Editor’s Note: This is an update to an article that published in April 2021.

 

Miami feels like a bustling cosmopolitan city - and it is - but what travelers may not realize is that Miami is in fact a blend of nearly 20 neighborhoods, each with its own personality. From the Art Deco architecture, white sands and electrifying nightlife of South Beach to the art and culture of Wynwood and the Design District, to Mediterranean-inspired Coral Gables and the Bohemian vibes of Coconut Grove, to the flavors of Little Havana and Little Haiti - the thread that weaves through them all is multicultural, innovative and sophisticated. There’s something for every meeting planner and attendee in the Magic City.  

 

Why Miami 

  • Average daily temperature of 74°F (23°C). 

  • Cosmopolitan city with neighborhood vibes. 

  • The Art Deco District contains the world’s largest collection of Art Deco Architecture with more than 800 buildings. 

  • More than 400 flights arrive at Miami International Airport daily. 

 

What’s New in Miami 

Tri-Rail

  • The city now boasts 14 Michelin Star restaurants, 18 Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants and a handful of spots recognized by the James Beard Foundation. 

  • Tri-Rail’s new express service between Miami and West Palm Beach reduces the travel time between the two destinations by more than 30 minutes. 

 

There are plenty of options when it comes to things to see and do in Miami, as well as places to grab a bite to eat, or host a power lunch or dinner. Here are a few spots to pique your interest. 

 

 


SEE


 

Wynwood Walls 

Wynwood Walls

For more than 15 years, Wynwood Walls has drawn artists, visitors and locals to Miami’s artsy and colorful Wynwood neighborhood, just north of downtown. Created in 2009, Wynwood Walls can be considered an outdoor museum and has attracted some of the world’s best graffiti and street art artists to create on the canvases. Plan a team building outing and have your group create their own works of art with spray paint and their imagination. 

 

Art Deco Historic District 

Art Deco

Architecture enthusiasts flock to South Beach to marvel at the Art Deco Historic District, which is the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the U.S. and designated a National Register District in 1979. More than 800 historic Art Deco-, Mediterranean Revival- and MiMo (Miami Modern)-style buildings are found between 5th Street and 23rd Street and along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue, all of which is walkable.  

 

Superblue Miami 

SuperblueEnter an interactive world of art at Superblue Miami, its more than 50,000 square feet dedicated to supporting and presenting artists from around the world who work in large-scale, immersive formats. Lights, art and creativity blend for a different experience with every visit. The space can be used for private events, too, whether in a 5,000 square foot, customizable “white box” that can accommodate more than 300 guests, or an outdoor space for more intimate affairs. 

 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

 


DO 


 

Tour the Everglades 

The Everglades

Get a little wild during your time in Miami on an Everglades airboat tour. Join Expedition South Florida, a tour outfitter committed to the protection, stewardship and preservation of Florida's varied ecosystems and landscapes, and explore the Rivers of Grass. Experienced tour guides will point out wildlife and identify the ecosystems unique to the Everglades, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

 

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 

Vizcaya

Built between 1914 and 1916, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Coconut Grove is the former villa and estate of James Deering, who brought in more than 1,000 workers to build his dream home. Wander through the National Historic Landmark estate and gardens and it is easy to see the influences of Italian Renaissance, Mediterranean Revival and Baroque throughout. 

 

Regatta Grove 

Regatta

It’s all about the water in Miami, and one of the best places in town to spend time in the Florida sunshine or under the stars is Regatta Grove on Biscayne Bay in the Coconut Grove neighborhood. This laid-back yet elegant space is the perfect place for your group to relax, listen to music, breathe in the sea air and enjoy being together. The space can also be reserved for private events. 

 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

 


EAT


 

Casadonna 

Casadonna

An Italian-inspired waterfront restaurant, Casadonna’s menu is filled with dishes inspired by the Italian Riviera coastal towns of Naples, Taormina, Bari, Positano and Gaeta. Housed in a Mediterranean Revival building that is also home to Miami’s historic women’s club, the restaurant boasts elegant outdoor space, too. Private events are welcome. 

 

Chateau ZZ’s 

Chateaux ZZ's

For an elegant dinner in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, look no further than Chateau ZZ’s. Though chateau is in the name, the restaurant’s menu is filled with Mexican masterpieces, including ceviches, antojitos, tostadas, enticing entrees and more, not to mention an impressive offering of more than 1,000 tequilas and mezcals. Chateau ZZ’s is available for private events, too, for groups ranging in size from 9 to 200. 

 

Ball & Chain 

Ball & Chain

Ball & Chain has been one of the places to eat since its opening in 1935. Many of the world’s most famous jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Count Basie, would stop in for a late-night bite. Today, the Little Havana institution features some of the city’s best live music performed on its iconic pineapple stage and salsa dancing, not to mention delicious food. There are plenty of spaces for private events, too. 

 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

 


STAY/MEET 


 

Just as Miami has something for every meeting planner and attendee, so does ALHI. The historic Biltmore opened its doors in 1926, and blends effortlessly into the elegant Coral Gables neighborhood. Or choose the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood. At the intersection of business, art and the tropics are InterContinental Miami and Hotel AKA Brickell on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami. Views of the Atlantic Ocean can be found at three ALHI properties in Miami Beach: Eden Roc Miami Beach, Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Nobu Hotel Miami Beach. After the meetings are over, hit the links at Trump National Doral Miami, 15 minutes west of Miami International Airport. 

 

The Biltmore 

The Biltmore

With 271 guest rooms and suites, and more than 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, there are plenty of options when hosting your event at The Biltmore in Coral Gables, from intimate board meetings to groups of up to 1,000. Make breakouts fun in private cabanas at the edge of the world-famous pool, one of the largest hotel swimming pools in the Continental U.S. 

 

Eden Roc Miami Beach 

Eden Roc

The iconic hotel, designed by architect Morris Lapidus, features 621 guest rooms and suites, and more than 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, some of which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The catering menu may include dishes from Nobu restaurant, and team building activities like sailing regattas and beach Olympics can be arranged. 

 

Fontainebleau Miami Beach 

Fontainebleau Miami

One of the larger properties in ALHI’s Florida portfolio is the Fontainebleau, where Golden Era glamour meets modern luxury. More than 1,500 guest rooms and suites and 150,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space can be tailored to suit your needs, from intimate gatherings to big splashes. The beat goes on in one of Miami Beach’s most popular nightclubs, LIV, found right in the hotel. 

 

Hotel AKA Brickell 

AKA Brickell

Immerse your guests in the energy and buzz of Miami at Hotel AKA Brickell, with 201 guest rooms and suites and more than 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 400 guests. When the day’s work is done, head to ADRIFT on the 25th floor to relax and take in the stunning views as the sun sets to the west and the stars pop out overhead.   

 

InterContinental Miami  

InterCon Miami

With more than 135,000 square feet of event space and 641 recently redesigned guest rooms and suites, there is plenty of room for your group, whatever the size. From intimate groups to grand events with up to 2,000 guests, the team at InterContinental Miami will work with you every step of the way to ensure a success. Toast that success with a reception at the rooftop pool with spectacular views of downtown, Biscayne Bay and beyond. 

 

Mayfair House Hotel & Garden 

Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

Wow your clients with the art, architecture, design and outdoor space at Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Coconut Grove. With more than 8,500 square feet of versatile, elevated event space that can be transformed to make your visions come to life, the in-house team is at the ready to create an inspiring event and one-of-a-kind experience. Afterwards, your guests can retreat to their elegantly appointed guest rooms, complete with handcrafted furniture and an impressive art collection. 

 

Nobu Hotel Miami Beach 

Nobu Miami

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s style and David Rockwell’s modern architectural designs blend to create the contemporary Japanese beach house vibe at this 206 guest rooms and suites hotel on the sands of the Atlantic Ocean. More than 47,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor venues, all with Japanese-influenced aesthetics, can be tailored to meet your needs, as can the menus from Nobu Restaurant, which is onsite. 

 

Trump National Doral Miami 

Trump Doral

About 15 minutes west of Miami International Airport, your attendees will not only enjoy spreading out in 643 guest rooms and suites and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, but teeing off on one of the resort’s four golf courses. The meetings team can help put together unforgettable experiences, including putting and long drive contests, and even a once-in-a-lifetime moonlight golf experience, popular with both golfers and non-golfers. 

 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services