# The Greater Miami Conventions and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting

- Link: https://exclusiveaccess.net/the-greater-miami-conventions-and-visitors-bureau-annual-meeting/
- Published: 2020-10-21T18:20:31-04:00
- Author: EAN

 

 

The Greater Miami Conventions and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announced Wednesday that
two noteworthy events are scheduled to take place in Miami-Dade County between now
and May 2021. The GMCVB made the announcement at its annual meeting at the Miami
Beach Convention Center. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — also
known as the Aesthetic Society — is scheduled to host a conference from April 30
to May 3, 2021 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Some of the event’s functions
will take place virtually, however it is one of the first groups to book an event
in Miami-Dade County since March amid the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kathleen McClemmy, director of meetings at the Aesthetic Society, said she toured
the convention center’s facilities last week, and the health and safety precautions
in place eased her concerns. Safety measures include socially distant food service
options, large event rooms to space out seating and online production capabilities
to broadcast events.

“We are so exited about all the things [the GMCVB] has done to set us on the right
path to bring face-to-face meetings back,” McClemmy said.

Additionally, GMCVB CEO Bill Talbert said the Latin Grammy’s plans to host its annual
award show Nov. 19 at the American Airlines Arena.

The awards show will broadcast live from the arena and attendance will be limited
to performers and their teams. Talbert highlighted the event as a chance to get 
Miami back into the public eye as a potential travel destination.

Covid-19 restrictions on travel and in-person gatherings eliminated all events for
much of 2020, including Art Basel and Ultra Music Festival. As those restrictions
are eased, the region is seeing the slow return of some large-scale events like 
the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show beginning Oct. 28.

The return of major events has not [offset](https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/4256257/264167/4272?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Foffset-tickets%2Fartist%2F2611838)
the effects the pandemic has had on conventions and large-scale events.

Talbert said 18 GMCVB employees have been laid off and the bureau tapped its business
recovery funds to sustain it through the rest of the year. Executive salaries have
also been cut.

Without revenue from conventions and events, the GMCVB pivoted to attract money 
from other businesses.

Bruce Orosz, chairman of the GMCVB, said the bureau launched a Safe Sets marketing
initiative to draw film and television production crews to the county. He added 
the bureau aims to create bubble-like production sets, similar to what the NBA had
in Orlando this summer.

Additionally, Talbert said the bureau’s Miami Land marketing initiative aims to 
draw visitors to the county’s outdoor attractions like its state parks.

The Miami-Dade County Commission granted the GMCVB $5 million in CARES Act money
to fund the campaign.

Talbert added that on Monday, the GMCVB hosted an online meeting with 53 hotel representatives
to brainstorm ways to draw more conventions and meetings to the county in the coming
months.