Montréal, May 19, 2010 – Montréal ranked first in North America for international meetings in 2009, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

Host to 57 international conferences in 2009 alone, Montréal topped the list as the number one destination in North America, in front of its main Canadian rivals, Vancouver and Toronto, as well as its competitors to the south, Boston, Mexico, Washington and New York.

“Tourisme Montréal is extremely proud of these results, which attest to the excellence of our tourist industry with regards to international meetings and conferences,” says the Honourable Charles Lapointe, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, “The exceptional effort, perseverance and determination demonstrated by our entire team, from our Montréal office as well as our satellite offices in Paris, Washington and Chicago, has made Montréal a choice destination for business professionals.” Mr. Lapointe also points out that this ranking crowns years of close collaboration with partners such as the Palais des congrès, suppliers and industry representatives who continuously strive for excellence in meeting and convention organization, accommodations and services in order to deliver a unique Montréal experience.

“This is a huge victory for the city’s convention centre, which has hosted over 1,000 major events since it opened in 1983, but also a worthy recognition of the hard work performed daily by the teams of Tourisme Montréal and the Palais,” declared Marc Tremblay, President and CEO of the Palais. “We succeeded in standing out among other convention centres thanks to our many enviable assets, including our flexible facilities, our location in the heart of the city, the expertise and passion of our staff, and of course our venue’s unique design,” added Tremblay. Since 2007, the Palais has appeared in Mark Irving’s 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die.

Founded in 1963, ICCA now is one of the most prominent organizations in the world of international meetings. It is the only association that comprises a membership representing the main specialists in handling, transporting and accommodating international events. ICCA's network of 900 suppliers to the international meetings industry spans the globe, with members in 85 countries. ICCA has offices in the Netherlands, Malaysia, U.S.A. and Uruguay.

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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