Miami, November 21 (NA) -- Greater Miami and Miami Beach contributed over $21.3 billion to the local economy in the past year, with record visitor numbers, according to data accessed by Noticias Argentinas. According to the GMCVB report, Miami-Dade County received 28.2 million visitors, representing a 4.5% increase over the previous year. Visits from Florida residents account for over 31% of the total, demonstrating strong demand from the state's markets. Domestic visits remained stable, accounting for 46% of the total, indicating consistent demand from key US markets. Miami offers beach tourism, art, culture, nature, and shopping. Key attractions include the beaches of South Beach and Ocean Drive, the urban art of Wynwood Walls, Cuban culture in Little Havana, and Everglades National Park. It is a destination with a warm climate for most of the year, ideal for enjoying both city life and nearby nature. The annual Greater Miami Convenction & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) meeting, held at the Coastal Convention Center in Fontainebleau Miami Beach, was attended by over 600 partners and stakeholders. The event celebrated robust growth indicators in the tourism sector and outlined strategies that will drive the Miami-Dade industry, benefiting the quality of life for its residents and businesses. Speakers included Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.
Leisure, Business, and Conventions
For the period from July 2024 to June 2025, Miami-Dade County maintained its position as a destination for leisure, business, and conventions, leveraging the appeal generated by its bold tourism marketing programs and memorable event experiences. "These results tell an impactful story about how our destination navigated global challenges and about the ability of our industry partners to deliver a quality experience to visitors," stated David Whitaker, President and CEO of GMCVB. He specified: "Our hotels remained among the best in the country, with a 2.4% increase in the average daily rate".
Gastronomy
"Looking ahead to 2026, our momentum is clearly defined, driven by GMCVB's signature programs like Miami Spice, which draw attention to our 59 MICHELIN-recognized restaurants, the increase in convention bookings ahead of the new Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center hotel hub's opening, and a series of major world events like the College Football Playoff National Championship, World Baseball Classic, PGA Tour, NASCAR Cup Series Championship, and FIFA World Cup 2026, among others".
Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay's General Manager, Julissa Kepner, shared, "As we look toward 2026, we feel encouraged by the momentum we have generated. We are leveraging the lessons from last year to shape our strategies, ensuring Greater Miami and Miami Beach remain at the forefront of global travel and continue to reflect the strength and spirit of our community".
Whitaker added: "Additionally, our expanded organizational priorities include focusing on continued engagement with all our neighborhoods, expanding the marketing and content strategy targeting the luxury and high-spender segments, professional development in the hospitality sector, leveraging music as a key destination marketing platform, and expanding the arts and cultural programming".
