At the Palais des congrès de Montréal, sustainable development goes beyond the environment: it seeks to meet the needs of visitors while respecting those of generations to come. Working together Tourisme Montréal, the official tourism bureau of the city, essential partner and leader in promoting sustainable events, the Palais des congrès takes pride in always going the extra mile to make a difference. In 2019, it adopted an international framework of reference for its sustainable initiatives by joining the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Montréal, as a green destination, has also taken concrete action to promote sustainable tourism. Tourisme Montréal has in that spirit launched its Sustainable Destination Strategy, which secures Montréal’s status as an exemplary tourist destination, one that has a positive impact on its local community and on the environment.
Rewarding sustainable actions with eco-friendly policies
When it comes to sustainability, the Palais des congrès de Montréal supports organisers and participants to take action. In 2022, the convention centre adopted an eco-conditionality policy tailor-made for sustainable events. Discounts of up to 10% are offered to organisations making tangible decisions relating to sustainable development during their event, like hiring a Green Team, sorting waste, choosing environmentally responsible corporate gifts and featuring local speakers or artists.
Participants may also easily offset their travel to Montréal thanks to Palais Boréal, an innovative turnkey programme for organisers to reduce the environmental impact of an event. Palais’ partner Planetair, a recognised leader in climate change awareness and GHG offsets, guides event planners and exhibitors through five simple steps and certifies events as carbon neutral, complete with an official logo that will position organisers as environmental leaders.
Participants are also strongly encouraged to use green and sustainable transportation once in the city. Located in the heart of downtown Montréal, the Palais des congrès is easily accessible by foot and public transportation from numerous hotels, restaurants and cultural activities.
Ten years of green roofing and growing stronger
The Palais des congrès de Montréal is one of the first convention centres in the Americas to have a carbon-neutral building and to boast a green roof with urban vegetable gardens. This forward-thinking initiative is operated in conjunction with the urban agriculture research organisation AU/LAB.
Currently under renovation, the reopening of the green roof in summer 2023 will come with a new innovative and eco-friendly 35,000-sq.-ft. (3,251 m²) facility, serving as a promotional and experimental showcase for Québec expertise and technologies in urban agriculture. The space will also be designed to host educational activities for the public.
In addition to helping reduce urban heat islands, the rooftop gardens provided nearly three tonnes of produce in 2021. These products were used in food preparation by the convention centre’s exclusive partner in catering services, Capital Traiteur, with the surplus redistributed to organisations that help the homeless.
Creating meaningful social and environmental impact
through business events
Many events focusing on environmental protection have taken place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal over the years. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP11) in 2005, the International Plant Biology gathering in 2018, and more recently, the Ecological Society of America’s annual convention and the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in 2022, are just a few examples of nature-focused events where organisers opted for the Montréal Convention Centre as a partner.
Furthermore, the Palais des congrès places a great deal of emphasis on the types of events being hosted amongst its walls, securing events that will bolster Montréal’s reputation and highlight its niches of excellence. Some of the events held in 2022 were not only gatherings that were eagerly awaited by various international communities, but also occasions for in-depth discussions and tangible advances on local, national and international levels in their respective fields.
For instance, at AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference, the Government of Canada announced that an envelope of CAN$17.9M would be given over to the distribution of HIV self-testing kits in at-risk communities, and the improvement of access to screening for the general population.
COP15, for its part, resulted in unprecedented measures to protect biodiversity. On the local level, the City of Montréal announced a plan to protect pollinators, as well as a historic expansion and greening initiative for Mount Royal. The Province of Québec created a Plan Nature, which will allow it to implement biodiversity protection measures, support Indigenous nature conservation projects, and protect endangered species. It all adds up to a historic investment of CAN$650M over seven years. Also in the wake of COP15, the government of Canada declared that it would allocate several types of funding support aiming to protect our oceans, and advance scientific research on that front, throughout the country.
A helping hand for non-profit organisations assisting disadvantaged groups
In 2022, the Palais des congrès de Montréal developed a programme specially designed for the city’s non-profit organisations assisting disadvantaged groups. The programme allows the Palais to make unused facilities available free of charge for small to medium-sized events like team buildings, board meetings or annual meetings. This programme also enables non-profit organisers to be assisted by a dedicated Event Manager of the Palais.
Looking at the future of events through the lens of innovation
The Palais’ Events Lab brings together a handpicked selection of Montréal’s most innovative companies in the industry, experts on experiences and events that stand out. Launched in 2019, the Events Lab continues to grow, proof of the enthusiastic response it is receiving among event organisers.
The Events Lab positions the Palais as a major player in the innovation ecosystem and Montréal as THE destination at the forefront of event transformation, while benefiting from incomparable opportunities thanks to the Palais’ reputation.
