HQ34: Montréal supplement

HEADQUARTERS Destination Report Montréal is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - September 2009 published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.hqmagazine.eu - press@meetingmedia.eu

MONTRÉAL

an open invitation

> SPECIAL MESSAGE

Message from the President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal A slice of Europe in North America? Meet Montréal! international presence ensures that improvements to our high-quality infrastructure adapt to the particular needs of our growing European market segment. As headquarters to these international organizations, Montréal has earned a reputation as a skilled meetings destination that benefits from a wealth of experienced and dependable professional congress organizers.

Currently, Montréal ranks first in Canada and second in North America for hosting international meetings (UIA 2007). And, for the past 25 years, the Palais des congrès de Montréal (Convention Centre), at the heart of our vibrant downtown, has developed an enviable expertise in the business. Along the way, Tourisme Montréal has been working in partnership with the Palais to develop and deliver seamless and memorable meetings for our clients.

Charles Lapointe, P.C.

On behalf of all members of the Montréal tourism industry, I would like to invite you to discover Montréal, a truly oneof-a-kind meeting city. We call it “a slice of Europe in North America”. And it’s true. From tiny colony - first French, then English - to cosmopolitan metropolis of 3.7 million today, Montréal has its roots in Europe, but it’s also thoroughly North American, fully modern and unstoppably imaginative, a cutting-edge hub of innovation and creativity, and world leader in industries such as aeronautics, life sciences and information technology.

Over the years, Montréal has emerged as a major player on the international meetings scene, and boasts a stellar track record working with international associations. In fact, with an office in Paris and a long list of personalized services, Tourisme Montréal, now more than ever, is able to cater to associations based in Europe. We enjoy working with our international clientele, because they continue to help make us a more competitive meetings destination.

Montréal is home to 65 major world organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA). This impressive

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But Montréal is not just business. It’s a city that really knows how to have fun too. Montréalers love to live it up, and this joie de vivre has given birth to some of the world’s great festivals: the Jazz, the Just for Laughs, the FrancoFolies and the HIGH LIGHTS, to name but just a few. It’s a gourmet getaway and a breeding ground for fashion, design and architecture. Did you know that, in 2007, Montréal became the first city to be designated a UNESCO City of Design in North America? For a break from the hustle and bustle, we have Mount Royal, our backyard playground, the majestic St. Lawrence River, lush parks, superb golf courses and bike paths that stretch for hundreds of miles.

So much so that Montréal is the first urban center in the world to be recogFLIGHT TIMES nized as a Geotourism destination by the TO MONTRÉAL National Geographic Society. + Amsterdam 6:45 + Athens 9:00 + Brussels 7:00 + Dublin: 6:15 + Frankfurt 7:02 + London (Heathrow) 6:35 + Madrid 6:55 + Munich 7:20 + Paris (CDG) 6:40 + Rome 8:00 + Vienna 8:00 + Zurich 7:10 Source: Aéroports de Montréal

From business to pleasure, Montréal truly has everything it takes to make your meeting a resounding success. I encourage you to consider our vibrant island city when planning your next event, and discover what we can do for you.

Charles Lapointe, P.C. President and CEO Tourisme Montréal

A HOTBED OF CULTURE AND CREATIVITY, MONTRÉAL IS AN IRRESISTIBLE MIX OF OLD WORLD CHARM AND SOPHISTICATION AND NEW WORLD CULTURE AND URBAN VIBE. A CROSSROADS FOR TRADE, BUSINESS AND FINANCE OVER THE CENTURIES, THE CITY IS RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE FOR ITS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND IS HEADQUARTERS TO 65 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

> DESTINATION MONTRÉAL

GATEWAY TO THE WORLD

MEET YOU IN MONTRÉAL!

Ranked first in Canada and second in North America* for international meetings, Montréal dazzles in both infrastructure and services. The Palais des congrès (Convention Centre), in the revitalized Quartier international, offers state-of-the-art technology and facilities. Hotel choices are vast and varied, from American and international chains to charming boutique properties.

Montréal is also a cosmopolitan, multilingual and multicultural city, which not only translates into expertise in hosting international events, but Montréal’s reputation for innovation and excellence attracts some of the best and brightest minds from around the world today.

In addition to an experienced team of employees in the Montréal office and in satellite offices in Washington D.C., Chicago and Paris, Tourisme Montréal works in close partnership with the city’s convention industry leaders to form a coalition of experts in every aspect of event planning.

Montréal is a cosmopolitan and multilingual city, which not only translates into expertise in hosting international events, but its reputation for excellence attracts some of the brightest minds from around the world

From French settlement to British stronghold, and now the world’s second-largest French-speaking city, Montréal is a truly international metropolis. Never has a destination so deftly combined history, architecture, culture and charm with efficiency, innovation and joie de vivre.

Did you know that Montréal: + Is headquarters to 65 international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) + Ranks first for university research in Canada and has 197 research centres in the metro area + Is home to 11 institutions of higher learning, including four major universities: McGill University, Université de Montréal, Concordia University and Université du Québec à Montréal + Has a student population of 170,000, including nearly 20,000 foreign students from 165 countries + Boasts a thriving life sciences industry and is home to leaders such as Merck Frosst, Pfizer, BristolMyers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline + Enjoys a cutting-edge aerospace sector with leaders like the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Bell-Helicopter Textron, Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Lockheed Martin + Has 85 consulates general, consulates and commercial delegations

MONTRÉAL HIGHLIGHTS Major Festivals: + Montréal High Lights Festival – February + Montréal International Fireworks Competition – Mid-June to Mid-July + Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – Early July + Just For Laughs Festival – Mid-July + Rogers Cup (Tennis) – August + The Magic of Lanterns at the Botanical Gardens – September to November + Montréal World Film Festival – Beginning of September + Montréal Canadiens (Hockey) – October to April

*Source: The Union of International Associations (2007)

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> PALAIS DES CONGRÈS

THE PALAIS DES CONGRÈS DE MONTRÉAL Behind the colours…

26 years of exchange, 26 years of passion THE PALAIS AT A GLANCE: + Exhibition surface area: 18,580 m2 + Total meeting space: 12,247 m2 + Number of meeting rooms: up to 65 for up to 10,000 attendees + Total rental space: 30,827 m2 + Leasable commercial space on ground floor: 4,157 m2 + Total area: 133,000 m2 + Total rooms or space: 94

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BOTH A PLACE FOR HIGH LEVEL INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND A SYMBOL OF QUÉBEC CREATIVITY GRACING THE MONTRÉAL CITYSCAPE, THE PALAIS DES CONGRÈS DE MONTRÉAL HAS ENJOYED A UNIQUE, COLOURFUL AND EVENTFUL 26-YEAR HISTORY. BUT WHAT MAKES THE PALAIS SO SPECIAL? LET’S FIND OUT!

Montréal enjoys an international reputation, it is widely recognized as a centre of excellence in various sectors such as life sciences, and is also home to several major international organizations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This alone makes the Palais an attractive destination. But the venue also offers a set of unique infrastructures ideally located in the heart of the city’s downtown, near hotels, as well as a range of topnotch professional services.

attractions, and also less than five minutes from 15,000 hotel rooms, 4,000 of which are directly linked to the Palais via indoor passageways. Inside, the Palais is trendy, generously lit, and welcoming. The venue is ultra-functional and capable of handling events of every size. The customer service is incomparable. Do you need any more reasons to organize your congress there?

Located in Montréal’s downtown core, the Palais is a safe and bustling venue.

A hub of activity straddling the city’s business centre, international district, Old Montréal, Chinatown and Quartier des spectacles, it is near Montréal’s main

Since it opened in 1983, the Palais des congrès de Montréal (Convention Centre) has built a reputation for excellence spanning the globe. After 4,300 events and 12.6 million visitors, it’s fair to acknowledge they have developed an

PROFESSIONAL PAR EXCELLENCE

unparalleled level of expertise in the industry.

Each event is relentlessly planned, coordinated and monitored. During the event itself, dozens of professionals are assigned to handling every detail, looking after the comfort and satisfaction of visitors, and anticipating the unexpected. Simply put: everybody working there gets passionate about the events hosted by the Palais.

‘Our event planning managers are like orchestra conductors. They have to adapt to and interpret whatever music score they are given so the end performance matches the clients’ wishes,’ explains Director of Production Élaine Legault. This requires immense creativity, and listening power. ‘We work very closely with our clients every step of the event planning process,’ specifies the Palais’ Director of Marketing and Communications, Chrystine Loriaux. ‘The average seniority of our staff is 17 years, so we can safely say they know what they’re doing! Our experience and expertise help clients make the most of their events.

The Palais is a trendsetter in terms of service quality, and we intend to continue to move forward! We will keep listening actively to our clients and stay in lockstep with the latest developments in order to provide them with event planning products and services that will stimulate their interest,’ says Mrs. Loriaux.

At the Palais, creativity also means being adaptable, especially when it comes to food.

‘Our Capital Traiteur catering service devised a menu for people who have difficulty chewing, during an international conference on augmentative and alternative communication.

For the Otakuthon anime convention, they prepared sushi, dango dumplings and pearl tea, instead of the traditional pizza, smoked meat and soft drinks!’ adds Mrs. Legault.

Of course, the Palais delivers the full range of professional services you would expect from a Convention Centre of this level, but it is often the ‘little extras’ that make the difference. ‘What people like about us is that

we are proactive and grasp their needs. This enables us to create the best possible conditions in which to hold their events,’ continues Mrs. Legault. ‘We know how to adapt our venues and services to the specific requirements of each client, size notwithstanding!’

GREENER THAN EVER: WHEN ‘EVERY ACTION COUNTS’ The Palais uses a personalized approach to guiding event organizers through the green planning process. Their ‘À la carte’ services make it possible to curb their environmental footprint in a way that reflects the actual needs of planners and how green they can go. This green process is inspired by best sustainable development practices, and outlined in their Organizing a Green Event Guide, that steers event planners through the maze of green options and helps them isolate the practices best suited to their event and means. This guide is available online for free at www.congresmtl.com/environment. They have a proven track record and today some of their major events even serve as models of green planning, like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2005 for instance.

The Palais is also actively involved in the local tourism industry’s green committee started by Tourisme Montréal. This concerted effort by the tourism community, which includes most notably hotels, transportation and information centres, is aimed at developing an action plan to help curb the environmental footprint of tourism activities.

Other examples of how deeply the Palais values its social responsibility include its ongoing work with its partners to introduce a variety of initiatives for the Montréal community, such as a goodwill program promoting the reuse by community organizations of items and materials unused during events or donating untouched surplus food to homeless shelters.

As an environmental performance leader, the Palais has also adopted practices affecting

water use, recycling, hazardous waste, ozone depleting substances, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance. In addition, their procurement policy respecting housekeeping products is green-first.

These and other efforts have earned the Convention Centre numerous environmental awards and honours, including the BOMA Québec BESt certification in 2005 and the 2006 Énergia award for power management.

In 2008, the Palais also joined the HydroQuébec Energy Savers’ Circle, which groups together large corporations recognized for their leadership in the field of energy efficiency. Hydro-Quebec is one of the biggest electric utilities in North America.

Some prestigious events at the Palais: + 1989 - 5th AIDS Conference (12,000 delegates) + 2004 - 12th International Congress of Immunology (6,500 delegates) + 2005 - 11th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (10,000 delegates) + 2008 - 9th International Conference on Low Vision (1,500 delegates) + 2008 - 37th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) (2,250 delegates) + 2009 - 20th World Diabetes Congress (IDF) (expected 12,000 delegates) + 2010 - 21st World Energy Congress (WEC) (expected 4,000 delegates) + 2010 - 101st Annual Convention of Rotary International 2010 (expected 18,000 delegates) + 2012 - 18th World Congress of Information Technology 2012 (expected 3,000 delegates) + 2012 - UICC 12 - World Cancer Congress (expected 4,000 delegates)

CONTACTS Chrystine Loriaux Director, Marketing and Communications chrystine.loriaux@congresmtl.com 514 871-3108 Jessica Lacasse Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs jessica.lacasse@congresmtl.com 514 871-5897 www.congresmtl.com

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> DOWNTOWN

MONTRÉAL DOWNTOWN Accessible, walkable and full of discoveries!

Montréal’s urban layout and transit infrastructure make getting from hotels to the convention centre and points of interest very easy and convenient. And when it comes to finding a place to rest easy after a long day of meetings, Montréal couldn’t be more accommodating. From international chains to unique boutique hotels, there is something for every taste and style. Of our 26,500 hotel room total, 15,000 are downtown, 8,000 are in deluxe properties and 4,000 link directly to the convention centre via the clean, brightly-lit 32-km (20-mile) long Underground Pedestrian Network.

> M E E T I N G FAC I L I T I ES

MEETING FACILITIES Facilities that actually facilitate!

Olympic Tower

Mount Royal Centre

Place Bonaventure

PALAIS DES CONGRÈS DE MONTRÉAL (MONTRÉAL CONVENTION CENTRE) + 330,000 sq. ft. (30,000 m2) of total meeting and exhibition space + 200,000 sq. ft. (18,000 m2) of contiguous exhibit space + Optimal versatility with our 50,000 sq. ft.

(4,645 m2) multipurpose room without columns, one of the largest in Canada + 65 flexible break-out rooms + Portal-to-portal customs + Flexible labour environment

MOUNT ROYAL CENTRE + Over 50,000 sq. ft. (4,600 m2) of total floor area

Place Bonaventure Exhibition Halls Palais des Congrès de Montréal

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Largest Meeting Space

Total Meeting/ Meeting Exhibition Space Rooms

200,000 sq. ft.

(18,000 m2)

300,000 sq. ft.

(27,000 m2)

9

4,000 sq. ft.

(372 m2)

3

Centre de conférences 1,700 sq. ft.

(158 m2) Le 1000

+ 730-seat auditorium + Multi-purpose ballroom accommodating up to 800 people, theatre-style + Spacious multi-purpose pre-function areas that can hold up to 700 people + 17 meeting rooms catering to groups of 10 to 850 people

MONTRÉAL TOWER/OLYMPIC PARK + 204,400 sq. ft. (19,000 m2) of available space (playing field) + Several other rooms and areas up to 65,000 sq. ft. (6000 m2) + Two rooms atop Montréal Tower: the Salon de Montréal (2,550 sq. ft./237 m2) and the Cocktail Room (3,108 sq. ft./288 m2) + Flexible labour environment

Find out more at tourisme-montreal.org/meet

> OFFSITE VENUES

OFF-SITE BUT ON TARGET Unusual offsite venues in Montréal

MONTRÉAL OFFERS MEETING PLANNERS THE ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOM-TAILORED PROGRAMS TO FIT ANY GROUP’S SPECIFIC NEEDS. BESIDES THE LARGE SPACES AVAILABLE TO HOST “MEGA EVENTS” (UP TO 4,000 DELEGATES), MONTRÉAL IS ALSO PROUD TO OFFER UNUSUAL VENUES TO CREATE EVENTS AS UNIQUE AS THEY ARE MEMORABLE. HERE ARE JUST A FEW.

HOW ABOUT A HISTORICAL CHURCH FOR YOUR ICEBREAKER PARTY?

Stewart Museum

Museum of Fine Arts

The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts recently purchased the adjacent Erskine & American United Church and will invest $13 million CAD in a new concert hall, reception spaces and conference rooms. The rear of the church will be converted into six galleries on five floors.

Montréal Museum of Fine Arts: www.mba.org

LIVE “LA VIE DE CHÂTEAU”

your event under a canopied tent in the courtyard facing the majestic St. Lawrence River or inside the historic fort, and add an extra touch of prestige with an 18th-century honour guard.

Stewart Museum: www.stewart-museum.org

Marché Bonsecours

Built in 1884, the former Dalhousie train station now houses the Cirque Éloize studios where your guests can enjoy a cocktail in a dazzling atmosphere, complete with stunning circus acts.

Cirque Éloize: www.cirque-eloize.com

Market is a true Montréal icon. Looking out on the St. Lawrence River in the heart of Old Montréal, it’s an ideal venue for any type of event, from an upscale dinner to a high-energy party for up to 1,600 guests! For a breakfast or lunch party, why not treat your guests to the lively atmosphere of our public markets?

Corporate meeting rooms offer everything you need for your guests to enjoy Montréal’s irrepressible joie de vivre and charm.

Marché Bonsecours: www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca Public Markets: www.marchespublics-mtl.com

SOAK UP THE ATMOSPHERE IN THESE PUBLIC BATHS

ART GALLERIES TO PUT YOUR GUESTS IN A GREAT FRAME OF MIND

GET ON TRACK AT A HISTORIC TRAIN STATION

Écomusée du fier monde

Château Dufresne

Offer your guests the royal treatment by welcoming them to one of our “Château” locations hosting elegant and sophisticated events par excellence. Bask in the warm ambiance of these historically and culturally rich milieus.

Château Ramesay: www.chateauramezay.qc.ca Château Dufresne: www.chateaudufresne.com

ADD A TOUCH OF PRESTIGE AT A FORMER MILITARY FORT Offer your guests a truly unforgettable experience at the Stewart Museum, located at the Fort on scenic Île Sainte-Hélène, where breathtaking views of the Montréal skyline await you. Enjoy

Parisian Laundry

Looking to increase attendance at a special function? Delight your guests by holding your meeting at Le Bain Mathieu or the Écomusée du fier monde, two spectacularly renovated former public baths. These original venues are sure to please!

Le Bain Mathieu: www.bainmathieu.ca Écomusée du fier monde: www.ecomusee.qc.ca

SAVOUR OUR PUBLIC MARKETS

Located in the heart of downtown, Galerie Gora is a unique venue for hosting business, social or cultural events. Its contemporary setting and artistic flair will ensure your event is a success.

A stylish mix of industrial and chic, the Parisian Laundry is a venue your guests will love. This former laundry has been converted into a spacious art gallery with high ceilings and brick walls.

Galerie Gora: www.gallerygora.com Parisian Laundry: www.parisianlaundry.com

The neo-classic architecture of the Bonsecours

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> T O U R I S M E M O N T R É A L’ S C O N V E N T I O N S E R V I C E S

YOU’VE GOT THE WHOLE TEAM ON YOUR SIDE

Luc Charbonneau, Director Sales and Marketing, Business Market charbonneau.luc@tourisme-montreal.org

Tourisme Montréal understands that meeting planners need smart, streamlined solutions to ensure their event is a success story. The CVB brings a special brand of savoir-faire to the table to assist meeting planners through all stages of the planning process. In addition to an experienced team of employees in the Montréal office and in satellite offices in Paris, Washington D.C. and Chicago, Tourisme Montréal works in close partnership with the city’s convention industry leaders to form a coalition of experts in every aspect of event planning.

FREE SUPPORT AND SERVICES INCLUDE: + Assistance of a manager from our head office in Montréal, or our satellite offices in Paris, Washington or Chicago + Coordination of your requests for proposals with member hotels, DMCs and PCOs + Creation of detailed and personalized presentations of all Montréal services, events and attractions + Research to find meeting rooms, exhibition halls and hotel rooms which best suit your needs + Recommendations on rate negotiations and site availability + Assistance in preparing your preliminary budget + Assistance in finding and securing financing from the public or private sector + Production of bid documents + Assistance in identifying local leaders in your field + Free plane tickets to Montréal to present the bid or to conduct a site inspection + Development of promotional tools: brochures, videos, photos, etc.

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A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, ONE CONTACT

Lucy Mungiovi, CMP, Director of Convention Services mungiovi.lucy@tourisme-montreal.org

Tourisme Montréal’s Convention Services make planning easier by providing you with a wide range of tools, plus helpful advice to ensure your event’s success.

WE CAN: + Recommend goods and services providers (audiovisual equipment rentals, customs brokers, caterers, event producers, etc.) + Develop a microsite exclusively for your delegates + Offer a suite of readily available or easily downloadable promotional material and attendance-building tools + Set up a free housing reservation system using Passkey with weekly pick-up reports available on-line + Offer welcome services to your delegates

Tourisme Montréal works in close partnership with the city’s convention industry leaders to form a coalition of experts in every aspect of event planning

Find out more at tourisme-montreal.org/meet

> TEAM MONTRÉAL

TOURISME MONTRÉAL ON THE MOVE!

In December 2009, Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal will once again share a kiosk at EIBTM - a leading international exhibition for the conference, incentives, events, business travel and meetings industry - in Barcelona, Spain. The organization will once again bring a “Hosted Buyer” group, and counts on building on the success of their participation in EIBTM 2008.

Also, Team Montréal will be repeating its immensely popular “Spa Europe” event, first launched in October 2008, in Brussels (Oct. 6), Geneva (Oct. 7) and Paris (Oct. 8) this fall.

Incentive houses as well as corporate and

TEAM MONTRÉAL IS + Tourisme Montréal + Palais des congrès de Montréal (Montréal Convention Centre) + Aéroports de Montréal + Air Canada + Canadian Tourism Commission + Casino de Montréal + Hotel Association of Greater Montréal + Ministère du Tourisme du Québec (Tourisme Québec) + Mount Royal Centre + VIA Rail Canada + Delta Centre-Ville (on University) + Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth + Hilton Montréal Bonaventure + Hôtel InterContinental Montréal + Hôtel Le Crystal + Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal + Hyatt Regency Montréal + Le Centre Sheraton + Le Place d’Armes Hôtel & Suites + Le Saint-Sulpice Hôtel - Montréal + Montréal Marriott Château Champlain + Opus Montréal + Ritz-Carlton Montréal + Westin Montréal + Altima Concept - DMC + AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions + JPdL Montréal + Livingston Event Logistics + Maestro Plus DMC + Visites de Montréal DMC + Zeste Incentive

association meeting planners from across Europe will once again be invited to relax, unwind and enjoy a wide range of signature à la Montréal spa treatments. Watch for your invitation!

In mid-December, during the Louis Comfort Tiffany Colors and Light exhibition (September 16, 2009 to January 10, 2010), presented at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris and organized in close collaboration with the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Team Montréal will be hosting a signature Montréal cocktail evening in the Jardins du Luxembourg, along with a private visit of the Senate.

CONTACT Lynda CADIEUX Director, Business Tourism, Europe T. (+33) 1 47 97 29 06 F. (+33) 1 47 97 29 06 cadieux.lynda@tourisme-montreal.org www.tourisme-montreal.org/meet

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Who says conventions should be conventional? In Montréal, we’ve got all the nuts and bolts to help you plan a successful event—like 30,000 m2 of meeting & convention space in the Palais des congrès, our ultramodern convention centre, over 26,000 hotel rooms, a 24/7 online housing system and innovative attendance-building tools. Plus, we’ll bring creative, customized solutions to create that extra touch of magic your attendees will never forget.

maybe that’s why we’re ranked 2nd in north america for international meeting destinations*.

START PLANNING WITH US NOW! . 33 1 47 97 29 06 . tourism-montreal.org/meet 12 *Source: The Union HEADQUARTERS of International Associations (2007).