Montréal to host North America’s premier business tourism gathering: Meeting Professionals International (MPI) 2007 World Education Congress
Montréal, July 26, 2007 – Tourisme Montréal announced today that it is primed to host the MPI (Meeting Professionals International) 2007 World Education Congress at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. From July 28 to 31, more than 3,700 delegates from around the globe will take part in this prestigious event for professional meeting and convention planners, which will be held for the very first time in Montréal.
“This meeting—the most important of its kind in North America—is a unique opportunity to present Montréal as one of the leading destinations for hosting international conventions to thousands of meeting industry professionals. Today’s delegates will become tomorrow’s ambassadors—and we thank MPI for choosing Montréal as host city of this year’s congress. Tourisme Montréal and its partners have been working hard to make this event an unprecedented success and to showcase Montréal as the city of choice for future conventions and meetings,” said Charles Lapointe, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.
The short- and medium-term economic spin-offs of hosting this MPI event are estimated at close to $100 million, according to calculations based on the experience of other host cities. Tourisme Montréal and its partners have organized a number of different activities to highlight Montréal’s unique character during the course of this gathering. A spectacular welcome has been planned at the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport and a massive signage campaign has been deployed in downtown’s streets and businesses to highlight the event. As well, an array of unique cultural and gastronomic activities are among the different initiatives which have been incorporated to allow delegates discover Montréal’s many charms and hospitality. Judging from the number of registrations already booked, this 2007 World Education Congress shows every sign of becoming a record-breaking success.
Tourisme Montréal has also provided the MPI 2007 World Education Congress organizers with other means to increase participation at their event. These include a state-of-the-art, on-line housing reservation system that offers round-the-clock accessibility from anywhere in the world as well as a virtual concierge telephone service which can respond to information requests from delegates during the event. “Given the stiff competition in the industry today, the contribution of all partners in an event has become a crucial element in choosing a destination. Tourisme Montréal would like to thank all of its partners who have mobilized and worked together to ensure that this event will help boost Montréal’s convention and meeting industry,” added Mr. Lapointe.
In addition to Tourisme Montréal, the major sponsors of the MPI 2007 World Education Congress are the Canadian Tourism Commission, the ministère du Tourisme du Québec, the ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions, the Casinos du Québec, Aéroports de Montréal and the Palais des congrès. As well, Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, event producer Idées au Cube—responsible for organizing the welcome reception and the closing night reception—, Productions Le Coordonnateur, Techni-Logique, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the Board of Montréal Museum Directors (BMMD) as well as the Montréal MPI chapter will be sponsoring the event. “Thanks to the contribution of our partners and the convention’s organizing committee members as well as the many volunteers who will be looking after the delegates during their stay, Montréal will once again prove that it has earned its reputation as Canada’s leading destination for hosting international meetings,” concluded Mr. Lapointe.
Montréal won the bid to become host city of the MPI World Education Congress in 2003. The leading association of the global meetings industry, MPI provides professional development, promotes industry awareness and creates business development opportunities for 21,000 members belonging to 68 chapters and clubs in 20 countries around the globe.
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Source:
Pierre Bellerose
Vice President
Public Relations, Product Research and Development
Tourisme Montréal
(514) 844-2404
bellerose.pierre@tourisme-montreal.org
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position the destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market.
