The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) set the stage for an action-packed year ahead during its annual meeting on Thursday, October 26, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The annual gathering of industry stakeholders brings together industry partners and community leaders to showcase plans for the upcoming fiscal year from Miami-Dade’s official marketing organization and highlight the successes of the previous year. Highlights from the October 2022 – September 2023 fiscal year include:
• Visitors to Greater Miami and Miami Beach contributed $20.2 billion to the local economy in 2022-23, a 3% increase in revenue.
• Total visitation saw a 3.5 percent increase, led by a 4.4 percent jump in international visitors and a significant 25.3 percent jump in visits from Florida residents.
• A strong indicator of the hotel’s future performance comes from the solid success the organization has achieved in securing meetings and conventions in FY 2022/23. The GMCVB sales team generated 3,280 leads for its hotel partners and a remarkable 56 percent jump in confirmed bookings projected to generate 446,000 room nights, an impressive jump of 48 percent.
“We are seeing record revenue growth as we promote our diverse and inclusive community on a global stage,” said David Whittaker, GMCVB President and CEO. “We’ve seen a resurgence of Greater Miami and Miami Beach as a top convention destination, securing an impressive 14 new bookings for major events to convene at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Our marketing teams have helped drive significant successes, including the launch of the Find Your Miami and Miami Beach – Find Your Wave campaigns. And the tireless efforts of our international travel sales team, covering 42 countries, helped to restore international visitors.”
The GMCVB Annual Meeting formally introduced new Board Chair Julissa Kepner, General Manager of the Miami Biscayne Bay Marriott, and nine new members who bring diverse experience and strategic insights to the GMCVB Board of Directors:
Wayne Brackin, President and CEO, KIDZ Medical Services;
Silvia Camarota, Senior Director, Expedia Group North America;
Eduardo Jose Garcia Jr., Partner, Treo Group;
Amy Johnson, General Manager, The Confidante-Hyatt Hotel Corp.;
Paul Lowenthal, Chairman of the Board, Camillus House;
Jonathan Plutzik, Owner, The Betsy-South Beach;
Eric Poms, CEO, Orange Bowl Committee;
Olga Ramudo, Senior Vice President, Florida and Latham, Express Travel and
Lee Schrager, Chief Communications Officer, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
The event also served as a platform to showcase Brought to You by Tourism, an initiative aimed at highlighting the benefits the tourism industry brings to Miami-Dade County and its residents, with locals getting a chance to tell their tourism stories about how and their families have benefited.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava was on hand to mark the launch of the initiative and celebrate the industry’s impact, declaring October 26 “Tourism Campaign Day, Brought to You.”
“We create dynamic campaigns that tell the living story of our destination,” noted Whittaker. “With ‘Brought to you by Tourism,’ we are heralding a new era of impactful storytelling that will resonate with Miami-Dade residents.” Tourism tax dollars strengthen public transportation, fund health care and advanced education, greatly improving the everyday lives of our community members.”
He continued: “Through this initiative we are directly engaging residents, demonstrating how our industry supports these essential county amenities. There is an indelible link between meeting the needs of our culturally vibrant community – and the economic benefits that tourism brings.”
The annual meeting brought together more than 750 attendees who gained valuable insight into several other new initiatives, including the GMCVB’s expanded sustainability goals and the destination’s overall commitment to a sustainable tourism industry.
The event also honored the legacy of outgoing City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber for his unwavering commitment to the visitor industry and steadfast advocacy of Miami Beach as a thriving arts and culture destination.
For additional information and to explore the GMCVB Official Annual Report and Comprehensive Marketing Plan for 2023-2024, visit the official GMCVB website at https://issuu.com/miamiandmiamibeachguides.com/docs/gmcvb_annual_report_mkt_plan_2023-2024_online.
To learn more about Brought to You by Tourism and discover the stories of the people behind Miami-Dade’s thriving tourism industry, visit www.broughttoyoubytourism.com.
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