In partnership with MT Lab—North America’s first incubator for innovation in the tourism, culture and entertainment industries—the Palais des congrès’ Events Lab helps planners and delegates discover Montréal and elevate their experience through creative, affordable activities and solutions. Choosing from 14 innovative local companies, planners can get added event value through experiential break-out sessions augmented by design and technology. From Gallea’s pop-up art exhibits or Aglaé’s glow-in-the-dark plant technology that enhances room décor, to Made With Love’s custom mixology workshops and Atypic Labs’ augmented multi-sensory activations, the Events Lab can help planners find the right partners and services to meet event objectives. Tap into the Events Lab How MT Lab helped Arrivage Meet Montréal’s Thriving Start-up Community Events Lab member, RE-AK Technologies, uses biometrics and artificial intelligence to evaluate the emotional and cognitive feelings of live event participants by measuring brain waves, skin reaction, heart rate, facial muscle expressions and more. Planners can use this new type of data to understand visitor experiences and expectations and to help guide the strategic decision- making process. Co-founded in 2017 by Tourisme Montréal, the City of Montréal and Université de Québec à Montréal’s School of Management, MT Lab supports innovative start-ups in the tourism and event sector. The year-long incubator hub provides training, co-working space and demo days where entrepreneurs can showcase their work to potential partners. MT Lab graduates provide many sustainable products and services for the events industry. For example, farm-to-plate platform Arrivage helps local farmers connect directly with restaurants, caterers and other event providers. Founder Thibault Renouf says MT Lab helped scale up the business. How does Arrivage work? Traditionally, there were no farmers’ markets tailored to the B2B sector, leaving food professionals with access only to mass- produced commodities that often travelled long distances. We created a marketplace that simplifies relationships between vendors and buyers, eliminating the need for intermediaries. Arrivage serves a diverse range of food and beverage producers, from growers to bread makers to wine producers [who] use our platform to share price lists with clients, who then submit purchase orders. Our technology streamlines these interactions and unlocks the potential for event planners, hotels, restaurants and other professionals to source local, delicious, sustainable food. Money stays within the local economy, supporting communities and sustainable farming practices. How has MT Lab supported Arrivage? As a start-up navigating an industry dominated by giants, MT Lab has been invaluable, providing guidance on company management, finance, accounting and growth strategies. They’ve contributed significantly to our journey and success. Montréal is home to more than 2,500 start-ups disrupting the fields of artificial intelligence, technology and more. Planners who ask Montréal entrepreneurs and artists to transform events into memorable, multisensory experiences, leave positive and long- lasting benefits in local communities. POSITIVE LEGACIES PHOTOS: ARRIVAGE; PALAIS DES CONGRÈS DE MONTRÉAL Arrivage streamlines the relationship between food vendors and buyers MT Lab Tourism Innovation Showcase 14 | Montréal | meetings.mtl.org
