$1 Billion Miami Beach Convention Center Expansion, Hotel and Development Project Canceled

January 15, 2014

The long-awaited plan to renovate and expand the Global Spectrum-managed Miami Beach Convention Center, as well as add a headquarter hotel and surrounding development project, was scrapped by a new mayor in the city and mostly new board of Miami Beach commissioners.

A previous board had embraced the project and hired developer South Beach ACE, led by Tishman Hotel and Realty and Miami Beach developer Robert Wennett.


 
The project was meant to include upgrades and expansion of the Miami Beach Convention Center, an 800-room anchor hotel and shops, restaurants and other new development on 52 acres.


 
The original RFQ asked for the improvements to “facilitate the ability of the MBCC to attract high impact conventions, meetings, and tradeshows in an increasingly competitive environment,” according to city officials.

According to local press reports, the plan would have required voter approval would be required for 60 percent of the leases, since the land was city-owned.

Under the new plan, instead of expanding the center and building the hotel at the same time, the project would be split apart and, without voter approval required, the center could be put on the fast track.

The Miami Beach CC currently has 502,000 square feet of exhibition space and 127,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Add new comment

About text formats

Related Articles

As exhibitions and events grapple with how they are going to lay out their exhibit floors, meeting rooms and banquet areas, The Expo Group released a Crowd Density Calculator…
Teaching proper trade show etiquette to your booth staff is a must if you want to grab attendees’ attention. Properly greeting, understanding expectations and keeping…
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released the latest edition of its Global Barometer research that took the pulse of more than 450 exhibition…
Self-service event app and event data management company Attendify has launched a new offering, Attendify for Virtual Events, that aims to transform the in-person, virtual…
Marc Lapides hopes that when in-person trade shows come back strong, he’ll be forced out of business. It’s an interesting mindset, but one that serves him well mid-pandemic…
Event and tourism industry professionals aren’t about to sit out this pandemic, as evidenced by the number of meetings, webinars and conventions taking place virtually these…
Partner Voices
Partner Voices
NO WISH IS TOO BIG AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact
Learn More