Tourisme Montréal rolls out the red carpet for Montréal’s 375th anniversary

MONTRÉAL, Canada – The year 2017 will be punctuated with commemorative events in Montréal, marking a new phase in the city’s efforts to position itself as a cultural metropolis and international-calibre tourist destination. Tourisme Montréal is joining the movement behind Montréal’s 375th Anniversary celebrations and, along with its partners, will work to underscore the pride of Montréalers, strengthen their sense of belonging and enhance the city’s reputation in international markets. It promises to be a memorable year for locals and tourists alike.

This year of festivities is slated to be a very busy one for both leisure and business tourism. In fact, Tourisme Montréal expects the total volume of visitors to increase by 6% over 2016. The buzz surrounding 2017 and the overall enthusiasm for Montréal are paving the way for a strong tourism performance.

Montréal will be hosting several conferences and large-scale events, including the World Police and Fire Games, the 24th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Tourisme Montréal, a major leader in conference bookings and planning, is confirming that more than 90 conferences and events have been scheduled to date, for a total number of delegates exceeding 95,000.

“We’re already working with our partners to prepare Montréal to receive this anticipated influx of tourists. We want to send the message that our city will be ready. With the new 375th Anniversary communications platform MONTRÉALIVE, our goal is to generate excitement about Montréal among tourists,” said Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal.

Moreover, Tourisme Montréal will kick-off some innovative campaigns in 2016, leveraging the highlight moments strategy that’s been used in recent years to promote the various events planned as part of the 375th Anniversary celebrations. “Montréal has countless unique qualities—from a vibrant arts and culture scene, dynamic economy, diverse and ever-changing food industry, great nightlife, quaint neighbourhoods and numerous festivals—and we’ll be showcasing it all in our priority markets,” added Mr. Lalumière.

Tourisme Montréal, a partner of the Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal, is pleased to be part of the promotional force behind the 2017 festivities and encourages everyone who loves Montréal to share their enthusiasm by using the #MTLMoments and #375MTL hashtags. It’s a way of putting Montréal on the world stage and showcasing Montréalers’ pride in their city.