Montréal to host the 18th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in 2012

[mtlurb]

Montréal to host the 18th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in 2012

 

 

 

MONTRÉAL, May 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal, the

Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), Montréal International

and Tourisme Montréal are proud to announce that the World Information

Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) will be holding its 18th World

Congress on Information Technology in Montréal in 2012. Being awarded the

Congress is significant for Montréal's information and communications

technology industry as the event will draw 2,500 delegates, including the

world's top executives in the ICT sector, a key component of Québec's economy.

 

In addition to generating new business opportunities, the Congress is expected to bring in over $6 million to the city's economy.

 

 

Vital collaboration

 

 

Palais President and CEO Paul Saint-Jacques is very pleased about the

international meeting coming to Montréal: "Securing this event confirms the

Palais' enviable standing as a leading North American host site for

international conventions. The partners' concerted efforts made it possible to

satisfy the WITSA's criteria and to lead our strategy to a successful outcome,

notably thanks to the important support of Tourisme Montréal. I congratulate

and thank all partners for their vital collaboration."

"This decision affirms Canada's reputation as a leading force in the

global information technology industry," said Bernard Courtois, president and

CEO of ITAC. "ITAC is a founding member of WITSA and has participated in many

previous deliberations to select sites for our biannual conference. It's

particularly thrilling to be part of the team promoting the idea of a Canadian

city as host. And as a proud Montrealer myself, this decision is deeply

gratifying. Our team can't wait to bring the global ICT industry here in 2012

to show off our city and the tremendous ingenuity of Canadian ICT".

"This spells important news for Montréal, bolstering yet again the city's

international stature as a hi-tech leader," declared Montréal International

President and CEO André Gamache. "For an organization devoted to promoting

Montréal internationally, especially by attracting international

organizations, we are very pleased that our city has been awarded this major

congress and that it will welcome hundreds of participants from all over the

world." He also added: "Our thanks go particularly to the ministère du

Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation and to the

ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions for their strategic

support."

 

"This is one of the most prestigious IT events anywhere, and it

demonstrates once again that Montréal has what it takes to host the

conventions of major and reputable international organizations. Also, the

significant economic spin-offs is something the city's entire tourism industry

is quite pleased about," declared Charles Lapointe, President and CEO of

Tourisme Montréal.

 

80 countries represented

 

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance is a consortium of

73 international ICT organizations whose members comprise 90% of the global IT

market. The WCIT has been held in Kuala Lumpur, Athens, London and Bilbao.

 

About the Palais des congrès de Montréal

 

The mission of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, which celebrates its

25th anniversary in 2008, is to attract and host conventions,

exhibitions/trade shows, conferences, meetings and other events. A public

institution with a commercial vocation, the Palais generates important

economic spin-offs for Québec and proudly contributes to the sharing and

transfer of knowledge and to the enhancement of Montréal's international

reputation as a first-class destination. For more information on the Palais

des congrès de Montréal, visit our website at: http://www.congresmtl.com.

[LindbergMTL]

Good Job !