Ambassadors Club a key economic and intellectual driver for Montreal
For nearly as long as the Palais des congrès de Montréal has existed, so too has their Ambassadors Club.
Since 1985, the Club – consisting of 330 influential and dynamic men and women – has been a key driver in not only ensuring the conference centre attracts world-class events, but also in bringing important economic and intellectual developments to the entire city.
It’s a pivotal, albeit lesserknown group that has contributed greatly behind the scenes towards Montreal becoming what it is today, and once the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror and industry gatherings return, will be a major cog in cementing Montreal’s reputation as a convention city.
Now the Ambassadors Club is looking for the next generation of members to join this illustrious group. They’re looking for qualified individuals who are distinguished in their field, from university professors to researchers and members of the business community. The ideal candidate is a leader with drive and passion.
Bringing a conference is not only a legacy making achievement for your C.V., you’ll see your efforts have a tangible effect on your community. It’s a lot of work, but the benefits are immeasurable, and those who do it take great pride in their contributions.
“There are so many good reasons to get involved and
become an Ambassador,” said Club president Hany Moustapha. “It broadens your network and promotes your field. It’s an enriching experience for you and for so many people in your city, including our talented young students who wouldn’t otherwise get to visit a convention.”
Becoming an ambassador allows experts in different fields to collaborate and learn from each other, Moustapha observed. As a senior manager at Pratt & Whitney, much of Moustapha’s work was multi-sectional, and the lessons learned from those experiences frequently come into play as an Ambassador.
Contributing to bringing an international conference to his city is also a major source of personal pride to Moustapha. A leader in the aerospace industry, Moustapha brought his first conference to the city – the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) – in 2007. The conference, which brings in approximately 3000 people, returned in 2015. He compared bringing a conference of that stature to making a bid for the Olympic Games.
Currently in his second term, Moustapha is working on an initiative to include greater gender parity among the Ambassadors, including ensuring his successor is a woman. Moustapha also sees a future not only in bringing top events to Montreal, but for the city to create its own international-calibre conference. The newest ambassadors going forward will hopefully help the Club achieve their lofty goals.
“When working to bring a conference, you also get to work with this amazing team at Palais des congrès,” he said. “It’s a unique organization to be a part of, to watch them mobilize and get things done.”
Contributing to the city’s development is an equally enriching experience.
“I think Montrealers should be very proud of Palais des congrès,” said Moustapha. “Having been to so many other countries, it’s rare to have such a beautiful conference space in the middle of downtown, around nightlife, hotels and culture. More often than not, you’re taking a 20 minute train outside of the downtown core when you visit other cities.”
Not only does proximity make getting to a conference easier, Moustapha added, it also gives visiting attendees a chance to get a flavour of the city. Visiting Montreal, and seeing all it has to offer, is the first step towards attracting talent to hold their event here.
On May 13, the Palais des congrès will hold a virtual edition of their annual Recognition Gala, hosted by Rebecca Makonnen, with special guest Laurent Duvernay-tardif. Free to attend online with registration, the Gala will feature spirited exchanges about major business and knowledge questions of our time. It will be an opportunity to celebrate the newest members of the Ambassadors Club, as well as a chance to demystify the Club and its role in pushing the city’s interests.
“Industries are already looking to 2022 and beyond, so there’s already so much in place and so much to do for the future,” he said. “Ultimately, when we can attract an event to your own backyard, to bring new people here to share what they know, and to learn from that and grow, it’s a win-win for everyone.”
For more information, visit https://congresmtl.com/ en/mtlambassadors/