Miami heat : hotel activity hots up
SINDY BOHADA , CONVENTION SALES MANAGER GREATER MIAMI CVB , SAYS MIAMI IS OPEN FOR EVENTS BUSINESS AND WORK GOES ON , WITH 4,000 NEW HOTEL ROOMS COMING ONLINE BY 2023
uring the pandemic the Greater Miami CVB has been helping rally the local hospitality community helping it adhere closely to the Greater Miami Health & Safety Destination Pledge . This included implementing the strictest social distancing guidelines and highest health and safety measures to ensure peace of mind to visitors and residents alike .
The City of Miami Beach also developed an MB Standard program , which provided decals to businesses adhering to specific guidelines and the CVB has also been connecting clients through virtual familiarisations and workshops .
Sindy Bohada , convention sales manager at Greater Miami CVB , describes a situation that appears to be opening up to business .
“ While safety measures have loosened on a state level , we remain in compliance with the CDC and city standards . We are open for business and remind our visitors to travel and meet responsibly .” Would-be travellers can visit miamiandmiamibeach . com / travelguidelines for the latest travel guidelines .
And what of current visitor numbers compared with 2020 and 2019 ?
“ We don ’ t have projections for 2021 . Covid has made everything unpredictable . That said , Q1 2021 was down from 2019 and 2020 but I anticipate Q2 2021 to be on par with 2019 . Our airport and hotels are as full right now as they were two years ago at the same time ( which is being driven by a stronger than usual domestic market ),” says Bohada .
“ We don ’ t know how the situation in European feeder markets will affect tourism so we are in limbo in that regard . One month ago , I was saying we should be seeing a ‘ second wave ’ of tourism as European markets started travelling again but Covid variants [ could ] potentially affect travel in the upcoming months .”
In terms of recent investments in the events infrastructure , The Miami Beach Convention Center ( MBCC ) has completed a $ 620m transformation , including introducing free Wi-Fi . The MBCC achieved LEED Silver Certification during the expansion .
The significant investments mean the MBCC will be able to welcome over 35,000 visitors and fintech industry leaders for the largest Bitcoin event in the history of cryptocurrency , Bitcoin 2022 , from 6-9 April , 2022 . Other big events in the coming months include Art Basel Miami Beach and the Miami International Boat Show .
The MBCC was also awarded GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation , supporting
Above : Sindy Bohada
Visit the website : www . Miami Meetings . com comprehensive cleaning and disinfection protocols with third-party validation . The convention center boasts over 1.4 million sq . ft . ( 130,000sqm ) of flexible meeting and event space and has nine acres of surrounding public green space .
The Center has also introduced Health Ambassadors to help facilitate the entire event planning process and reinforce CDC recommended practices , including Covid testing .
Planners can get CVB help in making the most of Miami ’ s booking incentives , with rebates offered for any new group of 25 rooms on peak booking before December 2021 .
So , which areas / industry verticals will the CVB be targeting most as the industry rebounds ?
Bohada says the idea is “ to capture a fair share in tech , fintech , medical pharma , and incentive business , but we are grateful for all future opportunities ”.
Miami is a major conference destination , with hotels for all budgets and ample meeting , convention , and trade show options . Bohada adds that Miami also provides easy accessibility with over 400 + flights daily through Miami International Airport – the first airport in Florida and second in the US to receive health accreditation from Airports Council International ( ACI ) World .
“ When it comes to mixing business with pleasure , no city does it quite like Miami . For international organisers looking beyond conference dates - great weather , beaches , over 1.1 million acres of outdoors to explore , eclectic dining options , and thriving cultural scene throughout Miami ’ s unique neighbourhoods are only some of Miami ’ s endless possibilities for entertainment and exploration ,” Bohada says .
She believes people are ready to meet in person and notes the bureau ’ s hotel pipeline report shows that before the end of 2022 , 25 new hotel openings will provide around 4,000 extra rooms , with a further 22 projects already envisaged and set to offer a further 4,000 rooms in the area by the end of 2025 .
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