Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau showcases vibrant destination to Canadians
Old Man Winter lent a helping hand to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Toronto promotion last week.
Suzie Sponder, the bureau’s senior director, marketing and communications for the U.S. and Canada, told a Jan. 29 Toronto gathering that took place just days after the city saw a massive snowfall and on the eve of numbingly cold weather that her destination was far warmer.
“I couldn’t have found a better time to sell Miami,” she said during an event during which Miami’s temperature was 21°C.
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – which promotes both Greater Miami and Miami Beach – cheerfully touts the many beach options awaiting visitors but Sponder insists that her destination shouldn’t be simply viewed as a beach retreat.
“We’re a great beach destination,” she said. “We have a great climate year-round. (But) we have all the accoutrements of a major destination and with the addition of the beaches that’s really what distinguishes us.”
Sponder’s colleague Debra Lee said the multicultural destination can be compared to an international crossroads found in the United States. The Miami area has strong Hispanic influences, prompting those organizing the Toronto event to have a salsa dancing class.
Sponder also said it’s a festive place, citing December’s annual Art Basel art festival, which bills itself as the “premier art show in the Americas.”
February sees the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the largest food festival in the United States.
Sponder also praised a lively sports scene, with Miami last month hosting the NHL Winter Classic and upcoming events including a F1 race and some of the FIFA World Cup soccer games.
Sponder told Travel Courier that the “culinary scene in Miami is incredibly unique,” featuring 16 Michelin-starred restaurants and dozens of others recognized by Michelin.
Sponder also noted that the Brightline rail system links Miami with the Orlando area in three hours, making day trips possible for those wanting to see Orlando’s theme parks.
Meanwhile, the Miami area is seeing a number of tourism infrastructure developments, including the iconic oceanfront Loews Miami Beach Hotel having unveiled a $55 million redesign, introducing 790 transformed guest rooms and suites alongside two new culinary concepts, Bistro Collins and The Sushi Bar.
In Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, Balfour Miami Beach joined The Registry Collection, ushering the 82-room art deco landmark into a new chapter while preserving its historic character. Built in 1940, the hotel blends vintage design with modern comforts, offering an upscale retreat just steps from the beach.
In Aventura, JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa debuted Turnberry Isle Racquet Club, introducing three pickleball courts and two padel courts, along with lessons, tournaments and an on-site Racquet Shoppe, adding new ways for guests and members to stay active within the resort’s 300-acre setting.
Looking ahead, Delano Miami Beach will officially reopen on March 9, marking the return of one of South Beach’s most iconic hospitality landmarks. The reimagined property will feature 171 redesigned guest rooms, four dining and bar concepts (including the revival of the legendary Rose Bar), a wellness studio and an exclusive members club.
Meanwhile, Sponder said her destination – which hosted 283,000 Canadians in 2024, the last year for which figures are available – would welcome a rebound in Canadian visitations, with ongoing disputes between Ottawa and Washington leading to a drop in the number of Canadians vacationing in the United States.
“We know these tough times will pass and we want you to know we’re ready when you are, ” she said.
