Miami to Move Forward with Convention Center Headquarter Hotel Project

November 19, 2018

Last week, an overwhelming majority of voters from the City of Miami Beach approved the lease of public land for a privately-funded convention headquarter hotel that will be connected to the newly renovated and reimagined $620 million Miami Beach Convention Center. 

The yes vote on ballot item No. 388 sets the completion of Greater Miami’s convention center district in motion, according to City officials. 

“The City of Miami Beach residents have spoken loud and clear,” said City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “A super majority of nearly 64 percent is no easy feat and this is a huge victory for the City and for the community.”

He added, “The new privately-funded headquarter hotel will generate funding for educational programs, traffic reduction measures and environmental resiliency projects.” 

Considered the missing ingredient in the destination’s meetings and convention package, the privately-funded, 800-room convention headquarter hotel will be an integral part of the convention district that will make Greater Miami more competitive in securing meetings business, thereby fueling more travel and tourism jobs and increasing economic impact to the community, according to William Talbert III, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB).

“The headquarter hotel connected to the re-imagined Miami Beach Convention Center has been the missing piece in our destination’s world-class meetings and conventions offerings (and) now, the approved HQ hotel will bring important associations and conventions to Miami and the Beaches that would not have considered us an option before,” Talbert said.

He continued, “Now that the voters have spoken, the private developer will go through the City of Miami Beach’s Design Review Board and permitting process. This decision is a landmark moment for meetings in Miami – and meetings mean business!”

As the anchor to Greater Miami’s meetings and conventions industry, the reimagined and expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000 square foot grand ballroom, 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 84 breakout rooms and a six-acre public park capable of serving as incremental event space. 

In September, Miami and the Beaches welcomed The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the first citywide convention to take advantage of the newly transformed MBCC, followed by The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Congress, held Oct. 31-Nov. 4. 

In just two short months, these conventions generated approximately $10 million in economic impact for the local community, according to GMCVB officials.

“We were fortunate to have early adopters like AHIMA who believed in the destination and booked the reimagined MBCC without a headquarter hotel,” said William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the GMCVB. 

He continued, “We knew they and others like them would not book again without a connected convention hotel. We have a world-class destination and now a world-class convention center package to offer meeting planners and clients.” 

 

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.