Greater Miami CVB Announces Record-breaking Tourism Numbers

MIAMI (Nov. 1, 2018) – The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announces that a record-breaking 16 million overnight visitors were welcomed to the destination from September 2017 through August 2018, representing a +1% increase over the same time period the previous year; despite Hurricane Irma.  The increase in overnight visitors drove a record-breaking $26.5 billion in expenditures, an increase of +2% compared to the same time period the previous year.  The strength of Greater Miami’s travel and tourism industry is especially evident in hotel performance where revenue per available room (RevPar) grew by more than +10% over the same time period the previous year.  Tourism growth was predominately due to leisure business as the $620-million renovated Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) remained offline to conventions during the construction process.  Now, as the new MBCC nears completion and can once again host citywide conventions, the destination is poised to benefit from further economic impact generated by the meetings industry.

The Miami Beach Convention Center is the anchor to Greater Miami’s meetings and conventions industry.  The $620-million reimagined and expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000 square-foot-grand-ballroom, 500,000 feet of exhibit space, 84 breakout rooms, and a new six-acre public park to serve as incremental event space.

In September, Miami and the Beaches welcomed its first citywide convention since the MBCC began its multi-phase renovation project: The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). And this week the destination will host The International Society of Esthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) in the convention center’s newly transformed four interior halls. In just two short months, these conventions are forecasted to generate $10 million in economic impact for the local community.

“Tourism numbers are up at record-breaking levels in the destination despite a hurricane and a convention center that was offline to citywide conventions during renovations,” said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President and CEO for the GMCVB.  “Thanks to community partnerships, tourism infrastructure investment and GMCVB destination marketing programs, the tourism industry remained vibrant and steadfast while fueling growth in hospitality jobs for the community.  The travel industry’s future is bright for Greater Miami.”

During the first 9 months of 2018, Greater Miami and the Beaches led the rate of growth in hotel revenue-per-available-room (RevPar), hotel occupancy and hotel room rate among STR’s top 25 hotel markets in the country. The hotel industry’s success can be attributed in part to the GMCVB’s “Hotels First” Marketing Initiative which positions hotels as the focal point of a visitor’s vacation. The “Hotels First” marketing initiative worked in tandem with the GMCVB’s “Found in Miami” Global Marketing Campaign calling on travelers to discover the rich heritage of Greater Miami’s multicultural neighborhoods.  The marketing programs along with the Bureau’s newly formed divisions: Multicultural Tourism & Development and Sports & Entertainment Tourism, have re-energized these emerging sectors thus generating hotel demand from these segments.

About the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiandBeaches.com or call 1.888.76.MIAMI (US/Canada only) or 305.447.7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305.539.3000. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (US/Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com. To get further engaged with Miami and the Beaches, join the conversation by following us on our social media channels at Facebook.com/visitmiami, Twitter.com/miamiandbeaches, Instagram.com/miamiandbeaches & Pinterest.com/miamiandbeaches.