Hello everyone:

As we flip the calendar page and usher in May, and before we continue to push forward, I wanted to pause and reflect upon how we as a destination have “gotten out of the gate” in these first four months of the year.

There is no better barometer than hotel performance to gauge our pace.  As illustrated in the charts below, in the first four months of 2024, hotel demand (rooms sold) has continued to track higher (compared to same period in 2023) in 15 of the first 17 weeks.  Year to date, the cumulative hotel demand over prior year is pacing at an increase of 1.7%.



With respect to hotel occupancy, the first 17 weeks have reflected increased occupancy averages each week -- including last week -- with an average occupancy of 78.1% - a year over year increase of 5.7%.  Hotel occupancy has exceeded 75% in all 17 weeks with weekly occupancy above 80% in 14 of these 17 weeks...

Join us May 17 for the H.O.T. Challenge – best-in-class golf, high-profile networking and great food and drink at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Isle Resort & Spa – and the opportunity to meet the students you’re impacting through your generous support of the GMCVB’s Black Hospitality Initiative (BHI).

For more than 31 years, the GMCVB has organized the Hospitality Open Tournament, better known as the H.O.T. Challenge, to benefit the BHI. With your support, we’ve raised more than $3.5 million to fund scholarships for African American students studying hospitality at our local universities, many of whom work in our local tourism industry today. Take the H.O.T. Challenge and support our next generation of leaders. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Daina@GMCVB.com for more information.