The Power of Connection Comes to Life in Montreal

Intercoiffure America/Canada’s 2026 Spring Gathering, The Power of Connection, delivered exactly what today’s employment-based salon owners need most: meaningful conversations, elevated business education, collaborative thinking, and a powerful sense of community.

Held at the beautiful Marriott Château Champlain in Montreal, this year’s gathering brought together salon owners, managers, artists, partners, and guests from across North America for several days focused on connection, collaboration, and the future of the professional salon industry.

From the moment attendees arrived, the energy throughout the event was undeniable.

The gathering officially opened with a welcome reception sponsored by Phorest on the hotel’s stunning 36th floor overlooking downtown Montreal. The evening immediately set the tone for what would become one of ICA’s most engaging and collaborative Spring Gatherings to date.

Throughout the event, ICA intentionally designed experiences that encouraged attendees to meet new people, exchange ideas, and engage in deeper conversations around the realities and opportunities facing employment-based salons today.

Rather than simply presenting information from the stage, ICA worked closely with presenters to create highly interactive, business-focused education centered around KPIs, benchmarks, leadership, culture, consumer behavior, operations, profitability, and the future of salon business growth.

A unique and especially well-received element of the gathering was the intentional integration of collaboration moments directly into many of the  presentations. Attendees were encouraged to brainstorm together, exchange best practices, discuss challenges openly, and learn from one another in real time.

ICA also intentionally mixed seating arrangements throughout the event to encourage fresh conversations and new relationships across the community. The result was an atmosphere that felt open, energized, welcoming, and deeply collaborative.

Over and over, attendees described the experience as elevated, intentional, and exactly what they needed.

Equally memorable was ICA’s evening dinner and cabaret experience sponsored by Innersense Organic Beauty. The evening received rave reviews and created another opportunity for the community to connect outside the educational sessions in a uniquely memorable and inspiring recently resorted ‘Moulin Rouge”-like environment.

The ICA Community Room also became an important gathering place throughout the event, offering attendees additional opportunities to connect with partners and one another in a more casual setting. ICA extends special thanks to community room supporters Phorest, Innersense Organic Beauty, Esihair Pro, HairToStay, Green Circle Salons, and Spark Pro Global. 

Most importantly, the Spring Gathering reinforced ICA’s ongoing commitment to evolving its events to best support the needs of today’s employment-based salon owners.

As the salon industry continues to change, ICA remains deeply focused on creating spaces where owners and leaders can connect authentically, collaborate openly, share ideas freely, and collectively strengthen the future of the professional salon industry. Because at its core, that is the true power of connection.

ICA extends heartfelt thanks to every attendee, presenter, brand partner, and guest who helped make The Power of Connection such a tremendous success. The momentum created in Montreal will continue as ICA looks ahead to future gatherings designed to further strengthen the relationships, ideas, and community that make Intercoiffure so special.