What's Happening @ Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

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MONDAY, 30 MAY 2016 Today's High Temp: 85° F/30.5° C Miami Beach Surf Temp: 78° F/25.5° C MAY TEMPTATION During May, all visitors and locals will be offered "Buy One, Get One Free" admission at participating museums. Also, during this month-long program, membership at any one of these participating museums will work as a free pass to any of the other museums. For more GMCVB Marketing Programs, visit MiamiTemptations.com. MAY IS HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH! Haitian Heritage Month is a nationally dedicated time where the Haitian community celebrates the culture and traditions of Haiti. The celebration is an expansion of the Haitian Flag Day on May 18, a major patriotic day celebration in Haiti and the Diaspora created to encourage patriotism. Click here to visit the Little Haiti Cultural Center's website and learn about special celebrations taking place this month. JUNE TEMPTATION Miami is internationally renowned for its spectacular film festivals, art cinemas and success as a film destination. Celebrate Miami Film Month this March. Participating art cinemas will offer the member ticket price, where applicable. For more GMCVB Marketing Programs, visit MiamiTemptations.com. DID YOU KNOW... On January 14, 1968 Miami hosted the first of a record 11 NFL Super Bowls awarded to the destination. Super Bowl II was held at Miami’s Orange Bowl with an exciting game won by the Green Bay Packers 33 vs. Oakland Raiders 14. Ultimately, the NFL’s coveted Super Bowl trophy would be named after the Green Bay Packers’ Coach, Vince Lombardi. PORTMIAMI Cruise Capital of the World™ Always was. Always will be. Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas Begins PortMiami Service Empress of the Seas has returned to service for Royal Caribbean. The ship arrived at PortMiami following a $50 million revitalization, departing on its first sailing for Royal Caribbean on May 27. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MIA) #1 in Airline Carriers in the U.S. Indonesia Aviation Executives Visit MIA to Strengthen Ties Last week, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) executives hosted a delegation of aviation professionals from Indonesia for a tour of Miami International Airport’s expanding cargo hub and to learn about best practices related to airport security and concessions. CUSTOMER SERVICE CORNER We Want to Hear From You! Make Customer Service a top priority for your business in 2016. Have an outstanding Miami customer service story that you’d like featured in the newsletter? We’d love to hear from you. To submit your story, click here. GETTING AROUND TOWN Miami-Dade Transit Tracker App The free Miami-Dade Transit Tracker App makes it easier than ever to have a fun-filled Miami-Dade County vacation on public transit. Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover offer excellent travel value in Miami. They connect you from airport to hotel to scores of popular tourist destinations, by rail or by road. It’s a big system, but the MDT Tracker App puts it all in order for you. Download MDT Tracker App from the App Store or Google Play now!  More Than Just A Ride To The Airport Now your SuperShuttle pick-up is faster and more efficient than ever with their new App! Faster booking & check-in, secure transactions and you can even locate your shuttle! SuperShuttle is the “official” airport shuttle operator at MIA and has “exclusive” curb side access at the MIA arrivals terminal. Their service offers shared-ride or private transportation to or from the airport, ports, hotel, home, or office. You can download the App and book your ride or call 305/871-2000.   More Options Than Ever No matter where you’re headed, getting around Miami and Beaches is easier than ever thanks to new and exciting transportation options. From the Citi Bike program operated by DECOBIKE to the free trolley service available in several neighborhoods, quality taxi and limousine service and the ultra-convenient Miami METROMOVER and METRORAIL including direct service to MIA—we promise you’ll get there. Miami will soon enjoy access to high speed rail thanks to the new GoBrightline train service connecting the destination with other major cities in Florida. Digitally Dispatched Car Sharing Services The popularity of this type of service available through mobile apps continues to grow for companies such as UBER, which is now available in 45 countries and more than 270 cities around the world. A similar service is offered by LYFT in more than 90 cities enabling passengers who need a ride to request one from drivers who have an available car. Get a Taxi in One App ZabCab, ZabCab Driver, and ZabCab Front Desk are companion apps for consumers, drivers and businesses. They work together to help passengers find taxis – and taxi drivers to find passengers – quickly and easily from a smartphone. They are available to download at the App Store and Google Play. CORPORATE PARTNER ANNIVERSARIES A strong CVB begins with a strong partnership base. The support of our corporate partners aids us in promoting Greater Miami and the Beaches to the world. Join us in recognizing the GMCVB's Corporate Partners who are celebrating their membership anniversary this month: BIRTHDAYS The GMCVB wishes a happy birthday to our friends and family... GMCVB PHOTO ALBUM GMCVB Team members are busy selling and promoting Greater Miami and The Beaches at home and around the world. Click through to see recent photos of the GMCVB Team in action and tap on the photos for captions.  RESOURCE CENTER Travel Updates • Mobile Passport Control App at Miami International Airport (MIA) • Get in the Fast Lane at MIA! TSA Pre-Check Now Available for Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Local Interest • Florida Tax Watch Study Details Benefits of Expanding Florida Tourism • National Travel and Tourism a Big Win for Industry COUNTDOWN Days until: 2 Miami Film Month 25 Seven Seas Explorer begins PortMiami service 32 Miami Spa Month 132 Miami Broward Carnival 186 Art of Black Miami 188 Carnival Vista arrives at PortMiami 381 WorldOutGames 2017 407 MLB Midsummer Classic 88th All-Star Game ABOUT THE PUBLISHER William D. Talbert III, CDME President and CEO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Download Outlook® V-Card Newsletter Archive | Story Archive TOP STORY - TOP 25 MARKETS: JANUARY - APRIL 2016 FOR THE MONTHS OF JANUARY – APRIL 2016, HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REACHED 82.5 PERCENT, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. HOTEL ROOMS SOLD FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD WERE UP 1.9 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME IN 2015, PARTIALLY ABSORBING THE 3.9 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOM INVENTORY YEAR ON YEAR. DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES DURING JANUARY – APRIL 2016 REMAINED STRONG RANKING #1 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REVPAR), #1 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) AND #2 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS AS DEFINED BY SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH.  January - April 2016 Rooms Sold January - April 2016 January - April 2015 % Change vs. 2015 5,192,819 5,097,757 +1.9% Rooms Supply January - April 2016 January - April 2015 % Change vs. 2015 52,437 50,492 +3.9% Miami #1 - Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) January - April 2016 January - April 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $194.13 $203.40 -4.6% Miami #1 - Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) January - April 2016 January - April 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $235.24 $241.75 -2.7% Miami #2 - Average Daily Occupancy January - April 2016 January - April 2015 % Change vs. 2015 82.5%  84.1% -1.9% WELCOME UBER & LYFT The GMCVB is delighted to officially welcome UBER and LYFT to Greater Miami and The Beaches! We are pleased to extend our gratitude to Miami-Dade County Vice Chair Esteban L. Bovo, Jr. and Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson for leading the efforts on this legislation and to the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners supported by Mayor Gimenez for the passage on May 3, 2016 of the ordinances on vehicles for hire that allows UBER and LYFT to operate within Miami-Dade County, providing our destination with the option of their services offered globally to travelers and residents alike.  HEADLINES THIS WEEK Miami/South Florida Awarded 2020 Super Bowl LIV! GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME and Executive Board Member of the South Florida Super Bowl Bid Committee, was delighted to bring home the good news from the NFL Owners Meeting held last week that Super Bowl LIV, will be held in Miami in 2020. This will mark a record-breaking eleventh Super Bowl to be held in Miami/South Florida and will coincide with the NFL’s centennial year celebration. May is Miami Museum Month! During May, visitors and locals can take advantage of “Buy One, Get One Free admission," "Join One Museum, See Them All" and other special offers at participating museums during GMCVB's Miami Museum Month. For more information including participants, special events and exhibits, please visit MiamiMuseumMonth.com. Miami Museum Month is sponsored by Citibank®. Miami Film Month Returns to a Screen Near You this June! During June, visitors and locals can take advantage of $8 films at participating art cinemas and other special offers during GMCVB’s Miami Film Month. As Greater Miami's cultural scene continues to flourish, its independent cinema options are thriving! From niche indies to internationally renowned and critically-acclaimed films, GMCVB’s Miami Film Month has something for everyone. Miami Film Month is sponsored by Citibank®. First Available Visa Interview Date in São Paulo, Brazil is May 31, 2016 The average wait time in São Paulo, Brazil for a Visa interview appointment in order to visit the USA is currently 1 day. Click through to find out the wait time for other top Brazilian cities. WWE Entertainment Ranks #12, #13 and #18 in Nielsen's Cable Top 25 Ratings for the Week Ending May 22, 2016 WWE's WrestleMania Week drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches in April 2012. Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by the Nielsen Company in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of TV programming in the United States. GMCVB President & CEO to be Featured Guest on “Eat This, Drink That, Go” TV/Radio Show with Jimmy Cefalo on May 31, 2016 GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME will be a featured guest at a taping of the “Eat This, Drink That, Go” radio/TV Show with Jimmy Cefalo on May 31, 2016 – the show will be broadcast on Saturday, June 4, 2016 on WIOD 610 AM, iHeartRadio and The Beach Channel from 8-10 a.m. GMCVB President & CEO will be Keynote Speaker at North Miami Mayor's Luncheon on June 1, 2016 William D. Talbert, III, CDME, GMCVB President & CEO will be the Keynote Speaker at North Miami Mayor Joseph Smith’s “Travel. Trade. Tourism: Get 2 No Mi” 2nd Quarter Business Luncheon on June 1, 2016 at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami. Congratulations to Hillary Bass – Vice Chair of University of Miami Board of Trustees and President-Elect Nominee of The American Bar Association Hilarie Bass has served as a trustee of the University of Miami’s Board of Trustees since 2003 and was elected vice chair in 2014. Bass is co-president of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP. and has completed an eight-year term as the national chair of the firm’s 600-member litigation department and serves on its Executive Committee. GMCVB President & CEO will be Featured Guest on Pete De La Torre's "The Voice of Business Miami" Radio Show on June 2, 2016 GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME will be a featured guest on Pete De La Torre’s “The Voice of Business Miami” show on June 2, 2016. Mr. Talbert will be promoting the newest happenings in Greater Miami and Beaches. GMCVB President & CEO to Attend 17th Annual Mayor's Ball on June 4, 2016 GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME will be attending the 17th Annual Mayor’s Ball on June 4, 2016 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and his wife Lourdes P. Gimenez are the Honorary Chairs for the event. Coral Gables Restaurant Week June 2-26, 2016 Kicks Off with Taste of Gables Event at The Westin Colonnade Coral Gables The Business Improvement District of Coral Gables brings back Coral Gables Restaurant Week for three whole weeks, from June 6 to June 26, 2016. Food lovers won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste over 40 of Coral Gables’ best fine-dining restaurants with prix-fixe menus at a discounted rate! It all kicks off on June 2, 2016 at the annual Taste of the Gables event hosted at The Westin Colonnade Coral Gables at 6:30 p.m. Miami Film Development Project Grants for Local Filmmakers Extended to June 30, 2016 The Miami Film Development Project (MFDP), focused on supporting homegrown filmmakers, extends its film grant deadline to June 30, 2016. Grants are available for several initiatives and amounts to over $10K. These various MFDP grant initiatives are aimed towards supporting the destination's  diverse filmmaking community.  GMCVB UPDATES Miami Sports Tourism Copa Americana Miami 2016 Youth Soccer Tournament The Copa Americana is an athletic and cultural event, delivering an exciting challenge for teams and players looking for an unrestricted play style. This tournament features the best International Italian Soccer Academy, Milan Junior Camp and Milan Junior Elite Teams in each age category competing against clubs from USA, Aruba, Colombia, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, USA, Venezuela and more. It will be held on June 23, 2016 at Marlins Park. Multicultural Tourism & Development Greater Miami and the Beaches Celebrates Haitian Heritage Month May’s Haitian Heritage Month sets the platform for a series of cultural events throughout Greater Miami and the Beaches. GMCVB Multicultural Tourism Team attended the Compas Festival kick-off event hosted by Commissioner Jean Monestime at the Moca Café in North Miami. Celebrating its 18th year, the Compas Festival was held May 21, 2016 at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Advertising & Digital Marketing Brightline Train Between Miami and Orlando Florida’s new, privately funded, hospitality focused intercity passenger rail service will connect Miami and Orlando in just under three hours with intermediate stations in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. @MiamiandBeaches Participates in @VisitFL’s ‘Family Travel In Florida’ Twitter Chat With 4.4 MM Reach On May 17 the GMCVB participated in VISIT FLORIDA’s “Family Travel In Florida” #FLTravelChat on Twitter. The chat discussed family friendly options when vacationing in Florida, including Miami and Beaches. The GMCVB highlighted its Miami attractions & tours, family friendly beaches, dining and accommodation options. Media Relations & Promotions GMCVB Media Relations Hosts Brazilian Travel Blogger GMCVB Media will be hosting Sao Paulo’s RG Brazil travel blogger during his visit to Greater Miami and the Beaches June 2-4, 2016. During his stay in Miami, the journalist will cover Miami’s vibrant live music scene, nightlife, and arts and culture. GMCVB Media Relations Hosts French Media Group in Partnership with The Biltmore Hotel and Air Europa GMCVB Media Relations Team is currently partnering with the Biltmore Hotel and Air Europa to host a group of French writers, June 3-6, 2016. GMCVB Participates in Brand USA Marketing Roundtables The GMCVB participated in Brand USA’s Global Market Development Roundtable Sessions in Washington D.C., USA May 10-12, 2016, joining other destination marketing organizations in strategic discussions that shape global marketing initiatives for the USA brand. Convention Sales & Services GMCVB Convention Sales Sells Greater Miami to Fraternity Executives Association Clients GMCVB Convention Sales is preparing to participate in the Annual Convention of Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) scheduled for June 1-3, 2016 in Kansas City, MO USA.  FEA’s two-day conference will deliver approximately 185 fraternity executives, meeting planners and key decision makers. GMCVB Convention Sales Hosts Familiarization Weekend in Miami GMCVB Convention Sales Team will be hosting a familiarization weekend in the destination, June 2-5, 2016.  Ten clients will participate and get a first-hand look at the advantages Greater Miami and Beaches has to offer for future meetings or conventions.  Travel Industry Sales Cruise360 June 1-6, 2016 GMCVB Travel Industry Sales Team will be selling and promoting Greater Miami and Beaches at Cruise360 in Vancouver, Canada June 1-6, 2016. This annual event is hosted in Vancouver every third year and is a great opportunity to reach some of the best cruise agents. Travel Impressions Trade Shows June 1-2, 2016 GMCVB Travel Industry Sales Team will travel to Columbus, OH, USA June 1 and Chicago, IL, USA June 2, 2016 to participate in Travel Impressions’ Trade Shows. Approximately 100 retail travel agents will be hosted at each show which will feature table top presentations and dinner. GMCVB Partnership Events & Opportunities GMCVB Partnership Networking Luncheon Thursday, June 9, 2016 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pisco y Nazca, Kendall 8405 Mills Drive, Suite 206 Miami, FL 33183 USA Get the most out of your GMCVB Partnership and take advantage of exclusive opportunities: •    GMCVB’s Medical Tourism Initiative •    GMCVB Partners Facebook Group •    Add your Special Offers to MiamiandBeaches.com Global Network News GMCVB representatives domestically and all around the globe promote Greater Miami as the premier destination for leisure and business. Read their updates here. • Caribbean • Europe • Latin America • U.S. & Canada  CALENDAR OF EVENTS May/June Through 5/31 Miami Museum Month Through 6/30 Miami Film Month 6/2-6/26 Coral Gables Restaurant Week Through 5/30 Sizzle Miami 2016 5/31-6/3 3rd Annual Cam Con 2016 6/2-6/5   Koo Koo Fest 2016 6/9 Community Arts Program Summer Concert Series 6/11 Selena Gomez - Revival Tour 6/11 Miami Lyric Opera: Marina 6/15-6/18 Out in the Tropics Festival 2016 6/15-6/19 20th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) 6/18-6/19 Redland Summer Fruit Festival 6/22 Brit Floyd - CONTINUUM World Tour 2016 6/24 Viernes Culturales Arts and Culture Festival 6/25 Bird Walk at the Deering Estate 6/28 WWE Smackdown  MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS Meetings & Conventions Meeting Date Venue Attend. American Athletic Conference - ACC Annual Meeting 2016 5/31-6/3 Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami 175 Clarion Events Limited - Juegos Miami 2016 5/31-6/3 Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach 800 The Rainmaker Companies - 2016 SuperConference 6/1-6/3 InterContinental Miami 320 American College of Cardiology (ACC) - Best of ACC 2016 6/2-6/3 1 Hotel South Beach 220 Convention Ink - TattooLaPalooza 2016 6/2-6/5 Hyatt Regency Miami 5,000 Florida Bankers Association - 2016 Annual 6/2-6/9 Nobu Eden Roc Miami Beach 400