The center has on-site amenities and benefits from its close proximity to the downtown area. In fact, Boulevard Laurier is sometimes referred to as the “entrance to Quebec†and is important to the city’s economic life. Strategically placed near the international airport and intersection of major roads, the center’s neighbors include the Université Laval, shops, hotels and many businesses. The city is a regional administrative and services hub and hosts the HQs of companies in the insurance, computer gaming, marketing and advertising, technology and financial sectors. The security and defence industries are also prominent.