Miami Beach Convention Center Is Ready For Events
September 23, 2020
As buildings across Miami Dade County reopen at reduced capacities, the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) has developed and deployed health and safety measures to support a safe return to live events and gatherings at the recently reimagined $620-million dollar renovated venue.
“The health, safety, security and wellbeing of all who enter our venue has always been our top priority,” said MBCC General Manager, Freddie Peterson. “The health measures at the MBCC will not only reduce the risks of transmission during this current pandemic but will support a healthier building long into the future. It is a long-term investment for a short-term crisis, reassuring our staff, vendors, guests, clients and planners, and restoring confidence in our venue and all that we do. We’re MBCC Ready for events.”
MBCC Ready reopening plans detail the rigorous venue health and safety measures deployed to reduce the risk of transmission and return to live events, highlighting the MBCC’s:
- 4 million square feet of flexible event space to achieve social distancing at events, leveraging the surrounding City Center Campus’ 9-acres of public green space for outdoor activities.
- Recent awarding of GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation providing comprehensive cleaning and disinfection protocols with third-party validation.
- Introduction of Health Ambassadors to facilitate the event planning process.
- Staff participation in the City of Miami Beach’s MB Standard, a municipal COVID testing, prevention and contact tracing program.
- New physical and digital, permanent and portable signage throughout the venue as well as regular public announcements that reinforce CDC recommended practices onsite.
MBCC’s customizable event layouts support social distancing for a wide range of guest counts, while venue health and safety measures build confidence in the event experience as part of the MBCC’s return to live events.
The MBCC is a blank canvas for event design and offers the space you need to achieve social distancing. The MBCC’s 1.4 million square feet of beautiful and divisible event space includes two glamorous ballrooms with adjacent terraces, three flexible junior ballrooms, up to 84 practical meeting rooms, and up to 500,000 sq. ft. of Exhibit Halls. Spacious, sophisticated and sunlit prefunction spaces and lobbies support easy and secure access into the venue, promoting a safe and healthy guest flow for a variety of event types. The Grand Ballroom Terrace and the Sunset Vista Terrace overlook 9-acres of lush green space comprised of Collins Canal Park, Pride Park and historic Carl Fisher Clubhouse. The outdoor spaces on the City Center Campus surrounding the MBCC provide additional healthy event solutions to celebrate together safely and accommodate gatherings.
The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is proud to announce its recent achievement of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation, the gold standard for facilities and venues worldwide. Under the guidance of GBAC (a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association), MBCC has implemented the most stringent protocols and staff training for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention. GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and operating procedures, offering expert-led training and assessing venue readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that the MBCC implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics (including COVID-19). GBAC STAR™ is designed for any size facility—including schools, offices, hotels, airports, assisted care facilities, and other public venues such as stadiums, convention centers, arenas and theaters—to establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.
To facilitate the event planning experience while remaining inline with venue measures and local public health recommendations, MBCC designated Health Ambassadors to support the pre-event planning process. Health Ambassadors coordinate with local teams, remain informed of public health guidance, review event plans and act as client liaisons.
All MBCC full time staff is committed to the City of Miami Beach’s MB Standard, a COVID testing, prevention and contact tracing program. MBCC staff undergoes regular COVID-19 testing (every two weeks for onsite personnel, monthly for offsite personnel). As a preventative measure staff also undergo daily temperature checks and health screenings upon arrival. MBCC developed comprehensive restoration protocols in line with industry best practices and city, county, state and federal government public health guidelines. MBCC also deployed contact tracing protocols to keep track of workplace interactions in support of recovery efforts.
The MBCC’s commitment to fundamental practices recommended by the CDC assures that all who enter our venue are taking the necessary available measures to minimize, mitigate and control the risks associated with infectious disease outbreaks and potential exposures. These practices are based on CDC Guidelines and include: practicing frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette, wearing appropriate PPE, increase in cleaning and disinfection while minimizing touchpoints, staying home when sick, engaging in staff training, and practicing social distancing. New physical and digital, permanent and portable signage deployed throughout the venue’s front of house and back of house areas reinforce CDC recommended practices. Additional wall-mounted and portable hand sanitizer stations, as well as touch-free restroom features, are other facility features that promote healthy practices.
MBCC is steps away from Miami Beach’s best shopping, arts, culture, and entertainment (and beautiful beaches!), for pre-and-post event activities that support the vibrant local community.
The (MBCC) is the centerpiece to Miami Beach’s meetings and conventions industry. Reimagined following a $620-million-dollar renovation, the expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, almost 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $7.1 million dollars’ worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program, 9-acres of public green space that can serve as incremental event space, and much, much more.