(MIAMI BEACH, Fla.) August 31, 2023 – The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), South Florida's reimagined, renovated, expanded and top-tier convention center, unveils a suite of recent 2023 highlights and a glance into its exciting fall program.

Reflecting on the whirlwind spring and summer season, Freddie Peterson, General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center, proudly managed by OVG360 noted, “It's been an unprecedented period for the MBCC and its campus. We experienced record-breaking attendance and exhibitors for a number of our annual events in Miami Beach, received prestigious awards, and completed digital upgrades and enhancements to our safety, security, and sustainability programs. Our vision is clear: delivering exceptional events, driving excellence in customer service and venue management while creating memorable experiences. Together with the City of Miami Beach and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), we continue to welcome all who enter the MBCC and its campus with open arms.”
 

AWARDS

The MBCC is excited to announce remarkable achievements and key event industry accolades: the “Smart Stars 2023 Award” by Smart Meetings Magazine and the “2023 F&D Prime Site Award” by Facilities & Destinations. MBCC's sustainability program was further honored by UFI (The Global Association for the Events Industry), with a “Best Practice Recognition” in the category of “Sustainability Development”. These, coupled with being named finalists for upcoming award unveilings “Distinctive Achievement Award 2023” by Association, Conventions & Facilities Magazine, the Stella Awards by Northstar Meetings Group, and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Southeast Florida / Caribbean 2023 Project of the Year Award, as well as being a nominee for Exhibitor Magazine’s “Centers of Excellence Award 2023” underscore its commitment to industry excellence.
 

NEW WEBSITE

In April, the MBCC unveiled its dynamic new website www.miamibeachconvention.com, developed in collaboration with the award-winning digital agency, Miles Partnership. The site offers an immersive digital experience, fusing striking visuals, compelling storytelling, and user-friendly navigation. Visitors are invited to explore the convention center's state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, with an emphasis on diversity, sustainability, and accessibility. Enhanced features include a fully integrated Spanish language version via Google Translate, social media integration, interactive tools such as 360 virtual tours, and an interactive map of the MBCC campus and convention center district. Engaging landing pages for meeting planners, attendees, and exhibitors showcase the MBCC’s compelling features and venue partner offerings from Sodexo Live!, SmartCity Networks, Everlast Productions, and First Class Parking.

Re-imagined following a $640 million renovation, the expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000- square-foot Grand Ballroom, four junior ballrooms, almost 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, approximately 800 roof deck parking spaces, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $10.2 million worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program and a six-acre (Pride Park) and three-acre (Collins Canal Park) public green spaces that can serve as incremental event space. The MBCC campus includes two new event spaces: Venu, a space for elegant private events and upscale meetings, and Rum Room, a 1920s restaurant with an enticing tapas-style menu and local South Florida rums.

With a sharp focus on search engine optimization, the website ensures high visibility and attracts organic traffic, solidifying MBCC's position in the conventions and events industry. Integral to the website's success has been collaborative efforts with partners. The MBCC collaborated closely with the City of Miami Beach and the GMCVB to align the website design with the Miami Beach destination brand campaign, "Find Your Wave."  The digital platform presents the lively Miami Beach experience, blending the MBCC's architectural ocean theme with local arts, culture, and innovation.
 

ENHANCED FOCUS ON SAFETY & SECURITY

In a world where security is paramount, in partnership with the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) and in support of local, national and global efforts to continuously and consistently enhance public safety and security in an ever-changing landscape, the MBCC conducted an advanced Venue Safety and Security Training on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, for over 325+ registered attendees. Local, regional, national and federal first responders, venue security professionals, key hospitality stakeholders, and event planners. The training was led by Mark Herrera, the Director of Safety and Security IAVM, reflecting a collaboration of the highest standard to implement best practices, protocols, and procedures that create the safest and most conducive environment for our employees, guests, and contract partners.

Furthermore, the City of Miami Beach Public Works Department completed a security enhancement project for the MBCC during the month of August. Security bollards were installed at the main entrance on Convention Center Drive and at the east entrance on Washington Avenue.
 

NEW RESTAURANT AND PRIVATE MEETING SPACE ON THE MBCC CAMPUS

This spring, Rum Room hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official grand opening of the new and exciting restaurant and event space in the heart of Miami Beach. Rum Room is an impressive 80-seat restaurant that offers a unique combination of Old World and tropical 1920s Florida themes, creating a memorable and elegant atmosphere. The restaurant is led by Sodexo Live! Executive Chef Samantha Cruz, who draws inspiration from Florida's history and Miami's Haitian, Latin, and Central American influences to create a delicious upscale menu made with indigenous Florida and Spanish ingredients. Additionally, the restaurant and the MBCC feature an intimate event space next door called Venu, which can host a flexible indoor-outdoor configuration of up to 200 guests. Rum Room and Venu are located in the historic Miami Beach Clubhouse buildings on the campus of the MBCC.

"We are excited to breathe new life into this historic building and offer a fresh dining experience to locals and visitors alike," said Danny Medina, Regional Vice President for Sodexo Live!, the MBCC’s exclusive hospitality partner. "With our rich cultural heritage, history, and cuisine, we created a dining destination that celebrates the best of Miami's past and present."

For more information and menus, please visit Rum Room's new website www.rumroommiamibeach.com or on Instagram @therumroommiamibeach.

UPCOMING 2023 FALL EVENTS

The MBCC is set to deliver an extraordinary second half of the calendar year, featuring a diverse range of national and international conventions, spectacular galas, and events from the verticals of tech, health, finance, entertainment, arts & culture that will attract attendees from all corners of the globe.

A glance into the MBCC's topline events calendar reveals a bustling fall season:

• Miami International Auto Show
• EcoShield Pro Bowl 2023
• Bench & Bar 2023 Conference
• UIP World Congress 2023
• BK Franchise Owner's Conference
• Jeweler's International Showcase
• AIPE Latin Golden Awards
• LGBTQ National Task Force Gala
• Baptist Health Foundation Grand Gala
• HYROX - The World Series of Fitness 2023
• The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa
• Cisco Annual Partner Summit
• 15th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit
• Crypto Expo Miami 2023
• Art Basel Miami Beach

"The GMCVB has forged a strong partnership with the team at the MBCC to secure major conventions and events at this exceptional facility,” said GMCVB President and CEO David Whitaker. “We look forward to building on the success of our relationship to pursue future opportunities.”

These events not only underline the MBCC's pivotal role in the conventions, meetings, and tradeshow sectors but also spotlight its integral part in boosting the local economy with robust economic impact and employment.
 

THE MBCC FOCUSES ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR), SUSTAINABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING (DEIB)

Four staff members have earned the Events Industry Council’s (EIC)’s “Sustainable Event Professional Certificate,” which is designed for professionals who are dedicated to implementing sustainability and social impact where they work. Having already earned its Silver LEED Certification because of its energy-efficient green building and lower carbon footprint, the MBCC is currently advancing through the EIC’s organizational certification program to implement the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, a collection of eight specific standards that assess events and industry suppliers on a wide range of sustainability criteria in support of environmental and social responsibility.

“We see accelerated demand for sustainability efforts and practices from our event customers and are proud to be able to offer innovative solutions for waste and carbon footprint reduction as well as donation programs that benefit our local non-profits and families in need,” says Ariane Hiltebrand, Director of Marketing & External Relations and Chair of the MBCC CSR/Sustainability Committee. “Our team has hosted a number of sustainability tours of the Miami Beach Convention Center this year for event customers, media, local organizations, and hospitality partners, as well as universities.”  The MBCC is also host to an increasing number of climate conferences, such as the Aspen Ideas: Climate Summit this past spring and the upcoming 15th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit.

As part of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the MBCC invites organizers, exhibitors, and all contract partners to donate to the MBCC’s C.A.R.E. (Community Assistance by Responsible Events) program. Not only does donating these leftover materials such as office supplies, pens, brochures, bags, furniture, and other items divert waste from local landfills, the program supports local non-profits, directly benefiting some of the neediest residents, families, and children in our community.

Taking a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to its food and beverage business practices, Sodexo Live! expanded its composting program with Miami-based “Compost 4 Life”, recycling cooking oils to prevent additional food waste, and is a proud participant in the “Plastic Free Miami Beach” initiative, eliminating zero single-use plastics and serving items with compostable, reusable, or recyclable cutlery, cups, and dishware. Furthermore, Sodexo Live! at MBCC donates tens of thousands of pounds of prepared but unused food to The Caring Place, Miami Rescue Mission, and Food Rescue Miami.

This spring, Chef Samantha worked with the back-of-house staff to build an herb and vegetable garden next to Rum Room on the MBCC campus, which began as a project to drive more sustainable practices in the kitchen. The garden currently holds 192 square feet of herb and vegetable beds and consists of organic soil mixed with compost from the convention center’s composting program. The vegetables and herbs harvested will be used on the Rum Room and Venu menus and foliage will be added to table garnishes and decorations. Solar-powered lights were installed on the wooden fence surrounding the garden.

The MBCC has an internal DEIB committee to foster a culture of inclusivity and plan activities that celebrate diversity. Committed to inclusion, the MBCC is also an active member of the Miami-Dade Gay  & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and currently participates in the “Pink Flamingo” program roll-out to offer additional resources and visitor amenities to the global LGBTQ+ community.

The MBCC is owned by the City of Miami Beach and managed by OVG360, a division of global venue development, advisory, and investment giant, Oak View Group. The MBCC is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, please visit www.miamibeachconvention.com or follow Miami Beach Convention Center on Facebook and @miamibeachcc on Instagram.
 

Media Contact:

DeepSleep Studio | [email protected] | (305) 877-1031

Images and interviews are available upon request.

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ABOUT MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

Re-imagined following a $640 million renovation, the expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000- square-foot Grand Ballroom, four junior ballrooms, almost 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, approximately 800 roof deck parking spaces, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $10.2 million worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program and a six-acre (Pride Park) and three-acre (Collins Canal Park) public green spaces that can serve as incremental event space. The MBCC Campus includes two new event spaces: Venu, a space for elegant private events and upscale meetings, and Rum Room, a 1920s restaurant with an enticing tapas-style menu and local South Florida rums. The MBCC is proud to have earned Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation and LEED® Silver Certification as part of the venue’s $640 million expansion project, which includes many environmentally friendly features.