ART CREDIT

incentive meetings Miami Tempt groups with the most exciting destination in the country

Whatever an incentive group is looking for, what they won’t find in Miami is the same old, same old. No usual suspects. No been there, done that. Miami is brighter, hipper, and bet- ter than ever, and a crop of new develop- ments has created plenty of new experiences for incentive groups. Meeting planners looking for inspiring,

can’t-find-anywhere-else venues have more than a few options in Miami. For example, it’s the only city in the United States with two new performing-arts centers. Designed by architectural superstar Cesar Pelli, the 250- seat Carnival Studio Theater has been called one of the “world’s most beautiful theaters,” while the Frank Gehry–designed New World Center, just two blocks from the shops and restaurants of Lincoln Road, is at the heart

of Miami Beach’s City Center Redevelop- ment Project. Miami is also the only city in the world with a new cultural arts center, downtown-adjacent baseball stadium, arts district, and science museum (scheduled to open in 2014). As for activities, from championship

golf courses to the world’s largest collec- tion of designer boutiques, the list is envi- able yet varied. Attendees can sip cocktails and shop the stores that line world-famous South Beach, or watch an evening concert in the largest state-park beach, North Shore Open Space Park. But hip Miami can also be a family-friendly destination. Between Jungle Island, the Miami Seaquarium, and Zoo Miami, there are lots of fun attractions that are ideal for kids.

Miami’s sporting events, national parks,

and, of course, sprawling white-sand beaches offer rousing options for off-site team-build- ing activities and group excursions. Miami is home to NASCAR’s Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway as well as popular annual events like the Sony Open Tennis and Cadillac World Golf Championship at Trump National Doral. For outdoorsy types, Miami-Dade’s two national parks — the Biscayne National Pre- serve and Everglades National Park — have everything from shipwrecks to mangrove forests for groups to explore.

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

Warm up Miami’s average annual temperature of 76 degrees and many cosmopolitan assets make it the ideal glamorous yet tropical getaway.

Coming and going It’s easier than ever to get here. With new terminals and Metrorail service to downtown, Miami International Airport has made it simple to quickly move from Point A to Point B. A recently in- stalled high-speed train whisks travelers from plane to baggage claim to a new intermodal center, where rental cars, taxis, and public transporta- tion are available in one convenient place.

96 PCMA CONVENE OCTOBER 2013

PCMA.ORG