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| The Palais des congrès de Montréal |
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BACKGROUND
A 1975 study on Montréal's tourism potential revealed that the city would be an ideal convention host city. According to the study, a convention centre would generate major economic benefits after only five years, provided the appropriate infrastructures were in place. The construction of 12 new hotels to accommodate the 1976 Montréal Olympic Summer Games helped satisfy the infrastructure objectives, and in 1977, the Québec government green lighted the convention centre project. The Palais des congrès de Montréal opened in 1983.
In the late 1990s, the Québec government agreed to invest $240 million to finance the expansion of the Palais. The expansion would allow the convention centre to double its size. There were “sizable” challenges to undertaking such a mega project in the heart of the city’s downtown while continuing to host events without interruption. E.g. constructing an extension above an expressway and subway line, harmonizing the project with the façades of the adjoining heritage buildings, revamping the existing facilities, and rallying it all into a cohesive whole. The challenge was met in spades, and the Palais inaugurated its new contemporary, friendly and infinitely global minded facilities in 2002.
 Today, more than 25 years later, the convention centre has shown itself to be a brilliant idea. Montréal ranks as the leading host city in Canada for international meetings, and second in North America, after New York. The Palais is a key contributor to the economic growth of our city, providing convention delegates the world over with a venue for sharing and synergizing ideas and knowledge.
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