special section Resorts

Greater Miami and the Beaches

Everything attendees want, everything planners need

When meeting planners choose Miami, they’re not just picking any destination — they’re choosing a city that every single one of their attendees wants to visit. Starting the moment they arrive at Miami Interna- tional Airport — recently upgraded with new terminals and a new AirportLink Metrorail extension that connects passengers to down- town — visitors will discover an amenity-rich destination with everything from the most talked-about hotels and beaches to the hip- pest clubs and latest restaurants. Miami is chock-full of new hotels offering

46,365 hotel rooms. South Beach is already home to the world’s largest collection of restored Art Deco and Art Nouveau boutique hotels, and grand dames like the Fontaine- bleau Miami Beach and Eden Roc Renais- sance Miami Beach have been facelifted after billions of dollars in renovations. New event facilities and performance

venues are changing Miami’s skyline, too. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Perform- ing Arts of Miami-Dade County now anchors Miami’s bustling downtown, and directly across from the 650,000-square-foot Miami Beach Convention Center is the new Frank Gehry–designed New World Center, home to Miami’s New World Symphony. The center is also home to the Miami Beach SoundScape, where concert-goers can watch the sympho- ny al fresco. Miami is made up of a convergence of

cultures, and nowhere is that more appar- ent than its dining scene. In the past year, Miami’s total number of restaurants has stretched beyond 5,000, with trendy eater- ies and neighborhood haunts popping up on almost every corner. Just as plentiful and varied, Miami’s spa scene is also one of the destination’s biggest draws. Whether hidden away in a beach resort or in a penthouse over-

looking South Beach, spas in Miami come in every shape and fit every budget. A trip to sunny Miami is never complete

without a little outdoor playtime. The city, home to four World Golf Championship events and dozens of top-rated courses, is a golfer’s paradise. Water sports — from waterskiing to windsurfing — are available almost anywhere along the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, and the Miami-Dade area has two national parks, the Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park.

For more information: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; (305) 539-3071; meetings@gmcvb.com; miamimeetings.com

Tee time ‘With our beautiful climate, stunning views, accommodating locations, and premier golf events,Miami is one of the most desirable locations in the world to play golf in,’ said William D. Talbert III, CDME, president and CEO of the GreaterMiami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

80 PCMA CONVENE JUNE 2012 PCMA.ORG