MONTREAL — Tourisme Montreal is forecasting a 5.6-per-cent boost in tourism spending in 2019 as tourist numbers are expected to rise by 2.4 per cent.
“[Last year] was a prolific year for Montreal’s tourism industry. Hats off to the city’s hotels, attractions, tourist products and major events, as well as our partners who, once again, helped make Montreal a memorable place to visit. 2019 promises to be just as exciting,” says Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montreal.
According to data collected by the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal, hotels located on the Island of Montreal had an average occupancy rate of 73.4 per cent in 2018. The Average Daily Rate during this period was $185.99, a 0.84-per-cent increase over 2017.
Meanwhile, overall tourist numbers rose 1.9 per cent as Montreal–Trudeau Airport reached a record-breaking milestone by welcoming 19-million passengers in a single year.
In 2019, Tourisme Montreal plans to step up prospecting initiatives while increasing the city’s visibility to boost the conventions market. In addition, it will continue promoting Montreal as a destination through the “Never Grow Up” and “MTL Works for You” communications platforms, while refining market intelligence for targeting key segments.
The organization will also contribute actively to the development of Montreal as an urban destination by encouraging and supporting innovative projects. New initiatives will be created to enhance the tourist experience in the city. Finally, Montreal will host numerous conferences this year, including the World Summit AI Americas 2019 and the ISMRM 27th Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
