Montréal has once again proven its dominance on the international stage, earning the title of the number-one destination in North America for hosting international association events, according to the 2024 rankings from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). This marks the ninth consecutive year the city has held the top spot, further cementing its reputation as a leader in global business tourism.
Montréal topped other major North American cities, including Toronto, Washington, DC, Vancouver and Chicago, and held its second-place position in the Americas behind Buenos Aires. Globally, Montréal ranked 28th, surpassing global hubs like Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai and Munich.
This continued success is credited to the powerful partnership between the Palais des congrès de Montréal and Tourisme Montréal, as well as the broader local ecosystem of hotels, restaurants, universities, and event professionals. This synergy has been instrumental in keeping Montréal at the forefront of international event hosting.
“Montréal’s ranking as the top destination in North America for nine years in a row is the fruit of a strategic collaboration between the Palais des congrès, Tourisme Montréal, and leading researchers in Montréal, whose expertise and commitment make all the difference,” said Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal. “By choosing our metropolis, international associations are not simply selecting a place, they’re allying with an ecosystem that enriches their event and amplifies their participants’ experience.”
In 2024 alone, Montréal hosted 70 international events, including the 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology (2,138 participants), the One Young World Summit 2024 (1,900 participants), and the 32nd Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (1,600 participants). These events not only brought thousands of global delegates to the city but also provided valuable opportunities to foster international collaboration in fields like life sciences, health, and information technology.
“Each year, our teams work hard to process hundreds of files, organize site inspections and confirm thousands of overnight stays,” said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “Business tourism constitutes a major lever for the metropolis, both economically and in terms of promoting academic excellence and research. The ICCA’s multiple recognitions are an honour, and I commend the exceptional work of our teams, who contribute tirelessly to making Montréal shine on the international stage.”
This latest accolade from the ICCA isn’t just a statistic—it reflects Montréal’s long-term strategy and unwavering dedication to innovation in business tourism. As a city that blends world-class infrastructure with academic excellence and cultural richness, it continues to set the bar for what it means to be a premier host city on the global scene.
It’s great to see that Montreal is guarding its ranking as North America’s top destination for meetings and events. But I hope none of those attendees booked a room at Le Château Frontenac (see the last photo) which is rather too long a drive out of town to be convenient, don’t you think?
I just removed a photo from the article, while chuckling to myself 😉