Tourism in Miami Solidifies Recovery: GMCVB Reports USD 21.3 Billion in Visitor Spending and Announces Mega-Events for 2026

(By Maqueda and Mauvecin, with Maurizio) With 28.2 million visitors in the last year and a strategy centered on luxury, sports, and culture, Miami is poised to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, the College Football Playoff National Championship, and more.

Estimated strategic-reading time: 4 minutes

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) held its annual meeting on November 6 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, highlighting a year of resilience and growth for Miami-Dade County’s tourism sector. With total visitor spending of USD 21.3 billion (up 3% year over year) and 28.2 million visitors (up 4.5%), the destination confirmed its appeal to leisure travelers, business travelers, and mass events.

Miami has not only recovered its pre-pandemic tourism pace; it has surpassed it. Through a mix of global events, infrastructure investment, and a sophisticated marketing strategy, the destination is solidifying itself as the epicenter of luxury, sports, and culture tourism in the Americas.

About GMCVB:

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official tourism-promotion organization for Miami-Dade County, responsible for positioning the destination globally through marketing strategies, partnerships, and support for the local business ecosystem.

To view the full annual report and the 2025–2026 business plan, visit gmcvb.com.

Key achievements (July 2024 – June 2025):

 

  • Strong domestic demand: 31% of visitors were Florida residents, reflecting domestic-market strength.

 

  • Steady domestic visitation: 46% of total visitors came from other U.S. states, signaling a steady rebound.

 

  • Rising hotel rates: the daily average rate increased by 2.4%, placing Miami among the country’s most profitable destinations.

 

Strategies behind success:

 

  • Iconic marketing programs: such as Miami Spice, promoting 59 MICHELIN-starred restaurants in the destination.

 

  • High-profile sporting events: the calendar included PGA Tour stops, NASCAR, and preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026.

 

  • Infrastructure investment: the upcoming Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel will bolster meetings and conventions tourism.



2026 outlook: The year of mega-events

Miami is preparing to host:

 

  • FIFA World Cup 2026 (matches at Hard Rock Stadium)

 

  • College Football Playoff National Championship

 

  • World Baseball Classic

 

  • NASCAR Cup Series Championship

 

  • F1

 

 

David Whitaker, GMCVB president and CEO, emphasized: “Our momentum is clearly defined: we will leverage these global events to showcase our luxury, culture, and gastronomy.”

New leadership on the board:

Four key executives joined:

 

  • Mickael Damelincourt (Trump National Doral Miami)

 

  • Christine Duffy (Carnival Cruise Line)

 

  • Robin Jacobs (Miami Beach Convention Center)

 

  • Florencia Tabeni (MDM Hotel Group)




Strategic directions for 2026:

 

  • Marketing aimed at luxury travelers with high purchasing power

 

  • Professional development in the hotel sector

 

  • Integration of music and culture as pillars of tourism promotion

 

  • Community engagement to ensure inclusive growth



 

If you’d like, I can tailor this translation further for a specific publication or slide deck (e.g., executive summary, press release, or LinkedIn post).

 

Infonegocios Miami: a business-oriented publication for the Anglo-Latin community.

www.InfonegociosMiami.com

Follow us for more analysis: @InfonegociosMiami

Read Smart, Be Smarter.

Infonegocios Miami—Economic, Cultural, and Business Intelligence with a Global Lens

 

Read Smart, Be Smarter!

https://infonegocios.miami/suscribite-al-newsletter

Contact: [email protected]

Infonegocios NETWORK: 4.5 million Anglo-Latinos united by a passion for business.

Join us and stay informed

© 2025 Infonegocios Miami.



Tu opinión enriquece este artículo:

Hot Wheels y Mario Kart: el poder-up de las colaboraciones cruza pantallas y pistas (la era del ecosistema phydigital)

(Por Maurizio-Otero) La línea entre lo digital y lo físico se desdibuja en una emocionante intersección donde los videojuegos y los juguetes convergen en una pista de carreras. La reciente colaboración entre Hot Wheels y la icónica franquicia de Nintendo, "Mario Kart", marca un hito en la convergencia de mundos (crossing) que han definido generaciones.

(Tipo de nota, informe 4 minutos de lectura)

Desde Miami: la maestría estratégica de Messi, Stanley 1913 y el "Ecosistema de Experiencia" que redefinen el marketing en 2026 (con Adidas)

(Por Ortega-Maqueda y Maurizio) En un mundo saturado de publicidad, donde el consumidor siente una fatiga de marca sin precedentes, surge un fenómeno que trasciende la colaboración: el Ecosistema de Experiencia. No se trata de un simple endorsement; se trata de la construcción de un microcosmos narrativo donde la marca, el ícono y la audiencia co-crean valor.

(Tipo de nota, informe 4 minutos de lectura)

Una prueba del esperado resurgir: cómo Ferrari y Hamilton intensifican el impacto de la F1

(Por Maqueda-Taylor, colaboración de Maurizio) Mientras el mundo del automovilismo asimila el cromado brillante de la nueva era 2026, un mensaje ha sido clavado en la pista del Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluña: Ferrari y Lewis Hamilton, juntos, han firmado la carta de presentación más contundente de la pretemporada. El cronómetro no miente: 1:16.348. La F1 en un año que superará todo lo conocido a nivel experiencias y marketing.

(Tipo de nota, informe 4 minutos de lectura)

Selección del talento 2026: más allá del currículum, la búsqueda del carácter se enfoca en personas excelentes (con valores y armonía)

(Equipo: Rotmistrovsky, Maurizio, Llenes,Rodriguez Otero) ¿Seguimos contratando a personas tóxicas, manipuladoras, mediocres, miedosas, envidiosas, a veces incluso premiándolas, mal evaluando su valor, sólo por su conocimiento técnico, sus contactos, si es familiar, amigo o por su edad?

(Lectura de alto valor estratégico, 4 minutos de lectura, material idea para compartir)