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Hospitality Council – Meeting Notes – March 29th
Attendees – Tim Nardi, Peggy Buena, Grisette Roque-Marcos, Sus Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez, Susan Wesselhof, Sunshine Gutierrez, Albert Valera, Federico Galter, Sabrina Anico, Sus Beltran, Linda Villafane, George Neary, Mario Casal, Veronica Medina, Eddie Calderon, et al.
STAFF: Steve AdkinsScott Bader
Guests: Saul Gross
Hospitality Council – Meeting Agenda
March 29th (Thank you to Tim and the Shelborne Hotel for breakfast and meeting space)
Agenda
- Welcome & Introductions
- GMBHA Update – Wendy Kallergis
- Updates for current impact issues
- Short Term Rentals
- Visit FLA
- MBVCA Grants Update and Occupancy/Tax Update – Grisette Roque
- Washington Avenue Update – Saul Gross
- MDGLCC Hospitality Council updates
- Pink Flamingo Tourist Bag – Discussion
- PluggedIN E-Newsletter (weekly/monthly)
- Upcoming Impact Events
- Miami Beach Gay Pride
- MiFo Miami Film Festival
- Aqua Girl
- World Out Games
Notes from Meeting
ISSUES/ACTIONS-GMBHA update– Wendy Reported that the City of Miami voted 3-2 and passed a resolution restricting short term rental activity (Russell/Suarez voted no). Also discussed were the State of Florida actions against Visit Florida and dissolving Enterprise Florida. The cuts are real but Governor Scott has vowed to veto such reductions to the Visit Florida budget. Lastly, it looks unlikely that the Florida Competitive Workforce Act will reach the house floor for a vote in 2017.
#2 – VCAUpdate – Grisette et al. ACTIONS–Tourism trends for the area (and resort tax collections) are down for the periods Octoberthru February (down 14% year over year). March forward, numbers are expected to increase. Bill Anderson shared the GMCVB information which was sent to all.
#3 -World Out Games– ACTIONS – Steve gave an unofficial report concerning the downturn in expected turnout due to current federal policies (immigration/protest of Trump from European travelers). On the good news front, Adidas came in as a sponsor (reportedly at $200,000 level).
#4 -Washington Ave. Improvement District – Former City of Miami Beach Commissioner Saul Gross – reported that a good portion of the improvement plan was approved by the commission to allow certain sections of Washington Ave to be demolished/improved. Commencing in the next 6 months are 2 hotel projects impacting the 600 and 900 blocks (east side). Also approved are aesthetic improvements to the street features (landscaping and restaurant street encroachments).
#5 – Discussions of upcoming events/programs – Miami Beach Gay Pride (Dave Cook), MiFo Film Festival Miami (Victor Gimenez) and Forbes Training (Grisette/VCA).
#5-Pink Flamingo (PF)Training Tourist Bags – ISSUE – As part of our PF initiative, tourists visiting our PF Certified properties will receive a pink poker chip embossed with the LGBT Visitor Center’s address & logo. Upon taking this chip to THE Hub at the LGBT Visitor Center, in exchange for completing a brief survey, will receive a bag of take-away’ s.
Action – Please provide us with ideas for what should be placed in the take-away gift bags.
Some suggestions for the bags – let us know if you would like to participate!!
- Discount restaurant coupons
- Drink discount
- Attraction discounts (maybe a coupon book put together by the CHAMBER/CVB)
- Map(s)
- LGBT Visitor Guide
Next Meeting – Shore Club, Wednesday April 26th at 10 am
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