MULTICULTURAL MIAMI

Hospitality industry & Education

The GMCVB Names New Director of Black Hospitality Initiative

The GMCVB has appointed Graylyn Swilley-Woods, Ph.D., as the new Director of the Black Hospitality Initiative (BHI). In her position, she will be responsible for leading BHI’s mission of advancing opportunities and increasing workforce participation for African Americans and Black people of African descent in Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s visitor industry through scholarships, talent development and job referral programs. Dr. Swilley-Woods has more than 25 years of experience in community engagement, economic development, hospitality and higher education. The Black Hospitality Initiative has evolved and will now be a component of the overall Multicultural Tourism & Development Department.

31st Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Luncheon

Join the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Board on November 10, as they honor all of the nominees and award this year's South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year, while highlighting the South Florida Tourism Industry. Proceeds benefit the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Learn more here.

LGBTQ+ Diversity & Inclusion Training

Sign up for the Miami Begins with Me LGBTQ+ Diversity & Inclusion course being offered by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. This free training program aims to empower Greater Miami’s tourism industry with personalized ways to engage with LGBTQ+ customers. The session explores how preconceptions of gender and sexual orientation have shaped customer service practices. Examining these assumptions provides new awareness and actions that create authentic and welcoming experiences for all visitors. Held November 14 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Coral Gables Museum. Click here to register.

GMCVB Coffee & Conversation Featuring: Miami Arts, Culture & Heritage Months

Miami Arts, Culture & Heritage Months will be a celebration running December – January highlighting all of the incredible experiences happening throughout our community. On November 16, John Copeland, Director of Arts & Culture Tourism and Petra Brennan, Director of Tourism Business Enhancement will share updates, news and information about Miami Art Week 2022 and how the GMCVB is encouraging visitors and residents alike to explore all that Greater Miami and Miami Beach has to offer. Register here.

Café Bustelo & Pilon announce $1.25 million gift to FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and FIU CasaCuba

Café Bustelo & Pilon, coffee brands in The J.M. Smucker Co. portfolio, have announced a $1.25 million gift to Florida International University benefiting student scholarships, the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the construction of FIU CasaCuba. A portion of the gift will create the Café Bustelo® El Café Del Futuro Scholarship for students studying hospitality management. Additional support will fund the development of new curricula and master classes at the Chaplin School that examine the coffee industry. Café Bustelo will be recognized as a founding partner of the Chaplin School’s new coffee program and a partner in the school’s ongoing effort to expand food and beverage education that is focused on consumer experience and education, research and sustainability. Learn more here.

Miami Beach Bans Cigarette Smoking at Public Beaches and Parks

Citing health and environmental benefits, the Miami Beach City Commission voted today to ban cigarette smoking and other tobacco products on the city’s public beaches and public parks. The new ordinance carries a $100 fine or up to 60 days in jail for the first violation within a 12-month period. The ordinance takes effect on Sunday, January 1, 2023 in order to allow time for education and community outreach. Learn more here.

MIA Now Offering Pre-scheduled TSA Screening Times

A new pilot program at MIA aims to streamline the TSA security process. For the next six months, American Airlines passengers will be able to pre-schedule a time (and therefore bypass the regular line) to pass through Miami International’s TSA Checkpoint 4 using MIA Reserve, a free reservation service. Reservations can be made up to 72 hours before departure for two different two-hour timeframes (one early morning, one afternoon). TSA PreCheck passengers are not eligible, but groups of up to 10 passengers can use the service on a single reservation. The pilot program aims to offer a “more predictable” security experience as the airport continues to see record passenger traffic. Learn more.

GMCVB Offers Free 360° Video Program to Partners

We have partnered with Threshold 360 to create a 360° interactive video of your property for your listing on our website at no cost to you. Using a tripod and 360° camera, the creator will create a 360° experience of your property, including any event spaces that are available to capture. Your customers and staff can be present, and no staging is required. Learn more here.

FIU Leads Alliance to Build Hospitality Pipeline for Underrepresented Minority Students and Diverse Leadership in Hospitality

A bold, new initiative is under way across the U.S. to create a pathway for Black and Hispanic students to become future leaders in hospitality, one of the world’s largest industries. The Alliance for Hospitality Equity and Diversity (AHED), led by the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), is on a mission to create a nationwide recruitment infrastructure to increase diversity among students at member universities. Read more.

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Webcam

The GMCVB has added a beautiful new view to our family of Greater Miami & Miami Beach webcams. Introducing the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park webcam. A scenic and historic island oasis with a special significance for our black community. Explore the mile-long shoreline, bike and nature trails, and visit the vintage carousel with the kids.

Miami Named in World's Greatest Places of 2022

Miami has emerged as the U.S. capital of cool! We are honored that TIME Magazine has named Miami as one of the World's Greatest Places of 2022. Miami also ranked 38th on Time Out Magazine's list of 53 Best Cities in the World for 2022. The GMCVB looks forward to continuing to market Greater Miami and Miami Beach as a premier destination!

TripAdvisor’s Annual Best of the Best Awards

The results have just been announced for top destinations in the annual TripAdvisor Best of the Best Awards. Miami & Miami Beach ranked in top honors in the travel categories of Best Overall Experience, Best Food and Most Popular. Congratulations to all who promote and deliver the overall diverse experiences in our truly unique destination that has it all. Learn more here.

Free Virtual Hospitality Trainings

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.

MIAMI-Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau