375 years old : that's the birthday that lit up Montréal in 2017. Already renowned for its many festivals, the city and its residents have seized the opportunity to build on this new momentum. And so the business districtThe area between Mont Royal and the river has seen a host of new hotels and trendy restaurants spring up. Further north, the Jacques Cartier bridge has become the the world's first "connected bridgeEach evening, the lights will be illuminated interactively to reflect the city's 'state of mind' in real time. And clearly, it's a colour code tinged with optimism that dominates the St. Lawrence... Because Montreal is in full effervescence. Ideas are bubbling and the city is shining. Business travellers flock here from all over the world, attracted by the local raw material: grey matter. Of course, the city is renowned for its universities - like the prestigious McGill But the quality of the line-up doesn't explain everything. Behind each project, there's always a touch of originality that makes the 'Montréal touch', like the Cirque du Soleil who has succeeded in reinventing an age-old tradition.
For the moment, the business district isn't exactly a tent. But there's nothing "business as usual" about what's going on behind its studious buildings either. Inventive and quirky, Montreal is an international benchmark for creativity. Twenty years ago, Ubisoft was based in Mile End, next to the business district. Today, it is nothing less than the world's largest video game developer. In the events sector, the multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory clients include Madonna, Los Angeles airport and the Sagrada Família. There's no shortage of examples to show the way for the young start-ups that are flourishing in Mile End, or in the aptly named "Innovation district (QI) in Griffintown. Today, Montreal has the air of a start-up city. With 375 years of experience.
