Tourism

Montréal: World-class tourism and convention infrastructures

According to the 2008 Future Brand Country Index, Canada ranks second behind Australia in a multi-variable survey of 2,700 business and recreational travellers from nine countries.

No doubt Montréal, as Canada's number-two tourist destination (more than 14 million visitors in 2007), was a major contributor to this result! Its tourism's economic benefits are estimated at $2.6 billion annually. Approximately 80,000 people are employed in the sector.

According to the 2009 preliminary rankings of the Internationl Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Montréal is now orth America's number one host city for international association events.

Several success factors:

• Montréal-based Québec Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHQ), which provides a highly qualified labour force to meet the needs of the entire tourist services network
• Montréal's internationally recognized convention centre, the Palais des Congrès, hosts a wide range of scientific events, in keeping with Montréal's designation as a city of Knowledge

Montréal's very impressive accommodation sector with 362 hotels on the island of Montréal offering more than 5.5 million room nights!