The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) is accepting grant applications for special events, activities and festivals which will stimulate tourism for Miami Beach between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022. Grant opportunities are available in various categories including: Development Opportunities, Major One Time Special Event, and Tourism Partnerships.  Click here for more information.

The GMCVB and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits have awarded five Black Hospitality Initiative (BHI) students with scholarships totaling $50,000. The BHI, established by the GMCVB in 1991, is a nonprofit program focused on advancing economic participation for Black Americans in Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s hospitality industry. Since its inception, BHI has awarded more than 450 scholarships and raised over $3.5 million in scholarship funds. Click here for more information.

Congratulations to all of our nominees for the 30th Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award!! Our nominees will be honored on September 30, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Miami where the winner will be annouced. The South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award recognizes individuals in the hospitality industry who have made significant contributions to education and the South Florida community. Proceeds from this event benefit public high school students in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.  To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Join the GMBHA and Ball Janik, as well as industry leaders from varying service areas related to the hospitality industry as we discuss the recent Champlain Tower collapse tragedy and look to the event as a case study in safeguarding your properties. September 14th at  11:00 a.m. Register here.

Join The South Florida Business Journal for a national conversation on the future of business travel. The event will be held on September 13th from 2:00-3:00 PM EST.  Register here.

The Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association has partnered with Food for the Poor Charity to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti by providing critical and lifesaving supplies.  Your contribution of an essential item will help provide emergency relief for earthquake victims. To learn more and/or make a donation, please contact Faheemah@GMBHA.com

Join a club that prepares you to be a leader in hospitality! Use the skills you gain from joining SHELP (Student Hospitality Emerging Leaders Program) for your future career. The FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality is currently accepting applications for fall 2021, for more information and to sign up click here.

Forbes Travel Guide, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) and the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association invite you to participate in their free online hospitality training program.  The Forbes Travel Guide Online Training program for Miami Beach based employees has learning paths customized for employees’ specific tasks within an organization. Click here to learn more.

The Miami Dade College Kick-Start scholarship program now includes the Chef Apprentice College Credit Certificate. Everyone who is awarded this scholarship will receive free tuition, money for books, and a living stipend in the amount of $100 per credit hour. The only cost for the student is the $30 application fee. Complete details can be found in the FAQ’s at https://www.mdc.edu/kickstart/ .  There are spots available in the Chef Apprentice program this fall. To begin the application process, go to www.mdc.edu/kickstart.

Spirit Airlines will begin service to Miami International Airport (MIA) with 30 convenient, nonstop routes to start this fall.  Spirits' initial scheule, which includes flights from both international and domestic cities, is big enough to earn the airline a place as MIA's second largest carrier.  Adding service to MIA is the next chapter of Spirit'ss story as the carrier steps up to meet the demand for high-value travel to the destination.  Click here for more information.

GMCVB President and CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME was honored by the Miami-Dade Chamber with the 2021 Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce H.T. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to an individual whose exceptional lifetime contributions of community leadership have improved the quality of life for Miami-Dade residents. Bill will be recognized at the Chamber’s 16th Annual “Heart of a Champion” Gala on December 4. 

American Airlines, Miami's hometown airline, plans to launch two new Caribbean routes from Dominica and Anguilla to Miami Interational Airport (MIA).  The direct flights will operate twice a week beginning in December.  The new routes come as more carriers are moving into MIA.  In the last year, Emirates, Southewest Airline, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines have debuted flights to MIA.  Click here for more information.

The GMCVB Multicultural staff completed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certification facilitated by the University of South Florida MUMA College of Business. The course included how building and growing a workforce that includes differing races, religions, ages, genders and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities can not only improve broad society issues but can also help companies develop novel business practices, increase revenue, and improve performance. The online seven-week certificate course focused on ways organizations can create a more diverse workplace as well as address equity issues and foster inclusivity.