8 ways Montréal makes meetings more affordable
Maximize your budget by booking your international events in Montréal.
Montréal stands apart among North America’s cultural capitals with exceptional affordability. On international cost-of-living indices like Mercer’s global rankings, our rent-and-groceries score sits around 45.8 on a New York base of 100, well below Toronto (54.7) and Vancouver (57.3). For event organizers, that translates into real savings: Montréal is typically 20 to 40% cheaper on core convention costs. Here are eight cost-saving tips to implement into your next Montréal event.
Book with BEM
Booking with Business Events Montréal pays off in so many ways, including with special promotions that we offer in conjunction with third parties, associations and corporate groups. We can also help arrange for a tax rebate on your behalf, and guarantee financial and operational support.
Think ahead
For maximum savings, source the meeting space or convention centre through the CVB as early as possible. Booking years in advance can help you find your preferred dates and negotiate better rates with the convention centre and hotels. Consider contracting for a multi-year deal, for example book for both 2025 and 2030 at the same time, to further ramp up your negotiating power.
Stay flexible
If possible, be flexible with the dates and patterns of your meetings. Often the convention centre and hotels can offer discounts during times in between other conventions and events. Also stay open to meeting in off-peak time frames; hotel rates will be higher in summer months (June to August) in Montréal than during the winter or early spring, yet each season in this city has great benefits.
Use in-house services
From A/V to F&B, keep the cost of your event down by being willing to use the in-house service providers working at the convention centre and hotels. When clients book the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montréal’s convention centre, their rental costs will be lower if they agree to use in-house partners such as TKNL for production and GES for service contracting. And if you’re willing to commit to the in-house Food & Beverage team, it can help lower costs even more.
Source local talent
Rather than face the expense of flying in all your hosts, key speakers and suppliers, call upon Business Events Montréal and benefit from our local contacts. We can connect you to real Montrealers in your field and beyond — entrepreneurs, academics, researchers and more — that can help boost your event, including creative suppliers such as Yulism and Multicolore.
Bank on sustainability
Business Events Montréal has launched a new joint initiative with the Palais des congrès de Montréal to encourage organizations to prioritize sustainability. Discounts of up to 10% on rental fees are now offered to organizations that take tangible actions relating to sustainable development, such as hiring a “Green Team” for an event, sorting waste, choosing environmentally responsible corporate gifts, or featuring local speakers and artists. Plus, Business Events Montréal will add their own discount of up to 10%.
Enjoy the exchange rate
International travellers to Montréal benefit from a +35% exchange rate on the US dollar and about +45% on the Euro, making this good-living city a very attractive proposition indeed. Pay with a credit card or have a Canadian bank account set up to help you take the greatest advantage of the exchange.
Build in free time
Most event attendees are overworked and low on time, so provide enough free time in your event schedule to make them feel like they can breathe, enjoy the event and maybe even explore the city around the convention centre. From its 24,600 myriad hotel rooms to its affordable restaurants and endless free or inexpensive entertainment that can be folded into your events, Montréal is a city where the best things in life may not all be free, but they are absolutely accessible.