Airport
Transportation to the hotel
Conference fees
Cancellation policy
Conference registration
ICMIF Welcome Reception
ICMIF Farewell Dinner
Languages
Conference agenda, speaker profiles and proceedings
Conference App
Currency
Climate
VISA information
Free evenings and local cuisine
Shopping
Local transport
Local time
Health
Safety and Security
Dress code
Green issues
Electricity
Tipping and local taxes
Drinking water and vaccination service
Montréal
A hotbed of creativity, Montréal is an irresistible mix of avant-garde living and urban vibes. With its French-British roots, rich architecture and an eclectic blend of traditional and modern styles, it has a personality distinct from other North American cities. The people of Montréal are known for their warmth and undeniable joie de vivre which give the city its unique flair.
Located in the southwest of the province of Québec, the city of Montréal provides a unique blend of North American and European culture against a backdrop of lakes, rivers and parks as well as historic and modern landmarks. Montréal was settled by the French in 1642 and in 2017 celebrated its 375th anniversary year. Several of the city’s buildings date back to the late 16th and 17th centuries, mostly found around the Old Montréal area including Notre Dame of Montréal Basilica and Bonsecours Market.
Montréal was the first North American city to be appointed a UNESCO City of Design.
Airport
The main airport is called Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Montréal–Trudeau and is located on the Island of Montréal, 20 km from the centre of Montréal.
Transportation to the hotel
Taxis are freely available near the central exit on the Arrivals level of the Airport. Taxi rates are fixed at CAD 40 (USD 32) to the centre of Montréal and credit cards are not accepted (cash only). It is customary to tip the driver between 10-20% of the total charge. The journey should take around 20-25 minutes subject to local traffic conditions.
Conference fees
The conference fee includes attendance at all conference sessions and workshops, all conference papers, conferences lunches and two conference dinners. The fee for accompanying persons includes two conference dinners.
| Prices | USD |
| Member: | 1600.00 |
| Non member: | 2500.00 |
| Accompanying person | 250.00 |
Cancellation policy
Any cancellations received after Thursday 22 March 2018 will be subject to the conference fee being paid in full.
Conference registration
There will be an ICMIF registration desk located on the ground floor of the Loews Hôtel Vogue (the conference venue) just in front of the Conference Room (Rooms Paris I and II). The ICMIF registration desk will be open from 08.00 to 14.00 on Monday 23 April and will then become a Help Desk during the Conference sessions on Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 April. Delegates are asked to register in order to receive their delegate pack and badge.
ICMIF Welcome Reception – Monday 23 April 2018
This will be held in the conference hotel in the La Société Bistro restaurant, located on the ground floor. The restaurant artfully blends Parisian flair and cuisine with North American contemporary style. This plush, modern bistro features an immense hardwood bar and a spectacular stained-glass dome ceiling which lights up the restaurant’s interior. The Welcome Reception will provide you with the opportunity to meet with fellow delegates and accompanying persons as well as to sample bistro-inspired cuisine in a buffet style dinner.
ICMIF Farewell Dinner – Wednesday 25 April 2018
The MORO 2018 farewell dinner will take place in the Windsor Ballrooms, one of Montréal’s most prestigious and historic reception and event venues. The evening will commence with arrival drinks served in the luxurious Peacock Alley reception room followed by a delicious buffet featuring both local and international cuisine in the French Renaissance style Versailles Ballroom. The venue is located a six minute walk away from the hotel passing through some of Montreal’s historic landmarks located in Dorchester Square and Peel Avenue.
Windsor Ballrooms
1170, rue Peel, Bureau 110 Montreal (Qc), Canada H3B 4P2
Languages
At the conference, simultaneous interpretation will be offered in English and Spanish for all plenary sessions. Breakout sessions will have translation where possible.
Conference agenda, speaker profiles and proceedings
The Conference agenda and profiles for each speaker, will be available to view on the Conference website prior to the event.
The videos of the Conference sessions and speakers’ PowerPoint presentations will be posted on the ICMIF website soon after the event has finished.
Conference App
Following the success of the Conference App for delegates at the ICMIF Biennial Conference in October 2017 we will have a Conference App for the 2018 Meeting of Reinsurance Officials (MORO). The MORO Conference App will allow delegates to access the following before and during the Conference:
- Full delegate list
- Conference programme
- Presentations
- General information
- Messaging between delegates
- Photographs
- Speaker profiles
- Sponsor information
- Supporting Members
- Videos
- Voting and feedback
Currency
The currency in Montréal is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants.
Climate
April in Montréal can be quite cool with average day temperatures of 11oC and average night temperatures of 3oC. It is advisable to pack warm waterproof clothes and an umbrella. By late April, snow showers are rare but always a possibility!
Visa information
All delegates are advised to check with local embassies with regard to visa requirements.
Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly or transit through Canada. Exceptions include US citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Be prepared and if you need an eTA, apply before you book your flight to Canada. Most applicants get approved within minutes however, some applications can take several days to process. See www.cic.gc.ca for full details.
If you require a letter of invitation from ICMIF to support your visa application, please indicate this on your conference registration form, or please let us know as soon as possible after you make your registration to attend the conference. Please note that ICMIF is unable to issue a letter of invitation until your conference registration has been received and processed.
Free evenings and local cuisine
Montréal is home to many restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, theatres and museums. The huge variety of cuisine available in Montréal is a reflection of its eclectic mix of international influences and more traditional, local options. The Conference hotel is located close to Crescent Street which hosts a variety of bars and restaurants including many roof top patios.
The The Montréal Tourist Board website provides details on many local restaurants.Shopping
From haute couture to ready-to-wear fashion, Montréal is a huge shopping mecca. Sainte Catherine Street is one of North America’s longest and most dynamic shopping streets and from there you can enter an underground pedestrian network which is home to more than 1700 shops and several department stores.
Local transport
Montréal's public transit system and pedestrian-friendly streets can easily take you from a day at the museum to a restaurant in the Plateau area of the city for the evening. Or hop on a BIXI public bike to explore some of the city's over 750 kilometres of bike paths.
Public transport and taxi are both convenient and affordable ways to get around Montréal. The metro (subway) system is clean, safe and fast. As an added bonus, the public transit network is relatively simple, with just four lines connecting the downtown centre to major tourist sites, bus stops and train stations. The metro operates daily from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. (1:30 a.m. on Saturdays). The average wait time between trains is eight minutes and three minutes during rush hour.
If you prefer getting around by taxi, it’s easy to flag one down on the street. You’ll also find them at one of the city’s many taxi stands or in front of most major hotels.
Local time
At the time of the MORO Conference, Montréal will be five hours behind GMT.
Health
Canadian health care is excellent but it’s not free to visitors, so be sure to get travel insurance before you travel. Canada has no reciprocal health care with other countries and non-residents will have to pay for treatment up front (often in cash) and then put in an insurance claim on your own policy. There are several large pharmacy chains in the city and some branches stay open late.
Safety and security
As in all major cities throughout the world, please exercise caution when walking around on your own. It is advised to avoid carrying large sums of cash and having cameras loose. Do not leave your belongings and luggage unattended and be aware of pickpockets in busy shopping areas and in the evenings.
Dress code
The dress code for all conference sessions and the Farewell Dinner is smart business attire. For the Welcome Reception it is smart casual.
Green issues
To avoid excessive printing of brochures/literature, delegates who register for the conference will be encouraged to access information about the event primarily via the ICMIF conference website and the Conference App. ICMIF also recycle lanyards and pass holders and we kindly request that delegates return them to ICMIF staff after the event. Montréal has been recognised as a world leader and pioneer or sustainable solutions.
Electricity
The main electricity supply in Montréal is the same as in the United States – 110 volts. If you are travelling from Europe or elsewhere, you will need an adaptor to use your small appliances if they are designed for a different standard. We advise you to check if your appliances will work and which adaptors you will need before traveling.
Tipping and local taxes
Service is not included in restaurants, so it is customary to add a 15% tip to the total bill. There are two applicable taxes in Québec: a federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% and a Québec provincial tax (TVQ) of 9.975%. A 3.5% accommodation tax is also in effect in Montréal.
Drinking water and vaccination advice
You do not need any special immunizations to visit Canada and tap water is drinkable.
