January 11, 2018
GMBHA Weekly News & Updates
GMBHA Upcoming Events

GMBHA Member Breakfast

Wednesday, January 17th
8:00am - 9:30am

Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach
17700 Collins Ave
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160



Industry News
The City of Miami has a new City Manager
Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D. is Miami’s new City Manager.  Dr. Gonzalez was nominated by Mayor Francis Suarez in December. In a 4 to 1 vote by the City Commission, Dr. Gonzalez was approved today and starts in his new position on Friday, January 12 th .  The City Manager is the Chief Administrator responsible for managing all departments, city employees, and a $1.7 billion budget.

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau announces new COO
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has promoted Rolando Aedo to Chief Operating Officer (COO) announced William D. Talbert, CDME, GMCVB president and CEO.

Aedo will continue to assist in the day-to-day operation of many aspects of the organization and further support external stakeholder relations. He will also take the lead on expanding high priority GMCVB initiatives, establishing new strategic programs and long-term plans to ensure the GMCVB continues to remain at the forefront of the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Industry. With the support of the Marketing Team, he will also remain closely engaged in the development of the GMCVB’s global marketing programs.

Brightline High Speed Train Releases Ticket Prices For Trips From Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach
If you want to get from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach on the all new Brightline high speed train, we now know how much it will cost you.

The train, which opened the first leg of a system that will eventually take travelers from Miami to Orlando in around four hours, has opened up tickets starting Saturday at $20 round trip ($10 for one way) for the 66 seat Smart Coach and $30 round trip ($15 for one way) for the more spacious 50 seat Select Coach.

All military, veterans and seniors will get a 10 percent discount and tickets for children under 12 years of age are 50 percent off.

Travel time is expected to be between 35 and 40 minutes each way with the first train departing at 6 a.m. each day and ending at 11 p.m. Schedules will change from weekdays to weekends. Eventually, the number of trips will expand once the Miami and Orlando stations open, but no timetable has been given for that.
Whole Foods to donate percentage of sales to StartUP FIU Food
Whole Foods Market Miami locations and FIU will team up to support food entrepreneurs in South Florida by donating 5 percent of Jan. 11 net sales to StartUP FIU FOOD .

Whole Foods Market’s 5% Days give back to local communities by providing support to nonprofit and educational organizations whose programs directly benefit the communities surrounding Whole Foods Market stores.

Jeffrey Dagowitz and Lionheart Capital buy Miami Beach's Seagull Hotel at auction
Hotelier Jeffrey Dagowitz and Lionheart Capital bought the Seagull Hotel Miami Beach at auction Friday, putting in a high bid of $31.1 million for the prime piece of waterfront land, Dagowitz confirmed.

Hotel Check-In
GMBHA Presents: STR in Miami Presentation & Networker
Fatima Thompson , Associate Director of Business Development, Hotels Caribbean & Mexico, STR; Bennjin Lao , Business Development Executive, Hotels; Rico Louw, Client Account Manager at STR & Wendy Kallergis , President & CEO, GMBHA



Brent McNally, General Manager, The Gates South Beach &
Wendy Kallergis, President & CEO, GMBHA
at Agaveros Cantina at The Gates South Beach


Educational News
If you are interested in participating or sponsoring these events, please email Lourdes Gomez at logomez@fiu.edu by January 23, 2018 as space is limited.
$175 required to participate in Hospitality Day.
Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association | 305-531-3553 | www.gmbha.com