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
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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