Travelers Can Now Fly Direct (Non-Stop) Between Beijing & Montréal

Earlier this year, Air Canada and Air China made a major announcement that brought Montréal closer to Asia: a direct flight between Montréal and Beijing. Although currently operated by Air China, tickets will also be offered through Air Canada’s booking portal as the first step of a broader partnership. The inaugural flight takes to the skies on September 29 (2015).

SISTER PACT

The new route goes beyond simply providing more options for travelers. The local airport authority (formally known as Aéroports de Montréal) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd. (BCIA) to establish of a “sister airport” partnership. With this agreement, the two airport authorities will strengthen co-operation and share best practices. Sounds like a win-win!

BEIJING’LE BELLE ROCK!

This new Montréal-Beijing route is great for a variety of factors. Here are five of our tops reasons why the route is a game changer.

Chinese tourist spending is beyond big. According to a report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 174 million Chinese tourists will spend a record $264 billion by 2019. More than ever, Montréal will be recognized as a destination for accessible and direct tourism. That means huge economic potential for the city.

More Montréal meetings. A direct flight from China to Montréal will inevitably increase the likelihood of Chinese companies selecting our city as a strategic meeting destination. Montréal makes an ideal middle ground (geographically and politically) for international stakeholders from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Opportunities for Montréal startups. Direct flights mean easier access, and easier access means more business opportunities. Companies in the city will be able to use the connection with Beijing as a gateway for all their activities in Asia. We’re curious to see how the new route will impact our already-booming startup scene — stay tuned!

Family ties. With over 100,000 Chinese Canadians living in the province of Québec, the direct route makes it easier than ever to connect with family and friends in China.

Weekends in Beijing. As of 2013, tourists from 45 countries (including Canada) are permitted a 72-hour visa-free stay in Beijing. A direct flight means Montréalers travelling for either business or leisure can literally take a three-day weekend in Beijing without the hassle of time-crunching layovers. That means less time in transit and more time on the ground for local experiences.

Experience Fall & Winter In Montréal With 50% Off Hotel Deals

North America’s best-kept secret invites you to enjoy food, festivals and 50% off hotel deals

Montréal’s mouthwatering cuisine, charming joie de vivre and spectacular fall and winter seasons make it a must for any traveler looking for a dash of difference on their next getaway. Whether travelling with family, deciding spur-of-the-moment with your sweetheart or taking a friends-only vacation, our city offers an amazing array of must-dos and must-sees.

Make the most of your Thanksgiving weekend or plan a pre-or-post Christmas visit and discover the cache of treasures in the city’s many vibrant neighbourhoods. From dining to shopping to partying to relaxing, Montréal welcomes you to share its wealth of secrets!
Museum exhibitions – a feast for the eyes and mind

Impressionism to Expressionism 1900-1914 at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts runs until January 25, 2015. Behold over 100 paintings as well as drawings and prints by French and German masters of the time, including Cézanne to Picasso, Heckel to Nolde and many more.

La Biennale de Montréal (BNLMTL) takes place from October 22, 2014 to January 4, 2015, at the Musée d’art contemporain. With the theme L’avenir (looking forward), this international contemporary art exhibition invites visitors to ponder the present and probe the future of the visual arts world.

The Greeks – Agamemnon to Alexander the Great will be at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum from December 12, 2014, to April 26, 2015. Wander this world premiere exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive ever presented in North America, and time travel through 5,000 years of Greek history and culture. Drawn from the collections of an astounding 22 Greek museums!

Luxurious spa treatments

Soothe out kinks and knots out during a serene spa visit and get ready to take on those Christmas parties completely rejuvenated! Montréal has many chic temples of wellbeing that will leave you feeling like a new person. Add all this well-deserved R&R to your Sweet Deal Package and save while surrendering to the gentle touch of spa professionals.

One-of-a-kind Christmas shopping

In Montréal, it’s easy to find that unique gift for that unique someone. Start your shopping spree by browsing over 2,000 shops tucked below in Montréal’s “Underground City”, then work your way up to street level and explore the bounty of boutiques along bustling Sainte-Catherine Street. From objects for the home to fashion to accessories, get a peek at what talented designers from here and afar are creating.

Let’s take winter fun outdoors

Fluffy snowflakes, sparkling lights and rosy cheeks – Montréal winters are always so pretty! Don’t miss Merry Montréal from December 14, 2014, to January 5, 2015, your chance to sample gourmet food, steal kisses under the mistletoe, listen to street choirs sing or sip hot chocolate on cobblestone streets and let your holiday spirit soar. Ring in the New Year at our giant outdoor party at Place Jacques-Cartier, replete with live music, fireworks and plenty of holiday revelry.

Proving beyond a doubt that winter is infinitely cool and sexy, Igloofest invites music lovers to bundle up and shake their winter booties as DJs spin everything from house to trance to techno. From January 16 to February 8, 2015, join the crowds as they defy the chilly temperatures and hit the snowy dance floor. Eat your heart out, Old Man Winter—we’re grooving at the Quays of the Old Port!

Don’t miss these winter musts

Lights, art, food! This tantalizing trio never ceases to thrill, especially when MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE wheels out its outstanding line-up of gourmet eats, lucent beauty and performing arts. The MEL serves a seriously good nightcap too: Nuit Blanche, an unparalleled all-nighter of almost all free activities gets everyone sampling the city’s fabulous cultural scene from dusk to dawn. February 19 to March 1, 2015.

Send those pit-of-winter doldrums packing with Luminothérapie and bathe in the high-tech public art exhibitions that illuminate the Quartier des spectacles downtown. Come see how local designers, artists and architects shine the light on creativity, and immerse yourself in the fun. December 10, 2014, to February 1, 2015.

Last, but not least, Art Souterrain, is an excellent way to unearth Montréal’s thriving contemporary arts scene. Its goal is to make art more accessible to the public and it delivers in spades in a bright, weathertight location: our 33-km-long Underground City! February 28 to March 15, 2015.

Reserve a Sweet Deal package

Book a Sweet Deal package and get 50% off your second night, plus a coupon booklet worth $450 when you check in to your hotel. Sweet—just like our Montréal winters!

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