Montréal is frequently praised as one of the most European-looking cities outside Europe. Its abundance of outdoor cafés, a Metro system influenced by Paris, safe streets, and bilingual population make it an increasingly popular choice for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events.
Tourisme Montréal reports that the city welcomed 11.1 million visitors in 2019, a 2.2 percent rise from 2018. Cross-border arrivals grew 5.4 percent and overseas visitors rose 7.3 percent year-over-year. In the same year, Montréal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport handled 20.3 million passengers (inbound and outbound), marking a 4.5 percent increase over 2018.
For the third consecutive year, Montréal ranked as the leading host city in the Americas for international events, according to the Union of International Associations’ International Meetings Statistics Report 2019. The city hosted 129 international events that year, outpacing destinations such as New York, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Buenos Aires. In 2019 the International Congress and Convention Association also named Montréal the top North American city for international meetings for the fourth year running.
“Were it not for the COVID-19 global pandemic, our city would have continued hosting international events and attaining new levels in 2020,” said Yves Lalumière, CEO of Tourisme Montréal. He noted that Montréal’s business tourism community has shown resilience and proactivity throughout the pandemic, positioning the city to resume growth once national and international health authorities give the green light.
The Palais des Congrès (Montréal Convention Centre) introduced new health and safety protocols through a reopening operating guide and launched services such as turnkey hybrid-event packages and an in-house video and podcast studio to help organizers expand their event reach through digital channels.
Robert Mercure, CEO of the Palais des Congrès, emphasized the importance of industry collaboration: “The synergy between businesses, the academic community and our Ambassadors enabled us to host numerous events, and maintaining that team spirit will be essential as we address the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
Montréal stages more than 100 festivals annually, ranging from world-class culinary showcases to large outdoor gatherings. Major events include the Montréal International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, and Montréal en Lumière (Festival of Light), which features music, theatre and dance performances, dining and wine events, and light installations such as those displayed on the Jacques Cartier Bridge each February and March.
The city offers many upscale hotels suited to MICE groups. Notable properties include Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (950 rooms), Le Centre Sheraton (982 rooms), Le Westin Montréal (455 rooms), Loews Hôtel Vogue (142 rooms), The Ritz-Carlton, Montréal (98 rooms) and Hyatt Regency Montreal (595 rooms). These hotels provide extensive meeting space, fine dining and catering services tailored for business events.
© BATEAU- MOUCHE OF MONTRÉAL
Recent additions to Montréal’s meeting-hotel scene include boutique Le Mount Stephen, a 90-room property in a restored historic building featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, an on-site spa and the British-inspired Bar George. Hôtel Monville, a modern, tech-forward hotel with 269 guestrooms, offers meeting space on its 20th floor and sits just steps from the Palais des Congrès. The AC Marriott Montréal Centre-Ville introduced Marriott’s AC Hotels brand to Canada with 169 rooms, and Four Seasons returned to Montréal in 2019 with an 18-storey, 166-room mixed-use complex that includes retail, dining, a spa and luxury residences.
Two excursion operators offer meeting and dining options on St. Lawrence River cruise boats. Le Bateau-Mouche, launched in 1992, received the Tourism Grand Prix from the Office des Congrès et du Tourisme du Grand Montréal for tourist innovation. The vessel’s 110-foot length, including a 440-square-foot open-air deck, accommodates up to 190 guests. Event options include a 1.5-hour sightseeing tour departing from the Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port and a 3.5-hour dinner cruise featuring fine dining, live music and a sound-and-light experience. Cruises were scheduled to resume in May 2021.
The AML Cavalier Maxim is another option for river events. Planners can arrange a full-boat buyout or reserve one or more of its four decks. The cruise program includes guided sightseeing as well as lunch and dinner cruises. Deck A houses a multipurpose panoramic room for 250 guests; Deck B offers the Maxi Club with an outdoor terrace (capacity 160) and the Intimate Atrium lounge for 60; Deck C features a window-lined upper level with a 210-seat terrace.
On the St. Lawrence River, MICE groups can also choose seasonal activities such as jet boating and rafting in summer or learning ice hockey and curling in winter.
UNIQUE VENUES
Château Ramezay – Historic Site and Museum of Montréal transports visitors through more than 500 years of local history. Originally an 18th-century governor’s residence, the museum preserves rare artifacts from Montréal and Québec’s past and offers cultural and educational programming. Event options include a reception for up to 100 guests in the French colonial-style Governor’s Garden, indoor meeting rooms for up to 35, or exclusive use of the Château for groups of around 100.
Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal (the MAC) provides a contemporary, arts-driven setting on Place des Arts, where many festival galas take place. A redesigned, expanded MAC scheduled to open at the same location in 2021 will feature a striking angular overhang, new indoor event spaces and Le Restaurant du MAC opening onto an outdoor terrace—enhancing options for group events and receptions.