events are among the most profitable for Québec, and this initiative will make it possible to unlock the full potential of the benefits to come. The Chamber offers its full collaboration to ensure the successful completion of this transformative project for the metropolis.
– Isabelle Dessureault, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal