Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal say a series of major international and North American conventions confirmed in recent months will bring more than 100,000 hotel room nights to the city and generate economic benefits estimated at close to $100 million.
The organizations said the bookings, spread over several years, add to Montréal’s pipeline of large-scale business events and are all slated to take place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
Pipeline of large conventions
Among the newly confirmed events are conventions by the World Science Fiction Society, expected to draw about 4,000 delegates in 2027, and the Canadian Labour Congress, with approximately 3,500 delegates anticipated in 2032.
Tourisme Montréal said the confirmations are the result of long-term planning and coordination with partners.
“Behind every confirmed convention are years of work, relationship building, strategic planning and an exceptional level of mobilization by our teams and partners. It is this rigour that allows Montréal to remain a destination of choice for business tourism on the international stage. By attracting major conventions, we are laying solid foundations for business tourism and creating a sustainable base for Montréal’s visitor economy,” said Mylène Gagnon, vice-president, sales, convention services and membership at Tourisme Montréal.
Several of the conventions benefited from support through Destination Canada’s Convention Business Fund program, the organizations said. These include the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer annual meeting, scheduled for 2031 with an estimated 6,000 delegates, and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association annual meeting in 2030, expected to attract about 2,700 delegates.
Recurring events extend calendar
The new confirmations are supplemented by recurring large conventions, including the annual event of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. That conference alternates between Vancouver and Montréal, with the Montréal editions held in odd-numbered years.
Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès said the Montréal events typically draw close to 2,000 delegates and have now been confirmed through 2035, extending the city’s booking horizon for major industry gatherings.
The Palais des congrès said the accumulation of confirmed conventions underscores the role of business events in Québec’s economy.
“Tourism is a powerful and sustainable economic lever for Québec. At a time when market diversification and international competitiveness are essential, business events provide a tangible and immediate response. By attracting large-scale conventions, we are investing in a form of collective wealth that supports the economy, innovation and Montréal’s long-term appeal,” said Emmanuelle Legault, president and chief executive officer of the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
Sector mix and longer-term impact
Beyond their immediate economic contribution, the organizations said the confirmed conventions are intended to support Montréal’s longer-term positioning in knowledge-based sectors.
Of the 12 conventions confirmed in 2025, five are in the life sciences sector, which Tourisme Montréal described as an area of strength for the city. The concentration of life sciences events is expected to contribute to professional and scientific exchange while reinforcing Montréal’s profile in that field.
The organizations said the conventions also play a role in building Montréal’s international reputation and strengthening its professional networks across scientific, social and economic domains.
International rankings cited
Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès also pointed to Montréal’s standing in international rankings for business events, including those published by the International Congress and Convention Association and the Union of International Associations.
They said Montréal has held the position of leading destination in the Americas in those rankings for a ninth consecutive year, citing the city’s event infrastructure, accessibility and experience in hosting large-scale gatherings.
Organizations involved
Tourisme Montréal is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the city as a destination for leisure and business tourism. Founded more than a century ago, it represents more than 1,000 member organizations connected to the tourism sector and is involved in developing visitor experience strategies and tourism-related economic initiatives.
The Palais des congrès de Montréal has hosted large-scale events since 1983 and positions itself as a centre for conferences and exhibitions. The organization said it focuses on innovation and sustainability in its operations and plays a role in Montréal’s economic and international outreach through business events.
Together, the two organizations said the newly confirmed conventions provide visibility several years into the future for Montréal’s business tourism sector, with additional events expected to be secured as bidding and planning continue.
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