Montreal Palais des congres de Montreal
January 26, 2026
As Montreal expanded its infrastructure for Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, talk naturally followed to the construction of a convention center. In 1983
As Montreal expanded its infrastructure for Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, talk naturally followed to the construction of a convention center. In 1983
The workforce that has filled convention centers for decades is changing in size and composition. And that has significant implications for the event industry & billions being invested in convention infrastructure.
Another early morning at the airport, another customs line, another venue for another project. For those of us who live life in crates and fluorescent lights, this is just Tuesday. This might sound exhausting to an outsider, but to us, stepping onto a tradeshow floor—be it in Frankfurt, Atlanta, or Dubai—feels profoundly, wonderfully familiar.
For Chase Gandel, a project manager at NPARALLEL + Atomic Props, life moves between precision, people, and purpose. Based in his hometown of Crystal, Minnesota, Gandel manages a portfolio of brand activations and tradeshow exhibits across the United States.
Opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 2nd, 1984, Canada’s Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) was built in Toronto’s Railway Lands. Also known as Metro Convention Centre and as Palais des congres du Toronto Metropolitain, the venue’s location along Front Street West is in the heart of downtown.
Budgets drive every decision. The range of the budgets can be staggering, but one thing stays the same: success comes down to strategy, not just size of spend.” — Cara Michalowski, president of LUXX Exposition Services.
One of Canada’s largest convention centers can be found on Canada Place, along with the Pan Pacific Hotel and a terminal for cruise ships. The Vancouver Convention Center (VCC) opened in 1986 and following a 2009 expansion has 466,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, 20 meeting rooms and a ballroom.
December closed out a consequential year for Orlando’s meetings and tourism sector, marked by a major convention center expansion, new hotel investment tied to future demand, record tourism metrics, and heavy airport traffic heading into 2026.
Chicago closed 2025 with a steady flow of convention, consumer, and civic developments that point to a busy year ahead. New data ranks the city third nationally for scheduled business conferences in 2026, while flagship events including the Chicago Auto Show, Cubs Convention, and Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show set dates and unveiled new programming.
Las Vegas concluded December with multiple large-scale conventions, tradeshows, and consumer events across the Las Vegas Convention Center and Strip-area venues. Activity included technology, design, and sports-related exhibitions, while organizers opened registration for several major 2026 shows.
Retirement. It’s a concept I have spent very little time thinking about… until the last six months.
If you had asked me six months ago when I was going to retire from this industry I would have asked you why I should do that when I still really enjoy what I am doing.
More events today stretch across multiple buildings and city blocks. It’s exciting growth, but it also adds a challenge: how to keep the brand experience consistent when every venue looks and feels different.
