MTCC Hosting Multiple Citywide Medical Conventions in 2018

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is hosting seven citywide medical conventions in 2018, three of which took place in June. Collectively, they will generate some $55 million in economic impact for the city.

“Toronto has the largest life sciences sector across Canada, employing 36,000 people from biotechnology to pharmaceuticals,” said Tara Gordon, vice-president, Sales & Service, Business Events Toronto. “Our life sciences sector is thriving, and that’s why so many in the industry around the world are choosing Canada’s Downtown to host their conferences, meetings and events—further cementing Toronto’s place as a global leader in health care and innovation.”

“Toronto is home to a strong network of medical experts who are dedicated to innovation and research,” said Barry Smith, president and CEO, MTCC. “We are certainly proud to help bring major medical meetings to the city that shine a spotlight on Toronto’s successful life sciences sector.”

Citywide medical conventions hosted at the MTCC this year are:

• Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting (May 4-8)
• 35th Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (June 2-6)
• 18th International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (June 8-12)
• Global Hepatitis Summit 2018 (June 13-17)
• 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (September 23-26)
• Canadian Cardiovascular Congress Annual Meeting (October 18-23)
• Family Medicine Forum (November 14-17)

These conferences solidify Toronto’s position as a world-class hub for medical expertise. The city’s life sciences sector employs more than 36,000 people in fields that include medical research, biotechnology and medical technology. It is also Canada’s largest centre of life sciences activity, with more than 1,400 clinical trials and $1 billion in research and development.

Citywide medical conventions rotate the destination of their meeting around the world and for some conventions the bidding process begins more than five years in advance. In many cases, a winning bid requires support from a local expert or organization and is contingent on the combined efforts of the MTCC, Tourism Toronto and the Leaders Circle. In fact, four of the seven citywide medical meetings taking place at the MTCC this year were brought to Toronto as a direct result of this partnership and with the support of local experts, also recognized as Leaders Circle Ambassadors.