Blog
January 30, 2012

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. What's Happening This Week

DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG ― GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES RANKS #4 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REV PAR), #4 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) AND #4 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY FOR JANUARY - DECEMBER 2011 AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS

For the year 2011 (January–December), Greater MIAMI and the Beaches showed increases vs. 2010, ranking #4 in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) at $115.65, #4 in Hotel Room Occupancy at 75.6% and #4 in Average Daily Room rate (ADR) at $152.95 among the Top 25 Markets in the U.S. Smith Travel Research compares the top markets in the United States based on Occupancy, Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar).

GMCVB SALUTES OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS: “MIAMI BEGINS WITH YOU!”

A strong CVB begins with a strong partnership base. The support of our corporate sponsors aids us in promoting Greater MIAMI and the Beaches to the world. Join us in recognizing the GMCVB’s newest Corporate Sponsor: American Shuttle, Inc.

DID YOU KNOW…

Built in 1915 by MIAMI’s first Black millionaire, the D.A. Dorsey House is the historic home of D.A. Dorsey, a local real estate magnate. Mr. Dorsey built the house – which featured electricity throughout—for his bride Rebecca. It is located at 250 Northwest Ninth Street in Overtown. On January 4, 1989, the D.A. Dorsey House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? VOLVO OCEAN RACE UPDATE…

Teams in the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier ocean race, are now en route to Sanya, Hainan Island, China. The race began in Alicante, Spain on October 29, 2011 and will visit Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, Itajaí, MIAMI, Lisbon, Lorient and finish in Galway, Ireland in July 2012.

In May 2012, the Volvo Ocean Race is scheduled to arrive in MIAMI for its only stop in North America. The Volvo Ocean Race Village in Downtown MIAMI will open from May 6 to May 20, 2012 and will be the gathering spot for race watchers and sailing fans. The village will include temporary exhibit pavilions, parking areas, a V.I.P. reception area, public cafés, dock space for the racing boats, temporary bleachers for viewing events and a large scale stage production to host multiple concerts. For the latest updates, visit http://VolvoOceanRaceMIAMI.org.

MIAMI HEAT VS LAKERS RANKS #10 IN NIELSEN CABLE TV RATINGS FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 16, 2012 WITH 4.4 MILLION VIEWERS

MIAMI HEAT vs. LA Lakers ranked #10 the Nielsen Top 10 cable TV ratings for the week of January 16, 2012 with 4.4 million viewers.

U.S. TRAVEL UNVEILS A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND NATIONAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN TO ACTIVATE THE INDUSTRY AND GAIN SUPPORT FROM POLICYMAKERS AND CANDIDATES FOR INDUSTRY ISSUES

The new national advocacy campaign unveiled last week by the U.S. Travel Association is called Vote Travel and is intended to capitalize on President Obama's call for keeping jobs in the U.S. through highlighting travel's important role as an economic engine that supports 14 million American jobs and contributes $1.8 trillion to the economy. Through enhanced lobbying and aggressive advocacy, U.S. Travel will communicate to policymakers and the American public about travel and tourism's significant economic impact and potential benefits as a tool for diplomacy and a better life for individuals. To be successful, U.S. Travel needs your support and has launched the Vote Travel website. The site has a brief video introducing the campaign and a place for you to cast your vote to support its efforts. For more details and to vote today, visit www.VoteTravel.com.

ROGER DOW, PRESIDENT & CEO OF U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEBRUARY 1, 2012 TRUSTEE LUNCHEON

The February 1, 2012 Trustee Luncheon of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) will feature Roger Dow, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association based in Washington, D.C. Dow’s presentation, Outlook for 2012: Paving the Road for the Travel Industry will be complemented by William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President & CEO of the GMCVB with a look at MIAMI’s role as a global brand and global destination. The GMCC February 1, 2012 Trustee Luncheon will be held at Jungle Island, Treetop Ballroom, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, contact Special Events at (305) 577-5422.

GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES HOTEL ASSOCIATION (GMBHA) ANNUAL MEETING IS FEBRUARY 6, 2012 AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

The 2012 Greater MIAMI & The Beaches Hotel Association’s Annual Meeting will take place February 6, 2012 at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Keynote speaker is Mark B. Rosenberg, President, Florida International University. For more information on this year’s annual meeting or to RSVP, email [email protected] or call (305) 531-3553.

RECORD ANNUAL PASSENGERS AT THE “NEW MIA” - MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Miami International Airport reached a new all-time high for annual passenger traffic in 2011 with 38.3 million passengers and an increase of 7.3 percent over 2010, according to recently released statistics from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. International passengers led the way with a 9.0 percent increase over 2010 to 18.4 million travelers, while domestic passengers also surged by 5.8 percent to nearly 19.9 million. MIA’s busier-than-projected winter travel season helped the airport surpass the 38 million passenger mark for the first time ever on December 30 and also included a new single-day passenger record at MIA - more than 135,000 passengers on January 2.

GMCVB’S CONVENTION SALES TEAM WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL FAMILIARIZATION TRIP

GMCVB Convention Sales welcomed 14 clients during its Annual Corporate Familiarization tour January 25-28, 2012. The group of meeting planners represented corporate and incentive business that has the potential to bring in approximately 20,000 room nights to our destination. Over their three days in MIAMI each client sited on average 10 hotels, enjoyed a day on our beautiful water and had the pleasure of attending the MIAMI HEAT basketball game. We would like to thank the following hotel partners for their sponsorship and support: Biltmore Coral Gables, Mayfair Hotel & Spa, Hyatt Coral Gables, Sonesta Bayfront Coconut Grove, Westin Colonnade and DoubleTree by Hilton MIAMI Airport Convention Center.

DISNEY WONDER COMING TO PORTMIAMI – FIRST EVER MIAMI DEPARTURES

Disney Cruise Line will sail from MIAMI for the first time on December 23, 2012. One six- and one seven-night Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Wonder will set the stage for a schedule of four- and five-night cruises from MIAMI to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean between January 5, 2013, and May 2, 2013. The four- and five-night cruises have a variety of itineraries.

BLACK HOSPITALITY INITIATIVE’S GRAYLYN SWILLEY-WOODS RECOGNIZED BY SOUTH FLORIDA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS “OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADER”

Graylyn Swilley-Woods, Executive Director of the Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater MIAMI (BHI), will be recognized as an Outstanding Community Leader at the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Black History Month Celebration at the Bentley Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2012. The awards ceremony will take place at noon. Having spent more than 20 years in education, Ms. Swilley-Woods has developed educational programs that received both state and national recognition. The Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami (BHI) is a non-profit 501© 3 organization established in 1991 by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) to advance economic participation and open doors of opportunity for African Americans and Blacks of African descent in the Greater Miami Visitor Industry. To fulfill its mission the BHI focus areas are: Advocacy, Talent Development and Career Coaching. The GMCVB congratulates Graylyn on her distinguished recognition.

WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS – CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP IS MARCH 7-11, 2012 AT DORAL

One of the top sporting events in the world, the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship will take place March 7-11, 2012 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. This annual tournament features top golfers on the PGA Tour as they tackle the famed Blue Monster course. For details and to buy tickets, visit www.WorldGolfChampionships.com.

COUNTDOWN TO WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII – 62 DAYS!

WrestleMania XXVIII is coming to April 1, 2012! Don’t miss your chance to witness history when MIAMI’s own hometown hero The Rock battles John Cena on Saturday, April 1st at Sun Life Stadium. Plus – see all of your favorite WWE Superstars, Divas & Legends. WrestleMania Week will take over our community with events such as WrestleMania Axxess, WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Monday Night RAW. To find out more about all things WrestleMania and to purchase tickets, click here.

GMCVB’S CONVENTION SALES TEAM RETURNS FROM ATTENDING HELMS BRISCOE PARTNER FAIR IN RENO, NEVADA

GMCVB Convention Sales returned from the Helms Briscoe Annual Business Conference and Partner Fair held at the Reno Convention Center January 25-27, 2012 in Reno, Nevada. All the networking events were well attended and all regions both Domestic and International were represented with over 600 HB Associates in attendance. This reverse two-day tradeshow and networking event offered the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the HB Associates to promote Greater MIAMI and Beaches as a meetings destination. Five potential leads were uncovered ranging in various sizes from 2012 through 2014. Helms Briscoe has over 1,200 Associates. In 2011 they booked over $800 million of business which represented over 30,000 programs and over 4.5 million room nights.

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTS FRONTIERS MAGAZINE WRITER IN MIAMI FEBRUARY 2-5, 2012

GMCVB Media Relations is assisting a freelance writer & regular contributor for FRONTIERS Magazine--L.A.'s longest running LGBT publication, who has been assigned to work on a gay-friendly roundup of hot and sexy destinations. The South Beach editorial will reveal luxe options for where to stay/see-do/spa/dine and be entertained. Established in 1982, Frontiers magazine is an alternative lifestyle publication aimed at a Southern Californian, upscale gay audience. It has the largest gay & lesbian readership in Southern California with 30,000 copies printed per issue with an industry average pass-on rate of 90,000 (average of 2-3 readers per issue). Alongside The Advocate, Out and Entertainment Weekly, Frontiers features top celebrity interviews with gay favorites like Adam Lambert, RuPaul, Kylie Minogue and Cher, and provides award-winning national and local news coverage affecting the LGBT community. Frontiers magazine has been highlighted on E! News, Bilerico, Sirius XM's Derek & Romaine Show, KABC Talk Radio, PerezHilton.com, Towleroad.com and On Top Magazine, among others.

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTS FRENCH FREELANCER FOR MARIANNE MAGAZINE

GMCVB Media Relations is currently assisting Carine Keyvan, a French freelance journalist/photographer, January 29 – February 3, 2012 in MIAMI. Sponsored by travel agency Nouvelles Frontières, Carine has been commissioned to produce a two-page feature on the destination for Marianne (www.Marianne2.fr ), a French consumer news magazine. The article is expected to be published in the spring of 2012 (circulation: 300,000 weekly). France ranked #9 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2010 and generated an economic impact of $391 million.

GMCVB’S TOURISM SALES SELLS MIAMI AT VISIT USA COMMITTEE WORKSHOPS IN FRANCE

GMCVB Tourism Sales In-market Representative will participate at the Visit USA Committee Workshops in Toulouse, Nice and Paris, France. These workshops will be held on January 31, 2012 at the Casino Lucien Barrière in Toulouse; on February 2, 2012 at the Boscolo B4 Hotel in Nice; and on February 7, 2012 at the reception hall of Maison des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The workshops are attended by travel agents, Meetings, Incentives, Corporate & Events (MICE) tour operators, airlines and journalists. The anticipated attendance is 80 to 130 guests per city. The workshops will begin at 4 p.m. and they will be followed by a cocktail reception which includes raffles. The “MIAMI Getaway” was sponsored by Air France, Alamo and the Mutiny Hotel Coconut Grove. The GMCVB will partner with Air France for sales calls to tour operators in Toulouse on January 31, 2012 and Nice on February 1, 2012. France ranked #9 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2010 and generated an economic impact of $391 million.

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTS GERMAN JOURNALISTS

GMCVB Media Relations is currently assisting German journalists Susanne B. Faust and Carolina Lockstein, in MIAMI January 27 -31, 2012. They are doing research for a MIAMI spa destination feature for a number of German language titles including: Gala - www.Gala.de (circulation: 390,000), Spa Inside - www.RedSpa.de (circulation: 50,000) and Für Sie - www.Fur-sie.de (circulation: 404,000) which are distributed throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. They are planning a two-page feature story “Hot Spots MIAMI” in the Fall 2012 issue for Gala as well as a “Spa City MIAMI” piece for Spa Inside and a “Healthy Trends from MIAMI” (covering fitness, nutrition, relaxation and new Spa treatments) for Für Sie. Germany ranked #5 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2010 and generated an economic impact of $721 million.

GMCVB SELLS MIAMI AT VISIT USA SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA EVENTS

The GMCVB will be represented at the Visit USA Event in Zurich, Switzerland. The Visit USA Event on February 2, 2012 will be attended by 50 exhibitors – destinations, airlines, rental car and cruise companies as well as all major Swiss tour operators as co-exhibitors. Attending the all-day event will be approximately 400+ selected travel agents from throughout Switzerland that are actively selling travel to the USA. The event will be structured in a travel mart format, with each exhibitor having a designated booth to distribute information to and consult with travel agents directly. Switzerland ranked #19 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $162 million.

The Visit USA Austria event, also on February 2nd, will be consecutive to the Visit USA trade event in Switzerland. The event commences in a travel mart format with each exhibitor having a designated booth to distribute information to and consult with travel agents directly. The travel mart will be followed by an interactive dinner event with brief on stage presentations in a Q+A interview style manner. The GMCVB will be holding a five-minute PowerPoint presentation presenting MIAMI and the Beaches to all attending travel agents.

MEXICO MEETING PLANNER SALES BLITZ TARGETED TO MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS (MICE) MARKET

The GMCVB’s Tourism Sales staff and in-market representative and members including The Biltmore Hotel, Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association, Hard Rock Café MIAMI, Mandarin Oriental MIAMI and Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort will conduct sales calls to Incentive Houses, Corporate Agencies, and Meeting Planners handling Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE) markets in Mexico City, Mexico on January 30 February 3, 2012. We will host a VIP dinner for VIP accounts for this market. Mexico ranked #16 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $140 million.

GMCVB MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTS BRITISH FREELANCER FOR TRINITY MIRROR GROUP

GMCVB Media Relations is currently assisting Lindsay Sutton, February 3-5, 2012. Mr. Sutton has been commissioned to write a Florida article for Trinity Mirror Group and will be in MIAMI to do research for the MIAMI portion of the feature. Similar to the Press Association, the Trinity Mirror Group is a group of regional newspapers which include several top local titles including South Wales – 33,000 circulation, North East – Newcastle Echo -70,000 circulation, Liverpool Echo – 100,000 circulation, Sheffield Star – 40,000 circulation, South Yorkshire, Wolverhampton Express and Star – 124,000 circulation, Shropshire Star – 60,000 circulation, Portsmouth News - 41,000 circulation, Sunday Mercury – 42,000. United Kingdom ranked #7 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2010 and generated an economic impact of $686 million.

GMCVB’S UNITED KINGDOM SALES OFFICE NEWS…

GMCVB’s London office recently attended a consumer show, Dublin Holiday Show, which as a member of the Irish Visit USA, MIAMI travel literature was displayed and handed out. GMCVB London office staff will also be meeting with North American Highways, who is exhibiting at the Destination Show, a four-day consumer show held at London Earls Court convention Centre February 2-5, 2012 with an expected visitor number of 50,000. The show is sponsored and promoted through the national newspaper The Times. MIAMI travel literature will also be distributed at this show. United Kingdom ranked #7 for international overnight visitors to Greater MIAMI in 2010 and generated an economic impact of $686 million.

THE “NEW MIA” - MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEWS…

MIA Welcomes New Carrier LAN Colombia

MIA officials will celebrate the inaugural arrival by LAN Colombia from Bogota, Colombia on February 1. The carrier will operate four weekly non-stop flights on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline is the newest affiliate of the growing LAN family of passenger carriers that serve MIA, which includes LAN Chile, LAN Ecuador, LAN Argentina and LAN Peru.

AMERICAN SHUTTLE TO PROVIDE 24-HOUR, DAILY SERVICE AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MIA)

American Shuttle, Inc. a subsidiary of Transportation America will be taking over the tourist shuttle services that Supershuttle has been providing at the MIAMI International Airport for the past 18 years. American Shuttle, a GMCVB corporate partner, was awarded a contract by the MIAMI-Dade County Commission to serve as the exclusive provider for 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year transport for MIAMI International Airport, commencing February 20, 2012. American Shuttle is owned by Transportation America, Inc. (Transportation America), a local, family-owned and operated company with over 40 years of transportation experience. For more information, visit http://AmericanShuttle.com.

DESTINATION MARKETING ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL (DMAI) FOUNDATION “BEST OF MIAMI” AUCTION PACKAGE ENJOYED BY CAROL AND LEONARD LEE OF CONNECTICUT

DMAI Foundation “Best of Miami” auction winners, Carol and Leonard Lee of Connecticut were in town the weekend of January 13th enjoying their visit, which included round trip American Airline tickets for two, hotel accommodations at the W South Beach, Swim with the Dolphins at Miami Seaquarium and dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab Miami Beach with Bill and Cindy Talbert. Mr. Lee is the Deputy Commissioner, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. The Lee’s, who are proud “foodies” were given a surprise treat at Joe’s Stone Crab when General Manager Brian Johnson and Executive Sous Chef Ronnie Vincent provided a behind the scenes kitchen tour.

4TH ANNUAL EXPLORE / EXPO IS FEBRUARY 12, 2012

More than 100 gay and lesbian friendly businesses will be on hand for the local LGBT community and its allies when the MIAMI-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) presents the “4th Annual Explore/EXPO,” Sunday, February 12, 2012 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Moore Building in MIAMI’s Design District. Visitors to Explore/EXPO will be able to stroll three floors of the dramatic Moore Building and speak with representatives from a diverse cross-section of businesses, including advocacy organizations, entertainment companies, financial services, health services, hospitality groups, real estate professionals, retail products, non-profit organizations and travel firms – especially travel firms. The event will also feature food and entertainment. Official sponsors of the event include the Greater MIAMI Convention and Visitors Bureau, The MIAMI Herald, MIAMI.com and the LGBT Visitors Center. The event is FREE and open to the public. For details, click here.

8TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION IS FEBRUARY 23, 2012 AT SOUTH -DADE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

South-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) celebrates Black History Month with a presentation of the Langston Hughes Project, Ask Your Mama, and Twelve Moods for Jazz on February 23, 2012 at 8 p.m. on the main stage. The performance features the Ron McCurdy Quartet with celebrity spoken word artist Malcolm Jamal-Warner. As part of this special evening, a VIP reception honoring MIAMI-Dade County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss will be held at 6 p.m. in the Black Box Studio. Sponsors and community partners include the Greater MIAMI Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). Proceeds from the VIP Reception will benefit SMDCAC’s education and outreach programs. Tickets to the performance are $30, $20, $10 ($5 tickets CultureShock.com), $5 off orchestra level seats for students seniors and active military service members. Tickets to the VIP reception are $50 and include entrance to the performance. For tickets, call the box office at 786-573-5300 or visit www.SMDCAC.org. SMDCAC is located at 10950 SW 211 Street, Cutler Bay.

SAVE THE DATE: 21ST ANNUAL H.O.T. CHALLENGE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS MAY 4, 2012 AT DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA

The 21st annual H.O.T. Challenge golf tournament will take place May 4, 2012 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Proceeds support the Black Hospitality Initiative’s ongoing efforts for exceptional students entering the Tourism Industry in Greater MIAMI. Please visit www.BlackHospitality.com for more information on the Black Hospitality

Initiative. For information about the tournament, visit www.HOTChallenge.com.

“BRAND USA” TO WELCOME WORLD VISITORS

The Corporation for Travel Promotion, now doing business as Brand USA Inc., has taken the first critical step in the development of the nation’s first unified marketing effort. Brand USA Inc. will launch their first official advertising and marketing campaign in the spring of 2012 to invite world guests to visit America. As a top international destination and gateway, Greater MIAMI and the Beaches stands to benefit tremendously from the estimated $200 million annual investment and will be looking to develop various co-op marketing programs to leverage this new global initiative. For more information, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com.

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AMONG 4 U.S. AIRPORTS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN TSA’S “PRE-CHECK” PROGRAM TO EXPEDITE SECURITY PROCESS

A small group of frequent fliers has begun using lower-hassle security lines in exchange for sharing more personal information with the government in a trial program at four U.S. airports. MIAMI International Airport (MIA) is part of the new program, along with Atlanta, Detroit and Dallas-Fort Worth.

The "PreCheck" program requires a basic trade-off. Passengers allow airlines or other government agencies to share their personal information with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) so they can be pre-screened before arriving at the airport. In return, passengers get a chance — not a guarantee — that they can move through faster lines and avoid removing their shoes, belts or light coats while keeping laptop computers and liquids in their travel bags. The new PreCheck program is very small. TSA officials estimate that somewhere from 5,000 to 8,000 travelers could eventually be ushered through the specialized security lines daily. For details on the PreCheck program, click here.

GMCVB PARTNERSHIP VIDEO

The GMCVB Partnership Development Division wants to remind you of some of the many benefits the GMCVB offers our partners. Find out about the many great ways that your GMCVB partnership can help strengthen your business and benefit the community at large.

GMCVB MEMBERSHIP DIVISION HAS A NEW NAME!

GMCVB’s Membership Division is kicking off the new fiscal year with a new name. To better reflect the importance of our relationship with the many individuals and organizations that support the Greater MIAMI Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Membership Division will now be known as “Partnership Development”. A healthy CVB depends on strong partnerships with local businesses. The many services we provide – from networkers and sales leads to trade missions and co-op advertising – are made possible with partnership dollars. We are grateful to have the strength and support of the Greater MIAMI and the Beaches community behind us. Thanks to our dynamic partnership base made up of many diverse businesses and services, we can continue to promote MIAMI as a world-class destination. We look forward to another great year with the help of YOU - our partners! For more information, please contact Sandra Daley-Francois, GMCVB Director of Partnership Development, at 305-539-3076 or email [email protected].

GMCVB’S “MIAMI AND BEACHES” APP NOW AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID!

GMCVB’s “MIAMI and Beaches” app is now available for Android phones. Helpful for visitors as well as locals, the application is a mini travel guide to our destination, providing information on hotels, dining, shopping, transportation and more in Greater MIAMI and the Beaches. Highlights include a Guided Walking Tour of the Art Deco District, special money-saving offers, and detailed listings and maps for MIAMI’s beaches, golf courses and shopping malls. For more information, click here.

U.S TRAVEL ASSOCIATION ROLLS OUT ‘READY FOR TAKEOFF’ BLUEPRINT CREATING 1.3 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS THROUGH SMARTER VISA POLICY INCLUDING VISA WAIVER FOR BRAZILIAN VISITORS

In May 2011, the U.S. Travel Association released Ready for Takeoff, a new blueprint outlining visa policy recommendations to help the United States achieve our goal of becoming more competitive in the global travel market. Implementation of the report's key recommendations will expand U.S. exports, create one million new jobs and drive economic growth. See the press release for more details. This Blueprint among other things includes a recommendation urging Visa Waiver status for Brazilian visitors. Bravo to Roger Dow and the U.S. Travel Association for this bold blueprint. Much work needs to be done and the GMCVB is already actively involved in the grassroots efforts to secure passage of these important job-creating initiatives.

“MIAMI: WHERE WORLDS MEET” CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE AS THE IDEAL DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS, VACATION AND MEETINGS

The GMCVB in partnership with American Airlines, MIAMI-Dade County, The Beacon Council, The Downtown Development Authority, Baptist Health South Florida , PortMIAMI and MIAMI International Airport is working on the results-oriented public relations campaign for MIAMI: Where Worlds Meet (WWM) with the purpose to promote Greater MIAMI’s position as a global destination for business and a destination that exudes the mantra to ‘Live, Work, Play.” The PR initiative is building a superior sales environment in the targeted markets of Brazil, Canada and the United States and promotes the destination’s top-quality, year-round travel and business offerings. The program shines a light on the wealth of experiences in the arts, culture, nightlife, food, beaches and health/wellness.

GMCVB’S “SEE MIAMI LIVE” PAGE SHOWCASES MIAMI’S NATURAL BEAUTY AND UNIQUE VIBE WITH LIVE WEBCAMS, BEACH MAPS, WEATHER UPDATES AND MORE

The GMCVB has created a dedicated web page to showcase our destination’s natural beauty. The web page, www.SeeMIAMILive.com, features high-definition web cameras located throughout Greater MIAMI, videos of MIAMI and MIAMI Beach, gorgeous still photographs which are updated daily, live feeds from GMCVB’s Twitter and Facebook, surf and weather reports, and a map of Greater MIAMI’s beaches. We encourage everyone to visit www.SeeMIAMILive.com to see the latest updates on our beautiful destination.

GMCVB’S “BUY, PLAY AND STAY LOCAL” BIGGER AND BETTER PROMOTION FOR RESIDENTS OFFERS SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON LODGING, DINING, ATTRACTIONS AND MORE

The GMCVB continues expanding its “Buy, Play and Stay Local” campaign. This program encourages residents to spend their money locally, while taking advantage of great deals. Spurred by the success of its MIAMI Spice Restaurant Month and MIAMI Spa Month programs, the GMCVB partnered with seven chambers of commerce to offer special discounts on lodging, dining, shopping, arts and culture, boating/water sports, sightseeing and tours, business services and other local services. The “Buy, Play and Stay Local” program is being supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes radio and newspaper ads, public relations and a dedicated website – www.MIAMIDealsForLocals.com. Residents are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates on special offers.

ARE YOU IN? “MIAMI BEACH IN CARD” OFFERS DISCOUNTS AT BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS

Do you have your INcard yet? Beach INcard is the MIAMI Beach Chamber of Commerce’s business card and business stimulus program — providing discounts throughout the city for MIAMI Beach residents and visitors. All MIAMI Beach residents are eligible to register and receive a free black MIAMI Beach INcard. Visitors, tourists and non-residents of MIAMI Beach are eligible for a free platinum MIAMI Beach INcard. For more information, please visit www.BeachINcard.com.

 

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