A three-meter chain-link fence that cuts off the Palais des Congrès from the rest of the world is probably not the best way to sell the charms of Montreal to the thousands of foreign delegates who will be taking part in the 15e United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15), but the metropolitan tourist industry nevertheless intends to take advantage of the visit to sell the joys of winter in the city.
In the greyness of autumn, the security perimeter that surrounds the Palais des Congrès over a little more than 1.5 km gives the building that will host COP15, from December 7 to 19, a penitentiary air. An impression to which contributes the constant presence of police vehicles. One thing is certain, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle and its fountain look better on the postcards found in the souvenir shops of Old Montreal…
“I took the leap when I saw the fence so high, it’s really not pretty,” reacts Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, CEO of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal (AHGM). The surroundings of the Palais des Congrès are like the scar of the COP in Montreal. »
Tourisme Montréal was not won over by this closure either. Could we have favored a wall more pleasant to the view, on which to display photos or panels to inform passers-by on the issues discussed at the Conference? “We quickly understood that we could not obstruct the view of the police who must observe what is happening inside and outside the fence”, answers Manuela Goya, vice-president of Tourism Montreal.
A constraint that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, responsible for installing the perforated metal wall, refuses to comment on – and even to confirm – “for tactical and security reasons”, writes spokesperson Tasha Adams.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The Palais des Congrès is surrounded on all sides by a high, inhospitable metal fence.
Be that as it may, it is not an inhospitable fence, in place until mid-January, that will push Tourisme Montréal or the AHGM to complain about the holding of COP15 in town. Even if all this upheaval translates into five times fewer rooms reserved than expected, with around 20,000 nights confirmed out of the 100,000 expected at the time of the announcement, in June, of the move to Montreal of the conference first scheduled in China.
We’ll see what happens in the end, but we’re still talking about estimated economic benefits of $92 million for the event, which will attract between 10,000 and 12,000 participants.
Manuela Goya, vice-president at Tourisme Montréal
“Early December is one of the quietest times for hotels,” recalls Mr. Boudreault. Overall, it remains something very positive for the recovery after two years of pandemic where it was very difficult for the entire tourism industry. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
As part of Luminothérapie, the facade of the President-Kennedy pavilion at UQAM presents part of the video projection NORTHdirected by Jason Rodi, a “poetic reflection” on Nordicity through images shot in Norway.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
On the Place des Arts Esplanade, the installation Icebergsigned Apparatus architecture and Atomic3, has become one of the classics of Luminothérapie, which will continue until March 5.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Still on the Place des Arts Esplanade, passers-by can also see Diamondsan installation by Alexis Laurence and Francis Laporte of Perséides studio.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
In Square Phillips, Ingrid Ingrid offers domino effecta fun experience that combines light and music.
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Give the taste of winter
The presence of thousands of foreign tourists is even an opportunity to sell Montreal as a winter destination, believes the CEO of the AHGM.
Winter is part of our DNA and, with the Christmas lights and decorations, the city as a whole will be very beautiful. With a little snow, it would be even better!
Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, CEO of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal (AHGM)
The key will be to convince COP15 delegates to move away from the security perimeter to explore Chinatown, Old Montreal and the neighboring Quartier des Spectacles, adds Manuela Goya of Tourisme Montreal. “Congress attendees will be able to get out easily and we will have a kiosk inside the Palais des congrès to guide them. »
The refrigerated skating rink on the Tranquille esplanade will no doubt be popular with visitors unaccustomed to winter, believes Mme Goya. “We don’t think about it, Montrealers, but skating is a very, very good winter product. »
Some of the COP15 participants will have more than two weeks to enjoy the restaurants, shops and Christmas markets in the city centre. Or to admire the multiple illuminations in the heart of the metropolis, with Cité Mémoire or the 13e edition of Luminothérapie, for example. The Downtown Alliance, which brings together the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the SDC Montréal centre-ville, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Tourisme Montréal and the City of Montreal, calculates that half a million lights will shine at nightfall between Atwater and Papineau, from the river to Sherbrooke Street.
A few days before the start of COP15, more than the famous closing, it is the demonstrations and the risks of slippage that worry the representatives of the tourist industry. Tourisme Montréal is not opposed to the holding of the announced marches, on the contrary. “We need civil society, the stakes are so high,” says Manuela Goya. It is not by denying the problems that we will solve them. The important thing for us is that it is done calmly and respecting the rules. »
Tourism recovery
2022
At the end of 2022, Montreal should have welcomed 8 million tourists, a marked increase compared to 2021 (3.9 million visitors), when travel was still very limited by health measures.
2023
The tourist recovery will continue in 2023 and Tourisme Montréal expects a total of 9.5 million visitors to the metropolis next year. In 2019, 11 million tourists visited Montreal.
– Tourism Montreal