The Olympic Park and the MT Lab enter into an important new partnership on tourism innovation. As part of this partnership, the Olympic Park will work with innovative Quebec companies to create experiences on a human scale in a symbolic and oversized place. The projects will mainly focus on the three sectors of the organisation: tourism, events and sport.
This partnership is part of a series of actions that concretely express the momentum of the Olympic Park's new vision, propelled by the adoption of Bill 15 in June 2020, which created the Société de développement et de mise en valeur du Parc olympique the following fall. The Park is thus consolidating its status as an icon of the city, in addition to being a hub of innovation and creativity. Over the next few months, the Olympic Park, in collaboration with the MT Lab, will work to:
- Revitalize the east end of Montréal by encouraging neighbourhood residents, Montrealers, Quebecers and visitors to take ownership of these facilities of undeniable value and to participate in the activities of the Olympic Park, a place of discovery, entertainment, sports and business, located in the heart of the Olympic District;
- Position itself as a leading figure in the sports tourism sector and recreate tangible links with the City and Montréal stakeholders;
- To welcome and partner with memorable moments, in all facilities, 365 days a year;
- Celebrate the Olympic Park, recognized as an icon of Montreal, which, on the eve of its50th anniversary, contributes to the pride of its employees and users on a daily basis.
The Olympic Park has chosen to collaborate with the MT Lab and its major partners with the aim of creating and innovating, in order to exploit all the possibilities offered by the multidisciplinary space that defines it. Innovation is at the heart of the Olympic Park's values, so that it can be a leader in offering event and tourism products that respond to the fragmentation of markets and the growing appetite of local and international tourists who are thirsty for new experiences.
"Through innovation, we want to position the Olympic Park as a key player in the revival of the tourism industry and boost the development of its facilities. The MT Lab, Quebec's leading place for tourism innovation, is a perfect partner to achieve this goal," said Michel Labrecque, President and CEO of the Olympic Park.
"The MT Lab is very proud to welcome one of Quebec's most important tourist attractions to its circle of major partners. The Olympic Park will be an exceptional place of creation for the emerging companies in the MT Lab ecosystem. In the midst of a pandemic, welcoming a new partner is a strong and symbolic act for our organization, but also for all the partners and actors of the MT Lab. I would like to thank Michel Labrecque, CEO of the Olympic Park, for the confidence he has shown in tourism innovation, despite the tumultuous times we are experiencing," said Pierre Bellerose, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MT Lab.
About the Olympic Park
Createdon November 1, 2020, the Société de développement et de mise en valeur du Parc olympique (SDMVPO), "Olympic Park", replaces and modernizes the mission of the Régie des installations olympiques (1975-2020). The OPSDB has a dual mandate to develop, manage, promote and operate its facilities and to showcase its Olympic heritage and legacy.
The Olympic Park manages five main assets: the Olympic Stadium, the largest amphitheatre in the country, the Montréal Tower, the tallest inclined tower in the world, the Sports Centre, Canada's main aquatic centre, the Esplanade and outdoor areas, the city's major gathering and event venue, as well as the largest underground car parking lot in the country.
A bold architectural creation by Roger Taillibert, the Olympic Park was built both for the 1976 Summer Games and as the home of the Montreal Expos baseball club (1977-2004). Since its inauguration, it has hosted several thousand sporting, cultural, social, civic and public events, shaping Quebec's event history, with more than a hundred million visitors since its inauguration.
Forty-five years after its construction, the Olympic Park is a site with undeniable heritage value, particularly in terms of history, symbolism, architecture and urban values.
Originally published on March 15, 2021 on Tourisme Express
