More than 150 guests convened at the InterContinental Hotel in Downtown Miami on April 2^nd for the 11^th Annual Breakfast with the Arts and Hospitality Industry. Hosted by the Arts & Business Council of Miami in conjunction with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event takes an innovative look into how hospitality companies can attract and engage with the arts for profitable partnerships that enhance Miami’s reputation as a growing destination for cultural tourism.  The Arts & Business Council creates connections between the corporate and cultural communities, and the annual breakfast is a signature program designed to provide an opportunity for hospitality and arts leaders to meet and talk about winning ideas for collaborations. This year’s sold-out program assembled a panel of speakers covering various arms of the local tourism industry who unanimously agree that cultural tourism is one of the strongest and thriving elements driving visitors to choose Miami as a desination.

Led by Facilitator George Neary from the GMCVB, the featured speakers included Jonathan Plutzik, owner of the Betsy Hotel South Beach; Avra Jain, developer of the Vagabond Hotel and Wendy Kallergis, CEO of the Greater Miami and Beaches Hotel Association.

Mr. Neary started by asking about profitable partnerships. Robert Hill, GM of the InterContinental Miami opened the program by welcoming participants. “Supporting the arts is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Supporting the arts makes good business sense. Corporations that connect with the arts create goodwill, increase visibility, support the quality of life in our community as well as provide opportunities for their employees. The arts are an integral part of our local brand.” “Cultural tourism is such a strong component of the travel market in Miami, but we need to develop more opportunities for members of the tourism industry and cultural events and programs to connect; it’s a win win for all,” said Wendy Kallergis, President and CEO at Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. Much of brand “Miami” features the arts and our innovative, world class cultural community, accounting for bringing more than six million cultural tourists to our destination, and proving it’s an effective catalyst for strengthening the economy and making Miami-Dade more competitive nationally for business and tourism. With more than a billion dollar impact and 30,000 jobs the arts are a major factor in the economic vitality of Miami-Dade. The cultural component is not only a major draw for outside visitors but also vital in strengthening Miami’s reputation and long-term arts potential with the locals. Miami’s cultural offering is no longer limited to Art Basel, having evolved in recent years into a year-long citywide movement that is infiltrating every corner of Miami. But there is more that can and should be done to make that metamorphosis steady and sustainable. The tourism industry understands how lucrative cultural tourism is for the city, but hotels and restaurants as well as corporate brands need to be creative and resourceful in making that connection with the arts. An enthusiastic business leader who is passionate about the arts, literature and philanthropy, Jonathan Plutzik, owner of the Betsy South Beach said “Our cultural programs are authentic and thought provoking. We cater not only to our guests but to local arts aficionados. We offer thought provoking programs that inspire and motivate.” Cultural travelers want to enrich their lives with new travel experiences, and are willing to spend more and stay longer in order to do so. With more than 1,000 arts groups and more festivals than days of the year the opportunities for synergy with the arts are limitless. “Partnering with the arts mean creativity, community connection and impact, and when you do interesting events and create engaging opportunities, exciting things happen,” said Avra Jain, developer of The Vagabond Hotel. The event ended with time for mixing and mingling with the cultural leaders and hospitality executives discussing profitable partnerships. About the Arts Biz Blog The Arts & Business Council of Miami has developed a new blog to focus on corporate leaders that support the arts. The interactive exchange of ideas will provide us with insight on successful corporate partnerships. Each conversation will be featured on our Arts Biz Blog. Stay tuned for more interesting interviews and get the inside scoop on why some of South Florida’s top corporate leaders collaborate with the arts. The blog is written by Laura Bruney and Etain Connor.  For information and to see past blog entries visit www.ArtsBizMiami.org