Business View Magazine - July 2016 85
the region. The changes to the Center are really driven
to help make the building a better tool for those meet-
ing planners that plan national and international con-
ventions.”
Another of the Center’s goals is to grow the number of
what Hollander calls “first priority events.” He explains:
“We define a first priority event as one that will utilize,
at minimum, 4,000 rooms throughout the course of
the event, and 1,500 room-nights on its peak night.
So, our goal is to grow that number from what we’ve
been averaging – three to four in a successful year –
to up to 14 new city-wide conventions on an annual
basis. Because what that equates to is a lot more
overnight guests in our hotels and significant impact
of their spending. And because of the international na-
ture of our destination, with a particular focus on those
events that attract an international audience, interna-
tional visitors tend to stay longer and spend more, so
it has an even greater impact on our community. It’s
less about an actual number through the building and
more about growing the impact that we have on the
businesses in the Miami and Miami Beach area.”
Hollander admits that there is a risk of losing some
of its clients by shutting down, temporarily. “But the
demand and the need for modernized facilities here
in Miami Beach has long been known,” he says. “The
efforts to try and get an expansion and renovation of
this facility go back close to twenty years. And finally,
it’s become a reality. Many of our long-time users of
the venue have been long-awaiting these changes.
Without question, it does cause some pain for some
of them and certainly during that period when we’re
shutting down, some customers will be impacted, but
we’re optimistic and confident that they will return
once the renovation is complete. We’re very excited
and I think they are, as well, that the new facilities will
