11 July 2013

For the second time in a row, Montréal ranked as the top city in the Americas in 2012 for hosting international association events, according to the Union of International Associations (UIA).

According to data complied by the UIA, the bilingual Canadian city played host to 79 major international association events, putting it ahead of its North American rivals Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, New York, Boston and San Diego, as well as the Latin hot spots Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

The UIA's International Meetings Statistics Report, first published in 1960, compiles data on the international meetings held worldwide in the preceding year. The Report considers meetings organized and/or sponsored by international organizations, including the sittings of their principal organizing bodies, congresses, conventions, symposia, regional sessions grouping several countries, as well as national meetings with international participation organized by national branches of international associations.

Montréal's rise to the top of the rankings was no doubt boosted by the fact that it is headquarters to more than 60 international organizations. These include the transport world heavyweights, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The city's flagship venue, the Palais des congrès de Montréal, was shortlisted in both 2010 and 2012 for the APEX award for World’s Best Convention Centre.