Talbert Talks Travel

RECORD DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG IN JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2013 RESULTING IN INCREASES IN GREATER MIAMI’S TOURIST-RELATED TAX COLLECTIONS
Through the first two months of 2013, the 2% Tourist Development tax collections (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) totaled $4,916,961 compared to $4,214,894 in 2012 for an increase of +16.7%. The 3% Convention Development tax (CDT) collections for Greater Miami and the Beaches totaled $14,257,146 compared to $12,534,811 for the same period last year representing a +13.7% increase in 2013. The 2% Hotel Food and Beverage tax collections from hotels in Miami-Dade (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside) generated $1,449,130 compared to $1,299,173 in 2012, for an increase of +11.5%.

City of Miami Beach 3% Resort Tax Collections totaled $6,991,345 compared to $6,081,324 for an increase of +15.0%. The 2% Food and Beverage tax collections in Miami Beach generated $5,048,544 compared to $4,455,831 in 2012, for an increase of +13.3%.

• According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) economic research, in 2012, Travel & Tourism increased its number of jobs by five million to 260 million. For the first time, one in every 11 jobs in the world is now supported by Travel & Tourism.
• 240 Job$ – Greater Miami Travel & Tourism Job$ – Miami Beach Resort & Spa employs 240 people [non-exportable jobs] and has been a proud GMCVB Partner since 1984.
• 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 April membership anniversary:
  • Bank of America
  • Duty Free Americas
  • Simon Malls
• GMCVB WELCOMES NEWEST CORPORATE PARTNER – SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.
  GMCVB is pleased to welcome our newest corporate partner – Simon Property Group, Inc. Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. Simon Property Group is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.   In Miami, Simon Property Group malls include Dadeland Mall, The Falls, Miami International Mall and The Shops at Sunset Place. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.Simon.com.

FIRST AVAILABLE VISA INTERVIEW* DATE IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL IS APRIL 17, 2013
The average wait time in São Paulo, Brazil for a visa interview appointment in order to visit the USA is currently 2 days. Brasilia: 3 days. Recife: 2 days. Rio de Janeiro: 2 days. Just one year ago, the average wait time in São Paulo for a visa interview appointment was 35 days. There has been significant progress! Support Visa Waiver now! Support HR 3855 and JOLT. Thank you President Obama for reducing visa interview wait times in Brazil.
* Visa interviews on average take 3 minutes.

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (USA) RANKS #3, #4 AND #7 IN NIELSEN TOP 15 CABLE RATINGS FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 7, 2013
For the week ending April 7, 2013, WWE Monday Night Raw (USA) ranked #3, #4, and #7 in Nielsen’s Cable Top 15 TV ratings with 4.5, 4.4 and 4.0 million viewers respectively. WWE’s Wrestlemania Week drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches in April 2012.

NBA BASKETBALL – MIAMI HEAT AT WASHINGTON WIZARDS RANKS #6 IN “SOCIAL TV BUZZ” FOR DAY OF APRIL 10, 2013
NBA Basketball – Miami HEAT at Washington Wizards (Sun Sports) ranked #8 in social TV buzz among U.S. broadcast and cable TV shows for April 10, 2013, according to SocialGuide Intelligence (SGI) measurement. SocialGuide Intelligence (SGI) tracks the daily, weekly and monthly social activity for over 229 channels, every program aired. Data sources include Twitter, Facebook and Tribune Media Services’ TV data set.

GMCVB’S 2ND ANNUAL MIAMI GOLF MONTH RUNS THROUGH APRIL
GMCVB’s 2nd Annual Miami Golf Month runs through April 30, 2013. Greater Miami has plenty to brag about when it comes to golf courses. We feature some of the most difficult courses in the world, and some courses have been rated in the top 10 courses by Golfweek. Join us during April for special offers at our renowned golf resorts and courses. This year, several courses are making it easy for beginners to take advantage of the game by offering 9-hole specials as low as $20. For details, visit www.MiamiGolfMonth.com.

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER – ATTEND ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS
There will be many opportunities for the public to get informed and be involved in shaping the future of the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC). For the complete schedule, including the next public community meeting, click here.

SAVE THE DATE! GMCVB’S 22ND ANNUAL H.O.T. CHALLENGE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS MAY 3, 2013 AT DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA
GMCVB’s 22nd annual H.O.T. Challenge is May 3, 2013 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Recently purchased by Donald Trump, this world-class golf resort is undergoing a $250 million remodeling and will soon be rebranded as the Trump National Doral. GMCVB’s H.O.T. Challenge Golf Tournament benefits the Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami’s (BHI) African-American Scholarship Fund. The BHI is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1991 by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to increase and expand the participation by African Americans in Miami-Dade County’s visitor industry. To date, the BHI has awarded 182 scholarships. For details, click here.

GMCVB’S NEXT PARTNERSHIP MIXER IS APRIL 25, 2013
GMCVB’s next partnership mixer is at Regions Bank Coral Gables on April 25, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m. Please join us for networking, passed hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary drink. Don’t forget to bring your business card to enter a raffle for a chance to win a Regions Bank bicycle as the grand prize. Regions Bank Coral Gables is located at 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Complimentary parking is available in the Regions Bank Parking Garage. Click here to register.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE 2013 HOTEL HURRICANE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PREPAREDNESS MEETING MAY 1, 2013 AT THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
Be prepared for the upcoming 2013 hurricane season with the latest information and resources for you and your hotel guests. Join the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Miami Beach, and the Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association for the 2013 Hotel Hurricane and Emergency Management Preparedness Meeting Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Room C2212. Guest speakers include: Curtis Sommerhoff, Director Miami-Dade County Emergency Management; Max Mayfield, WPLG10 Hurricane Specialist & Former Director of the National Hurricane Center; and representatives of the American Red Cross South Florida Region and the South Florida Disaster Resiliency Coalition. Please RSVP to Noelia Gonzalez at (305) 673-7577, ext. 6523 or NoeliaGonzalez@MiamiBeachfl.gov.

SAVE THE DATE! GMCVB’S STATE OF THE TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY BREAKFAST, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013
GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert III, CDME will present the State of the Travel & Tourism Industry for Greater Miami and the beaches at a breakfast to be held on May 10, 2013. The GMCVB’s Annual Research Report will be presented at the event. Details to follow.

GMCVB SALES WELCOMES AND HOSTS MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’S STANDING COMMITTEE ON MEETINGS & TRAVEL
The GMCVB Convention Sales Team will be welcoming and courting the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Standing Committee on Meetings & Travel April 19-20, 2013. We will have the opportunity to meet “one on one” with the committee and showcase the destination. The ABA has over 400,000 members nationwide and produces more than 300 meetings per year. The GMCVB and hotel community thanks ABA for the business and appreciates the long standing partnership that has been cultivated over the years. In addition, the ABA will be hosting its Annual Mid Year Meeting in Miami February 1 – 5, 2017 with over 5,000 attendees representing 8,000 total room nights and have an economic impact of more than $7 million.

GMCVB’S TOURISM SALES SELLS MIAMI AT FUNJET VACATIONS TRADE SHOWS IN TEXAS
GMCVB’s Tourism Sales Team sold Miami at trade shows in three key Texas cities April 8-10 for Funjet Vacations, the flagship brand of the Mark Travel Corporation, which has provided travelers with specialized vacation packages at an exceptional value for 38 years. The Team networked with nearly 700 key travel agents and media attending shows in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas USA, sharing the latest updates on Greater Miami and the Beaches hotels, niche interest activities and other destination updates. In 2012, Dallas and Houston remained among the top 10 feeder markets for Greater Miami and the Beaches.

GMCVB’S CONVENTION SALES TEAM SELLS MIAMI AT HELMS BRISCOE PARTNER FAIR IN ORLANDO
The GMCVB Convention Sales Team will sell Miami at the Helms Briscoe Annual Business Conference and Partner Fair April 17, 2013 in Orlando, Florida USA. Helms Briscoe is the highest volume purchaser in the meetings and event industry and has over 1,200 Associates in 55 countries. In 2011 they booked over $800 million of business which represented over 30,000 programs and over 4.5 million room nights. All regions, both domestic and international, will be represented in this reverse two-day tradeshow and will offer networking opportunities to meet one-on-one with the HB Associates to promote Greater Miami and Beaches as a meetings destination.

GMCVB’S TOURISM SALES HEADS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES RESERVATIONS CENTER IN TULSA
GMCVB’s Tourism Sales Team will head to Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA for a reservations training session at American Airlines. GMCVB partners including B3 Hotel Downtown, Sonesta Bayfront Hotel and the Biltmore will join us. We will see nearly 100 reservations agents during the course of the day and will host a travel agent dinner for approximately 23 local travel agents.

SPONSORS FOR 2013 H.O.T. CHALLENGE – MAY 3, 2013 AT DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) organizes the Hospitality Open Golf Tournament (H.O.T.) to fund scholarships for men and women of African heritage committed to working in the local visitor industry upon their graduation. The following sponsors have generously donated to the 2013 H.O.T. Challenge:

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEWS – AMERICAN AIRLINES ADDS TWO NEW ROUTES TO THE CARIBBEAN
On April 6, American Airlines inaugurated two new routes between Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Caribbean. American began nonstop Saturday service to Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport and Guadeloupe’s Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, both operating with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. With the addition of these two new routes to Martinique and Guadeloupe, American now serves 30 destinations in the Caribbean. From Miami, American Airlines and American Eagle serve more than 110 destinations with more than 300 daily flights. For more information, visit www.AA.com.

MIAMI HONORED AS ONE OF THE TASTIEST TOWNS IN THE SOUTH IN SOUTHERN LIVING’S MAY ISSUE
Miami is listed among Southern Living’s 10 “Tastiest Towns in the South” in the magazine’s May issue. Miami was recognized as “a culinary Mrs. Robinson (mature, refined, sexier than ever) with a Southern accent.” Chef Michael Schwartz is cited as the city’s star tastemaker. The magazine also singles out Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Pubbelly Gastropub and The Dutch and recommends having a Tequila Beets cocktail at Bloom.

UNITED WAY MIAMI WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL – NOW VERITAGEMIAMI IS SET FOR APRIL 17-20, 2013
What was the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival is now VeritageMiami. Set for April 17 – 20, 2013, VeritageMiami brings together a who’s who of more than 3,000 wine, beer, spirits and food lovers from all across South Florida along with top sommeliers, notable chefs, prestigious wineries, winemakers and breweries and an impressive line-up of auction lots all to benefit the South Florida community. Celebrating its 18th year, VeritageMiami benefits United Way of Miami-Dade, supporting programs in our community that are focused on improving the education, financial stability and health of our residents. For more information on the multiple events and to purchase tickets, click here.

19TH ANNUAL INN KEY AWARDS – MAY 7, 2013 AT DOUBLETREE BY HILTON MIAMI AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER
The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association’s 19th Annual Inn Key Awards are May 7, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center. The luncheon and awards ceremony will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For table top reservations, individual ticket purchases or sponsorship inquiries, please contact InnKey@GMBHA.com.

12TH DRANOFF 2 PIANO SEMIFINALS – MAY 11-14, 2013
May is an exciting month for the International Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation, featuring concerts by talented pianists from around the world. Piano Slam 5 takes place on May 2, 2013 at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. On May 11-14, 3013, the 12th Dranoff 2 Piano Semifinals take place at University of Miami’s Clarke Recital Hall. On May 16th, the Grand Finale concert will be performed at University of Miami’s Gusman Hall followed by the Gala. For the complete schedule and to purchase tickets, click here.

Great Exposure! Add Your Special Offers to MiamiandBeaches.com
Join GMCVB’s Brazil Sales Mission, May 20-24, 2013
Join GMCVB at Cruise3Sixty – June 19-23, 2013
Join GMCVB’s Russian Sales Mission – July 7-12, 2013
Join GMCVB’s Northeast Sales Mission – August 26-30, 2013
Join GMCVB’s Canada Sales Mission – October 20-26, 2013
Reach Thousands of Visitors – Advertise in the 2013 Pocket Guide to Miami & Beaches
New Partner Showcase
Join the “GMCVB Partners” Facebook Group

For more information on GMCVB Partner Opportunities, click here.

GMCVB’S ARGENTINA PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s Argentina PR Team continues to follow up with pitches on newsletter topics from the April “Out and About” monthly media newsletter. Staff translated and distributed the press release on Miami Golf Month. The Team also held a meeting with Revista Susana to coordinate an upcoming “Everyone Is A Kid” Media Tour, May 3-7, 2013 Argentina ranked #3 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $960 million.

GMCVB’S ARGENTINA SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s Argentina Sales team will conduct training on April 18th with Organización Piamonte Tour Operator for approximately 20 sales representatives. Staff will share information about what’s new in Miami and Beaches including Miami Golf Month and news about hotels, dining and attractions. Argentina ranked #3 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $960 million.

GMCVB BRAZIL PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s Brazil PR Team worked on the Miami Golf Month release by translating and distributing it to the specialized media and the web portal, Golfexpress. Staff also worked with local blogger from the south region of Brazil by providing information and photos for research into an upcoming possible piece. Negotiations with New Golf magazine are still in progress to be followed up on through the week. In addition, staff followed up with outlets after distributing a LGBT press release with information on themed activities happening in Miami throughout the month of April. This week, major newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo published a print version in their Travel supplement Viagem with an online version of the same piece. The PR Team is also in negotiations with G1, one of the major news portals in Brazil, to publish activities leading up to the Miami Gay Pride Parade and other LGBT events. Lastly, a journalist from Mix Brasil, which is a group publishing the magazines Junior, targeting young gay men, H, targeting older gay men and the news portal Mix Brasil, which targets all LGBT public, received our information and is very interested in producing a piece on Miami for future editions. Brazil ranked #1 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $1.3 billion.

GMCVB BRAZIL SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s Brazil Sales Team will make presentations with American Airlines in Rio de Janeiro on April 17-18. The event, a breakfast sponsored by Miami and American Airlines, will gather 40 professionals, including tour operators and consolidators. The goal is to highlight American Airline´s Free Miami Stopover program and encourage passengers to spend more time in the city. The Team will also make sales calls in Rio de Janeiro to Know How Tour Operator. This company works exclusively with South America destinations and is now preparing to launch new U.S. product, and wants Miami as one of the new top destinations. The Team will also make sales calls to local tour operators in Fortaleza, including Be Happy Tours and Quality Tours. In Sao Paulo, the Team will visit Teresa Perez Tours, Moinhotur, Breurasi TO, Coimbra Turismo and Tob Tour-Incentives. Brazil ranked #1 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $1.3 billion.

GMCVB COLOMBIA PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s Colombia PR Team followed up with journalists interested in Miami Golf Month including El Tiempo and El Colombiano newspaper. Staff assisted with answering questions and providing photo links. In Peru, the Team got in touch with the editorial coordinator from the travel magazine Vamos (of El Comercio newspaper) to pitch her on a possible Miami story for the summer months. Lastly, the PR Team is working on securing a key journalist for upcoming cross market Romance Media FAM. Colombia ranked #4 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $802 million.

GMCVB COLOMBIA SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s Colombia Sales Team is doing a sales blitz with top accounts, with the main objective of showing travel agents and tour operators that Miami offers much more than shopping. The Sales Team is distributing the Miami Attractions brochure and also sharing information about Miami’s cultural scene and Miami Golf Month in April. These top accounts include: Viajes Falabella, WorldTours, L’Alianxa Principal, Viajes Chapinero, Colombian Tourist, Continental de Viajes, Panamericana de Viajes, Atrapaol, Traver Depot, Octopus Travel, Halcon Viajes, Swisstur, Despegar, AviancaTours, Turismo Internacional, Festival Tours and Turismo Al Vuelo. Colombia ranked #4 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $802 million.

GMCVB ECUADOR SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s Ecuador Sales Team will participate at Salmor’s Wholesaler Annual Event Hosteria Rumipamba de las Rosas in Salcedo, a city 2 hours from Quito. The focus of Salmor’s workshop is to give educational seminars on different products including Miami and Beaches to 150 participating travel agents. Participants are divided into groups, so the Team will give about 15 seminars during the day. The Team will represent Miami as the main destination for Ecuadorians in the U.S. Ecuador ranked #11 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $283 million.

GMCVB FRANCE PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s French PR Team has recently held meetings with the airline XL-Airways to organize a press trip involving 10 French media representatives, on the occasion of its inaugural Paris-Miami flight on June 28, 2013. The team has identified an article published in March in the gay journal and Internet portal Gaymytrip – www.mygaytrip.com (100,000 unique visitors/month, 20,000 newsletter subscribers and 55,000 fans on Facebook). The article is the result of the Winter Party Festival press release sent out by the agency in early March 2012. France ranked #8 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $453 million.

GMCVB GERMANY PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s German PR Team is currently pitching media for the upcoming international media FAMs, “Everyone’s a Kid” (May 3-7), “Eco Chic Miami” (May 15-19) and “Romance/Wedding” (June 6-10). The Team has pitched a story to Class, a consumer monthly (circulation: 75,229/readership: 131,000) profiling the individual success stories of Italians in real estate and hospitality in Miami, and what’s new for Italians’ holidays. The Team is also in contact with Latitudes online travel magazine for an individual visit to Miami and with the popular TV program, Donnaventura, which is planning to visit Miami in late Autumn/Winter 2013. Germany ranked #4 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $849 million.

GMCVB GERMANY SALES OFFICE NEWS
The GMCVB Germany Sales Team will sell Miami at the Visit Florida Germany and Switzerland Roadshow April 15-19, 2013. The Roadshow will be touring through Hamburg, Frankfurt, Duesseldorf and Zurich – reaching our 500+ travel agents in Germany and Switzerland. The Roadshow will be structured with travel agent evening events at night and tour operator sales calls during the day. Germany ranked #4 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $849 million.

GMCVB ITALY PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s Italy PR Team is currently pitching media for the upcoming Media Relations cross market media FAMs “Everyone’s a Kid” and “Romance/Wedding” and the pan-European “Eco Chic Miami” FAM. The team distributed the Miami Film Month release to select media and secured coverage in the websites www.Cinema10.it (unique users/month: 380,000; ad value: USD 2,600) and www.Latitudinex.net (monthly users: 290,000; ad value: USD 2,220). They are now distributing the Miami Golf month press release and the Media Relations monthly newsletter. Italy ranked #10 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $378 million.

GMCVB MEXICO SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s Mexico Sales Team participated at Visit USA’s seminars in Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí on April 9th and 10th. Approximately 50 agents were in attendance at each event. These seminars provide an excellent opportunity to promote Miami and the Beaches in these Mexican cities. Mexico ranked #15 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $162 million.

GMCVB NORTH AMERICA PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s North America PR Team has secured a journalist from Vancouver’s The Province newspaper (circulation: 144,537; UVPM: 204,363) for the upcoming Family Fun Attractions FAM, May 3-7, 2013. The Team has commenced media outreach to secure press to participate in the soon to follow Romance FAM, June 6-10, 2013. As the GMCVB looks to once again bring Miami to Manhattan this summer, the PR Team has planned a summer stunt idea that will be So Miami! Together with their digital arm, they will look to activate in May or June integrating efforts with GMCVB’s marketing partners. Coverage was published this week on the nation’s largest blog, The Huffington Post (UVPM: 35,570,324) resulting from an editor that was in the destination in January to cover Miami’s Art Deco Weekend.

GMCVB UNITED KINGDOM PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s UK PR Team has secured a journalist from the parenting website Mumsnet.com (circulation 4 million) for the ‘Everyone is a Kid’ cross market media FAM (May1-5, 2013) and will proceed with press trip arrangements this week. The team is currently pitching media for the upcoming Media Relations cross market “Romance/Wedding” media FAM and the pan-European “Eco Chic Miami” FAM. The team distributed the Miami Golf Month release to UK media and is currently partnering with Great Golf magazine on an individual media visit to Miami to promote the golf program to the UK market. The team will also be arranging for Stylist magazine (circulation: 433,483) to visit Miami on an individual media trip in April and have sent information on Miami attractions to key publications including: We Heart (www.weheart.co.uk), The Sunday Times (circulation: 875,434), Top Sante (circulation: 55,338) and The Guardian Travel Blog (www.guardian.co.uk/travel/blog). The United Kingdom ranked #6 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $739 million.

GMCVB UNITED KINGDOM SALES OFFICE NEWS
GMCVB’s United Kingdom Sales Team is busy securing appointments for the upcoming UK Sales Mission in London and also working on an agents’ evening event to take place at the Hard Rock Café in London on April 24, 2013. The Team will also participate in the annual Visit Florida training day at the British Airways Holidays call center in Newcastle for about 100 sales staff. The United Kingdom ranked #6 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $739 million.

GMCVB VENEZUELA PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE
GMCVB’s Venezuela PR Team prepared a press release in Spanish, based on what’s new at several Miami hotels and resorts, and distributed it (along with photos) nationwide, as well as in some other markets in Latin America, including Panamá, Guatemala, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay and Costa Rica, and to media contacts in Spain. The Team also continued pitching the media for the upcoming Tiara Airlines media FAM to Miami (April 28-May 1) and for the Visit Florida media lunch (May 8) in Caracas during the media/sales mission to Venezuela. In addition, staff attended an event in Caracas celebrating the 104 Anniversary of El Universal, the major newspaper in Venezuela, and spoke to several editors and reporters from tourism and travel section on the Miami news and what’s happening. Venezuela ranked #7 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $518 million.

APRIL
Miami Golf Month
4/1 – 4/30

Miami Dance Festival Festival
4/5 – 5/15

Nautica South Beach Triathlon
4/7

Bat Mitzvah Comes of Age
4/8-9/15

Miami Beach Gay Pride
4/8 – 4/14

Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show
4/12 – 4/14

South Beach Comedy Festival
4/17 – 4/20

Veritage Miami
4/17 – 4/20

Miami Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
4/18 – 4/21

Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
4/20 – 4/21

Florida Grand Opera: La Traviata
4/20 – 4/27

The Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run
4/25

Maserati Miami Beach Polo World Cup VIII
4/25 – 4/28

Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
4/27 – 5/5

25th Anniversary – AIDS Walk Miami
4/28

MAY
Miami Museum Month
5/1-5/31

Grove SLAM!
5/2-5/4

H.O.T. Challenge Golf Tournament
5/3

Miami City Ballet: Program IV
5/3-5/5

Merrell Down & Dirty Mud and Obstacle Series
5/5

All Kids Included Family Festival
5/4

Greynolds Park Love-In
5/5

12th Dranoff International 2 Piano Competition
5/11-5/16

Aqua Girl
5/15-5/19

Cuba Nostalgia
5/17-5/19

Redland International Orchid Show
5/17-5/19

Sizzle Miami
5/24-5/27

Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Fest
5/22

Viernes Culturales/Cultural Fridays Gallery Walk
5/31

For a detailed listing of Greater Miami & The Beaches Events, click here.

THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU EXTENDS WARM BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
John S. Vanordstrand, Peggy Marilley, Rudy Garcia Jr., Scott Blake, Austin Hollo, Bennett H. Brummer, Damaso del Rosario, David Kraslow, Patrick Leger, Revered Dr. Jimmie L. Bryant, Ed Griffin, Frank Rudman, Gustavo Godoy, Larry Alexander, Mary Rachelle Cherpak, Paulo Gutierrez, Peyton Elizabeth Logan, Roger Fritze, Gabriela G. Sotela, Kevin Speidel, Mark Auerbacher, Myra Berk, Karen Burgess, Carolina Corral, Clay Shaw, Kristine Buechsenschuetz, Yolanda Abuabara, Charles Towsley, Nancy Masse, Olga A. Espinosa-Anderson, Peter Freymuth, David Bagwell, Ignacio Ortiz-Petit, James E. Ricketts, Jorge Luis Lopez, Julio Robaina, Justin O’Brien, Kevin Rosa, Kristen White, Larry Hawkins, Leonard Fluxman, Mario E. Soldevilla, Tara Solomon, Tricia Dolan and William Porro.

Days Until
10 Miami Beach Polo World Cup VIII, Thursday, 25 April through Sunday, 28 April 2013
16 Miami Museum Month, Wednesday, 1 May through Friday, 31 May 2013
47 Miami Romance Month, Saturday, 1 June through Sunday, 30 June 2013
65 Film Life’s American Black Film Festival, Wednesday, 19 June through Sunday, 23 June 2013
219 MSC Divina arrives at PortMiami, Wednesday, 20 November 2013
236 Art Basel Miami Beach, Thursday, 5 December through Sunday, 8 December 2013
249 Costa Luminosa arrives at PortMiami, Friday, 20 December 2013
287 Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway arrives at PortMiami, Monday, 27 January 2014
1,146 International Pow Wow 2016 in Miami, Saturday, 21 May 2016

DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG – GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES RANKS #1 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR), #2 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REVPAR) AND #2 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2013 AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS
For January – February 2013, Greater Miami and the Beaches showed increases vs. 2012, ranking #1 in Average Daily Room rate (ADR) at $215.99, #2 in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) at $182.17, and #2 in Hotel Room Occupancy at 84.3% among the Top 25 Markets in the U.S. Smith Travel Research compares the top markets in the United States based on Occupancy, Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar).

• The O’ Miami Poetry Festival takes place now through April 30th. Poetry is literally all over town — even on lamp-posts! Events include dance & poetry, a Miami Literary Trivia Night, a flash mob, a Teen Poetry contest and Miami’s first poetry Parade. For a complete schedule of events, click here.
• 180 Job$ – Greater Miami Travel & Tourism Job$ – ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa employs 180 people[non-exportable jobs] and has been a proud GMCVB Partner since 2006.
• 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 April membership anniversary:
  • Bank of America
  • Duty Free Americas
  • Simon Malls

• GMCVB WELCOMES NEWEST CORPORATE PARTNER – SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC. – GMCVB is pleased to welcome our newest corporate partner – Simon Property Group, Inc. Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. Simon Property Group is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. In Miami, Simon Property Group malls include Dadeland Mall, The Falls, Miami International Mall and The Shops at Sunset Place. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.Simon.com.

FIRST AVAILABLE VISA INTERVIEW* DATE IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL IS APRIL 10, 2013
The average wait time in São Paulo, Brazil for a visa interview appointment in order to visit the USA is currently 2 days. Brasilia: 3 days. Recife: 2 days. Rio de Janeiro: 2 days. Just one year ago, the average wait time in São Paulo for a visa interview appointment was 35 days. There has been significant progress! Support Visa Waiver now! Support HR 3855 and JOLT. Thank you President Obama for reducing visa interview wait times in Brazil.
* Visa interviews on average take 3 minutes.

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (USA) RANKS #10, #12 AND #13 IN NIELSEN TOP 20 CABLE RATINGS FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2013
For the week ending March 31, 2013, WWE Monday Night Raw (USA) ranked #10, #12, and #13 in Nielsen’s Cable Top 20 TV ratings with 4.7, 4.6 and 4.6 million viewers respectively. WWE’s Wrestlemania Week drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches in April 2012.

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (USA) RANKS #6 IN “SOCIAL TV BUZZ” FOR DAY OF APRIL 1, 2013
WWE Monday Night Raw (USA) ranked #6 in social TV buzz among U.S. broadcast and cable TV shows for April 1, 2013, according to SocialGuide Intelligence (SGI) measurement. SocialGuide Intelligence (SGI) tracks the daily, weekly and monthly social activity for over 229 channels, every program aired. Data sources include Twitter, Facebook and Tribune Media Services’ TV data set.

GMCVB’S 2ND ANNUAL MIAMI GOLF MONTH RUNS THROUGH APRIL
GMCVB’s 2nd Annual Miami Golf Month runs through April 30, 2013. Greater Miami has plenty to brag about when it comes to golf courses. We feature some of the most difficult courses in the world, and some courses have been rated in the top 10 courses by Golfweek. Join us during April for special offers at our renowned golf resorts and courses. This year, several courses are making it easy for beginners to take advantage of the game by offering 9-hole specials as low as $20. For details, visit www.MiamiGolfMonth.com.

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER – ATTEND ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS
There will be many opportunities for the public to get informed and be involved in shaping the future of the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC). For the complete schedule, including the next public community meeting, click here.

VOTE FOR MIAMI! BEST FOODIE CITY
Attention foodies: it’s time to cast your vote for Miami. ConventionSouth magazine has selected 30 cities across the South to have readers and fans vote on in order to select some of the South’s Best Foodie Cities for Groups. Editors will close voting and announce results online on April 12th and within the May issue of ConventionSouth. To vote for MIAMI, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/foodiecities.

6TH ANNUAL MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & CATTLE SHOW IS APRIL 12-14, 2013 AT TROPICAL PARK
The 6th annual Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show is April 12-14, 2013 at Tropical Park. Cattle breeders from North America, South America and throughout the world will meet at this annual family friendly event. Enjoy live music, educational booths, agri-business and livestock product vendors, equestrian shows, dog obedience demonstrations, kids’ activities and much more. For details, visit www.MiamiCattleShow.com.

GMCVB PRESIDENT & CEO KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT DORAL BUSINESS COUNCIL’S SIGNATURE BREAKFAST APRIL 9, 2013
William D. Talbert, III, CDME, GMCVB President & CEO will be the keynote speaker at the Doral Business Council Signature Breakfast on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. The program will include display tables from the region’s hotel and travel related businesses. For more information, call 305 470-9597 and to RSVP directly online, click here.

GMCVB TO HOST VIP BOOTH AT 5TH ANNUAL MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE PARADE & FESTIVAL – APRIL 14, 2013
The 5th annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade & Festival will take place April 14, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., along Ocean Drive between
5th and 15th Streets. The GMCVB will be sponsoring the VIP booth that will be filled with amazing Miami images and materials. GMCVB Associate Vice President of Cultural Tourism George Neary will be staffing a travel/trade show booth with GMCVB’s publications. The honor of Grand Marshal has been bestowed upon the woman who was instrumental in establishing a Pride celebration in the city – Mayor Matti Herrera Bower. Joining Mayor Bower for the Pride celebration will be international superstar Adam Lambert, chart-topping songstress Crystal Waters and the incomparable entertainer Lady Bunny. For details, visit www.MiamiBeachGayPride.com.

SAVE THE DATE! GMCVB’S 22ND ANNUAL H.O.T. CHALLENGE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS MAY 3, 2013 AT DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA
GMCVB’s 22nd annual H.O.T. Challenge is May 3, 2013 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Recently purchased by Donald Trump, this world-class golf resort is undergoing a $250 million remodeling and will soon be rebranded as the Trump National Doral. GMCVB’s H.O.T. Challenge Golf Tournament benefits the Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami’s (BHI) African-American Scholarship Fund. The BHI is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1991 by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to increase and expand the participation by African Americans in Miami-Dade County’s visitor industry. To date, the BHI has awarded 182 scholarships. For details, click here.

GMCVB’S NEXT PARTNERSHIP MIXER IS APRIL 25, 2013
GMCVB’s next partnership mixer is at Regions Bank Coral Gables on April 25, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m. Please join us for networking, passed hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary drink. Don’t forget to bring your business card to enter a raffle for a chance to win a Regions Bank bicycle as the grand prize. Regions Bank Coral Gables is located at 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Complimentary parking is available in the Regions Bank Parking Garage. Click here to register.

GMCVB’S CONVENTION SALES BRINGS CLIENTS TO GREATER MIAMI TO SHOWCASE DESTINATION
GMCVB Convention Sales is hosting 11 clients from companies all over the U.S. for one of our annual Corporate Client Events to be held April 11-14, 2013. We thank our host hotels: Hotel Intercontinental Miami, JW Marriott Marquis and Conrad Miami for accommodating our special clients. This event focuses on showcasing our developing downtown area and the advantages of all the destination has to offer a future meeting or convention. Hotel site inspections, several networking opportunities, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility Events are expected to result in a successful event and plenty of future business.

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTS FIVEPOINTFIVE.ORG LIFESTYLE WEBSITE
GMCVB Media Relations recently assisted journalists Serena Star-Leonard and Johnny Leonard who produce travel review videos for the philanthropic/lifestyle website www.FivePointFive.org, April 3-8, 2013. Serena and Johnny are a husband-and-wife team who are travelling the world for three years with two main focuses: to document and film people who are making a difference to their communities and to film video reviews to highlight the best travel options for lifestyle travelers in the Americas. Five Point Five is a collaboration project that includes the creators of www.RetireYoung.com.au, www.GrassrootsInernetStrategy.com.au and www.SoberPaddy.com, with key support and promotional partnership from organizations such as World Vision (Australia) and MiNDFOOD magazine (Australia, New Zealand). The website has access through these partnerships to over 500,000 visitors per month in English speaking countries and communicated through a variety of digital media including email, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Their travel blogs consist of fun, comprehensive 3-6 minute video reviews plus written reviews designed with Search Engine Optimization in mind (audience reach: 500,000).

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS ASSISTED EDITOR FOR UNITED KINGDOM’S TESCO MAGAZINE
GMCVB Media Relations recently assisted Helen Johnston, editor of Tesco magazine, who was in Miami March 31-April 3, 2013 to do research for a general destination feature. Tesco is a supermarket publication with the highest print circulation in the UK (circulation: 1,949,173). Readers are mostly average earning housewives/females and families and with a website that is very strong in terms of community and content. They will be publishing a one-page article with images in the September/October issue. One page of advertising in the magazine is worth more than £26,500. The United Kingdom ranked #6 for international overnight visitors to Greater Miami in 2011 and generated an economic impact of $739 million.

GMCVB’S MEDIA RELATIONS US/CANADA ASSISTS VARIETY MAGAZINE APRIL 11-13, 2013
GMCVB Media Relations is assisting an editor for Variety magazine (circulation: 30,857) in Miami April 11-13, 2013 reporting on a story about location filmmaking and incentives in the U.S. and overseas. Established in 1905 and edited for the global entertainment industry, Variety provides entertainment decision-makers with breaking news, reviews and domestic and global box office information, as well as in-depth analysis and interpretation.

SPONSORS FOR 2013 H.O.T. CHALLENGE – MAY 3, 2013 AT DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) organizes the Hospitality Open Golf Tournament (H.O.T.) to fund scholarships for men and women of African heritage committed to working in the local visitor industry upon their graduation. The following sponsors have generously donated to the 2013 H.O.T. Challenge:

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE REPEALS INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT REQUIREMENT
On April 2, 2013, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law repealing the 2012 International Driving Permit (IDP) law. The repeal will take effect immediately and be retroactive to January 1, 2013. The bill-signing was held in conjunction with Florida International Days at the Capitol. International tourists will no longer have to obtain a special permit before they are allowed to drive in Florida. To read more, click here.

JOE’S STONE CRAB AMONG USA’S MOST ICONIC RESTAURANTS
Restaurant guidebook and online publisher Zagat recently named iconic restaurants in or near 15 major cities. It’s no surprise that Joe’s Stone Crab, the Miami Beach landmark restaurant currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, made the list. To read the complete article, click here.

UNITED WAY MIAMI WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL – NOW VERITAGEMIAMI IS SET FOR APRIL 17-20, 2013
What was the United Way Miami Wine & Food Festival is now VeritageMiami. Set for April 17 – 20, 2013, VeritageMiami brings together a who’s who of more than 3,000 wine, beer, spirits and food lovers from all across South Florida along with top sommeliers, notable chefs, prestigious wineries, winemakers and breweries and an impressive line-up of auction lots all to benefit the South Florida community. Celebrating its 18th year, VeritageMiami benefits United Way of Miami-Dade, supporting programs in our community that are focused on improving the education, financial stability and health of our residents. For more information on the multiple events and to purchase tickets, click here.

19TH ANNUAL INN KEY AWARDS – MAY 7, 2013 AT DOUBLETREE BY HILTON MIAMI AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER
The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association’s 19th Annual Inn Key Awards are May 7, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center. The luncheon and awards ceremony will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For table top reservations, individual ticket purchases or sponsorship inquiries, please contact InnKey@GMBHA.com.

12TH DRANOFF 2 PIANO SEMIFINALS – MAY 11-14, 2013
May is an exciting month for the International Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation, featuring concerts by talented pianists from around the world. Piano Slam 5 takes place on May 2, 2013 at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. On May 11-14, 3013, the 12th Dranoff 2 Piano Semifinals take place at University of Miami’s Clarke Recital Hall. On May 16th, the Grand Finale concert will be performed at University of Miami’s Gusman Hall followed by the Gala. For the complete schedule and to purchase tickets, click here.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DAYS IN TALLAHASSEE MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
2013 marks the 25th anniversary of Miami-Dade County Days in Tallahassee, a forum that continues to showcase our people and municipalities during the annual Florida Legislative Session. As part of the annual tradition, the 2013 Miami-Dade County Days Awards were presented on April 4, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida USA. The GMCVB extends congratulations to all the recipients of these prestigious awards.