Miami Beach Convention Center Holds First Meeting Since Pandemic
October 28, 2020
On Oct. 21, Miami Beach Convention Center hosted The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting, the first event to take place at the venue since it reopened in October after closing due to the pandemic in April.
The facility’s 60,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom was well-equipped to accommodate social distancing for 200 in-person guests. MBCC worked with Smart City Networks and Everlast Productions to also create a seamless livestream for an additional 478 virtual participants. All participants attending in-person were subject to a temperature screening, and facial coverings were required throughout the entire event.
“In hand with our GMCVB partners, the event was a great opportunity to successfully demonstrate proof of concept for hybrid events and venue safety measures,” said Freddie Peterson, general manager of MBCC.
At the event, the GMCVB announced two noteworthy events scheduled to take place in Miami-Dade County: the Latin Grammy Award Show (virtual, but filming in Miami at AmericanAirlines Arena) in November, and the Aesthetic Society convention in April 2021. Attendees also learned more about the status of Miami’s tourism industry and initiatives such as Miami Arts, Culture and Heritage Months, a collection of new virtual and in-person experiences launching in response to Art Basel’s cancellation this year.
For those attending in person, MBCC offered post-meeting tours of the expanded venue, which completed a $620 million renovation in fall 2018. Tours included its recently unveiled recording and livestream suite, Art Deco Studio; artwork from the City of Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places program; and the surrounding green spaces of Collins Canal Park, Pride Park and the Carl Fisher Clubhouse.
MBCC was awarded GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation this fall, providing comprehensive cleaning and disinfection protocols with third-party validation, and participates in the City of Miami Beach’s MB Standard program as well as following all CDC health and safety guidelines.
While November and December events previously scheduled at MBCC— such as America’s Food & Beverage Show, Emerge Americas and Cruiseworld — have been canceled or postponed, the convention center is scheduled to host multiple large events in early 2021. This includes the Natural Disaster Expo and Miami International Auto Show in February, and World of Travel Trade & Taste in March.
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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