On Oct. 21, Miami Beach Convention Center hosted The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting, the first event to take place at the venue since it reopened in October after closing due to the pandemic in April. 

The facility’s 60,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom was well-equipped to accommodate social distancing for 200 in-person guests. MBCC worked with Smart City Networks and Everlast Productions to also create a seamless livestream for an additional 478 virtual participants. All participants attending in-person were subject to a temperature screening, and facial coverings were required throughout the entire event.

“In hand with our GMCVB partners, the event was a great opportunity to successfully demonstrate proof of concept for hybrid events and venue safety measures,” said Freddie Peterson, general manager of MBCC.

At the event, the GMCVB announced two noteworthy events scheduled to take place in Miami-Dade County: the Latin Grammy Award Show (virtual, but filming in Miami at AmericanAirlines Arena) in November, and the Aesthetic Society convention in April 2021. Attendees also learned more about the status of Miami’s tourism industry and initiatives such as Miami Arts, Culture and Heritage Months, a collection of new virtual and in-person experiences launching in response to Art Basel’s cancellation this year.

For those attending in person, MBCC offered post-meeting tours of the expanded venue, which completed a $620 million renovation in fall 2018. Tours included its recently unveiled recording and livestream suite, Art Deco Studio; artwork from the City of Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places program; and the surrounding green spaces of Collins Canal Park, Pride Park and the Carl Fisher Clubhouse.

MBCC was awarded GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation this fall, providing comprehensive cleaning and disinfection protocols with third-party validation, and participates in the City of Miami Beach’s MB Standard program as well as following all CDC health and safety guidelines.

While November and December events previously scheduled at MBCC— such as America’s Food & Beverage Show, Emerge Americas and Cruiseworld —  have been canceled or postponed, the convention center is scheduled to host multiple large events in early 2021. This includes the Natural Disaster Expo and Miami International Auto Show in February, and World of Travel Trade & Taste in March.