Miami Beach Convention Center books 74 events in 2022

The Miami Beach Convention Center expects over 600,000 attendees for events spread throughout the year, as it is experiencing a pent-up demand to host events postponed from earlier in the covid era.

There are 74 meetings, conventions and tradeshows booked and confirmed for 2022 at the center, according to Ariane Hiltebrand, director of marketing and external relations.

Some of the most notable shows include FIME, the Florida International Medical Expo, which is one of the biggest events in medical devices and equipment industry, coming July 27 and 28; Bronner Brothers International Beauty Show, the largest multicultural beauty show in the world, Aug. 27 to 29; America’s Food and Beverage Show, Sept. 12 and 13; and Art Basel from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.

“Our team has done an amazing job keeping up with quickly accelerating demand for conventions, tradeshows, events and meetings in 2022,” said Freddie Peterson, the center’s general manager, “while at the same time focusing efforts on sustainable business practices, environmentally friendly programs, and diversity, equity and inclusion, and ADA initiatives” to safely harness artificial intelligence data.

While many of the shows and meetings at the beginning of the year missed their forecasted attendance due to travel restrictions and Covid-19-related concerns, said Ms. Hiltebrand, the most recent shows such as the Florida Supercon held July 8 to 10 exceeded expectations.

The Supercon, where attendees dressed as animated characters from television, movies, anime and videogames, drew more than 55,000 guests, with more than 300 exhibitions, according to ReedPop.

In addition to the economic impact from convention attendees’ spending on hotels, restaurants and other area attractions, Ms. Hiltebrand said, events benefit the community in terms of social sustainability.

“The MBCC gives back to the local community by donating tens of thousands of pounds of prepared but unused food annually to The Caring Place, Miami Rescue Mission, and Food Rescue Miami, to help others and divert food waste from local landfills,” she said. “The MBCC also collects food scraps for composting and has donated more than 7,500 pounds of organic food waste in recent months to Compost for Life.”

The convention center recently launched Conventions C.A.R.E. (Community Assistance by Responsible Events), a program that helps support local non-profits in Miami Beach and greater Miami-Dade County by donating pens, papers, bags, cosmetics, beaty supplies, clothing items, non-perishable foods and beverage, furniture and other items to charities.

The center hosted about 17 events in 2021 with 77,100 attendees, compared to 38 in 2019, Ms. Hiltebrand said. Goals fluctuate from year to year, but the current goal for events in 2022 is 56, and the total definite bookings for years into the future so far is 192, with a total economic impact of $258 million, according to The State of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry report by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Important shows planned for next year include the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, scheduled for Jan. 19 to 23; the Miami Marathon and Health Fitness Expo, scheduled Jan. 27 and 28; the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, which followed a great success this year with more than 100,000 visitors and almost a billion dollars in total revenue; and Seatrade 2023, scheduled for May 1 to 3.

Alex Batista, new convention and visitors bureau vice president of convention sales, said the convention center is “pursuing and competing for more corporate and association tradeshows than ever before, leveraging the newly renovated and expanded convention center and the high demand for our destination.”