What's Happening This Week @
the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau —

GMCVB SAYS “THANK YOU!” TO OUR TAXI COMMUNITY
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, in an effort to recognize the work of our taxi chauffeurs, will be out in force at Miami International Airport’s Taxi Holding Lot on Friday morning, August 29th, serving breakfast pastries, coffee and juice to the morning shift as they prepare to pick up the earliest arriving passengers coming into MIA for the Labor Day weekend. In the Bureau’s continuing efforts to promote our “Miami Begins With ME” customer service program, the GMCVB team will also distribute the updated Taxi Quarterly Handbook, a pocket guide for chauffeurs that will include destination highlights, hotel, restaurant and dining information. A big thank you to our partners at Miami International Airport and the Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Division, whose assistance helped make this event possible.

HURRY – ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT TO ENJOY GMCVB’S MIAMI SPA MONTH!
Hurry and make reservations to enjoy $99 treatments at participating Miami Spa Month spas! Through August 31, 2008, the 20 participating spas will continue to offer $99 treatments – representing a savings of 50% or more off the retail value. This special promotion is organized by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) with American Express as presenting sponsor. Treatments offered by each participating spa are detailed on a special website: www.MiamiSpaMonth.com. The $99 cost does not include tax and gratuity. American Express Cardmembers will receive an additional 10% off on regularly priced spa products and treatments during their visit. Reservations are required.

GMCVB UTILIZES FACEBOOK.COM TO PROMOTE MIAMI SPICE RESTAURANT MONTH
In partnership with GMCVB's North America PR firm Development Counsellors International (DCI), the Bureau is again harnessing the power of Facebook to promote the Miami Spice Restaurant Month after a successful campaign to promote the inaugural Miami Spa Month. If you are a Facebook.com user, log on now and become a fan. Just search Miami Spice Restaurant Month on the website's search field to find the group. Be sure to invite as many people as possible to help get the word out!

GMCVB’S MIAMI SPICE RESTAURANT MONTH - LIVE COOKING DEMOS AT MACY’S
Free and open to the public, Miami Spice cooking demonstrations feature top local chefs preparing delicious dishes at two Macy’s locations: Dadeland and Aventura. All cooking demos are held at the Kitchen at the Cellar and begin promptly at 1 p.m. On Saturday, August 30th at the Dadeland Macy’s, Chef Miguel Magaña from Bizcaya at the Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove will be featured. On Saturday, August 30th at the Aventura Macy’s, Chef Sally Camacho of Cascata Grille at Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club will prepare something fabulous. Don’t miss these exciting demonstrations! Dadeland Macy’s is located at 7675 N. Kendall Drive in Kendall; Aventura Macy’s is located at 19535 Biscayne Boulevard in Aventura. GMCVB’s Miami Spice Restaurant Month runs through September 30, 2008. For an up-to-the-minute list of participating restaurants, menus, and special offers, visit: www.iLoveMiamiSpice.com.

SAVE THE DATE: GMCVB ANNUAL MEETING IS OCTOBER 16, 2008
Attention GMCVB Members and Friends: The GMCVB’s Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, located at 1700 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. RSVP information and other details will follow shortly. We look forward to an informative, fun and successful evening with all of our hospitality and tourism industry partners!

GMCVB’s CONVENTION SALES HEADS TO FLORIDA MARKETPLACE WITH CORPORATE PLANNERS TO SELL DESTINATION
GMCVB Convention Sales will sell Greater Miami and the Beaches at the Successful Meetings University - Florida presented by Successful Meetings magazine in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida August 24-26, 2008. Successful Meetings flies in 50 meeting planners for one-on-one meetings, networking events and social functions for three days. Successful Meetings, the industry's leading magazine, informs and entertains meetings professionals through information invaluable for the planning and execution of meetings, events, conventions and incentive travel programs.

SAVE THE DATE: NEXT GMCVB MEMBER MIXER IS SEPTEMBER 24TH AT CHRISTABELLE’S QUARTER IN COCONUT GROVE
Get ready for the GMCVB’s next Member Mixer on Wednesday, September 24th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Christabelle’s Quarter in Coconut Grove. Come mingle with fellow GMCVB members amidst the beautiful antiques and lively New Orleans atmosphere at this unique restaurant and lounge. Enjoy complimentary passed appetizers and special drink prices. Valet and self parking available. Note: Invitation is for GMCVB members only and is non-transferable. Evite with RSVP link to follow shortly. Christabelle’s Quarter is located at 3157 Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove.

GMCVB’s CONVENTION SALES REPORTS FROM INCENTIVEWORKS IN TORONTO
GMCVB Convention Sales returned from the IncentiveWorks show in Toronto, Canada, which was held August 19-20, 2008. Over 100 planners stopped at the GMCVB booth generating three leads for Greater Miami and the Beaches. IncentiveWorks is Canada’s leader in one-stop marketplaces for incentive, meeting and convention planners. This year’s show attracted nearly 2,000 attendees to experience educational sessions and exhibits for two full days. The GMCVB Convention Sales team also attended the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) networking function with the Toronto Chapter which attracted 300 people.

JOIN GMCVB’S NORTHEAST SALES MISSION SEPTEMBER 8-11, 2008
Attention GMCVB Members: The GMCVB Tourism Sales division would like to offer you the opportunity to join us on our annual Northeast Sales Mission September 8-11, 2008. This is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your property and educate the northeast travel agent community. We will be visiting Philadelphia, New York and Connecticut for Travel Agent Events and host our VIP dinner in Central Park. For those interested, a Miami Day will be held at Travel Impressions Res Center in Philadelphia to train the 30 new Delta Vacations agents on the Miami product. Member cost is $1,600.00 (one representative per company). Note: Registration forms must be returned with your payment prior to Monday, August 25th, 2008. Click here for a PDF registration form. Please contact Linda Stilmann, Director of Sales, (305) 539-3067 or Linda@GMCVB.com with any questions.

GMCVB’S CONVENTION SALES RETURNS FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES’ ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPOSITION
GMCVB Convention Sales returned from the American Society of Association Executives' (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Exposition held August 17-19, 2008 in San Diego, California. Over 100 Presidents, CEOs, Executive Directors and Meeting Planners within the association community were met by GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert lll, CDME, and the Convention Sales team along with hotel partners. Twelve leads are in the developmental stage as a result of the expo. While at ASAE, the Convention Sales team also presented to 200 Association Management Company owners who the GMCVB was able to network with, promote and sell Greater Miami and the Beaches. A special thank you to the Loews Miami Beach and Hotel InterContinental for partnering with the GMCVB at ASAE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RESERVE AD SPACE IN THE 2009 GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES VACATION PLANNER / VISITORS GUIDE
Attention GMCVB Members: Have you reserved your advertising space in the official 2009 Greater Miami and Beaches Vacation Planner / Visitors Guide? This once a year opportunity ends August 29th. With one investment your ad reaches visitors before they arrive and then again in their hotel rooms locally. The soft cover Vacation Planner is the official fulfillment piece of the GMCVB, sent to travelers planning to visit our market and distributed at trade shows. The hard cover Visitors Guide is the only hard cover to saturate the market, in-room, in 174 hotels (over 28,300 rooms). Advertisers also receive a free 30-second video at area hotel concierge desk kiosks. Additionally, this is the one advertising program where your advertising dollars are reinvested into the promotion of Miami and Beaches all year long. Please call HCP/Aboard Publishing ASAP for personal assistance, details, rates and to request a media kit: Luis Sardinas (305) 321-8037; Shawn Paulus (305) 376-5283; or Lori Castle (305) 376-5252.

SUPPORT THE CHILDREN’S TRUST: VOTE ‘YES’ ON AUGUST 26TH
Miami-Dade County residents will have the opportunity to make The Children's Trust a permanent part of our community when the issue comes up for renewal on the August 26 ballot. In 2002, Miami-Dade voters approved the creation of The Children's Trust by an emphatic margin of nearly 2 to 1. According to The Miami Herald, which is in favor of renewing the funding, the Trust has transformed the way services are delivered to children and families in Miami-Dade County since its founding. It invests $100 million or more a year by funding nearly 300 programs and agencies designed to help children in need. With a Yes vote, Miami-Dade voters will make The Children's Trust a permanent part of our community when the issue comes up for renewal on the August 26 ballot. For more information on services and programs provided by The Children’s Trust, visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org.

MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE’S ART DECO ACADEMY AND TOUR SCHOOL TO BE OFFERED IN SEPTEMBER
The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) will conduct its biannual Art Deco Academy and Tour School on September 20, 27 and October 4, 2008. The Academy is geared to individuals who would like to know more about Art Deco, and also serves as a training program (Tour School) for individuals who would like to become volunteer guides and lead walking tours of the Art Deco District. Graduating from the Academy requires completion of two days of educational sessions (September 20 and 27), which include walking tours, the study of architectural styles and Miami Beach history, and guest lectures. The cost is $40. Application form or online registration is available at www.MDPL.org.

FREE FUN FOR FAMILIES – MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PROMOTES ‘STAYCATIONS’
Do something different this summer – go on a “staycation”. Miami-Dade County is offering residents discounts and specials to attractions county-wide. Among the fun and free things to do for families are: Target Free Third Fridays at Miami Children’s Museum (3 p.m. to 9 p.m.); Second Saturdays at Miami Art Museum, with free admission and fun, hands-on activities for children and adults (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.); Free Sundays at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in August and September; Free Sundays at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (through August); and Culture Shock Miami – a special program for students ages 13-22 who can buy tickets for only $5 to the best performances and two for $5 for museums in and around Miami-Dade County (www.CultureShockMiami.com). The first ticket must be used by a student, but the second ticket can be used by a person of any age.

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 25, 2008 IS FIRST ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA CORPORATE TENNIS CHALLENGE
The First Annual South Florida Corporate Tennis Challenge will take place Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne. This fundraiser is a joint effort with the Visitor Industry Council (VIC) and Friends of Miami Tennis. Funds raised will support scholarships for students of African heritage pursuing a career in hospitality management at FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Miami-Dade College and Johnson & Wales University. The tournament is supported by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the United States Tennis Association. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, call (305) 539-3126.