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 76°F (24°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 into Miami International Airport daily

What's New in Miami

• $5 billion airport-wide capital improvement program underway at Miami International Airport.
• Brightline, the rail service that connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, was named one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies - Transportation for 2020.
• Inter Miami CF, co-owned by David Beckham, kicked off its Major League Soccer debut season in March 2020

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, we take a look at a few spots to pique your interest.

See

photo courtesy of Global DMC Partners

Art Deco Historic District

Architecture enthusiasts will 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.

Wynwood Walls

For more than a decade, Wynwood Walls have 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.

Everglades airboat tour

Get a little wild during your time in Miami on an Everglades airboat tour. Hop aboard one of Everglades Safari Park's boats that hover atop the water and explore the Rivers of Grass. Experienced tour guides will point out wildlife and identify the ecosystems unique the the Everglades, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

Do

photo courtesy of Global DMC Partners

The Ancient Spanish Monastery

How did a monastery built between 1133 and 1141 in Spain find its way to Miami? By boat, of course! In 1925, William Randolph Hearts purchases the original Cloisters and some outbuildings, and had the structures dismantled stone by stone, packed into 11,000 crates and shipped to the New York, where they sat in a warehouse for more than 25 years. In 1952, two entrepreneurs bought the stone structures and had them reassembled in North Miami Beach, where The Ancient Spanish Monastery stands today as an active part of the Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux.

Coral Castle

Another architectural wonder in Miami can be found in Homestead: the Coral Castle. Compared to Stonehenge, ancient Greek temples and the great pyramids of Egypt, the Coral Castle is comprised of more than 1,100 tons of coral rock to form its walls, towers, pieces of art and even furniture. Even more astonishing is that the entirety of the castle was built by one man over 28 years.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

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.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

Eat

photo courtesy of Global DMC Partners

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 and salsa dancing, not to mention delicious food.

Nikki Beach

One of the only beachfront and oceanfront dining experiences in South Beach can be found at Nikki Beach Miami. Make reservations for lunch or dinner and indulge at the first and original luxury beach club. You will not only enjoy fine food, but the experience of dining, music, entertainment, fashion, film and art come together.

The Rusty Pelican

Enjoy your lunch or dinner with a view of the Miami skyline when you dine at the Rusty Pelican. The menu is filled with tantalizing contemporary, Latin-inspired and fresh seafood dishes, and the wine list is just as impressive: more than 1,000 varietals are available from which to choose.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

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. At the intersection of business, art and the tropics is InterContinental Miami on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami. Views of the Atlantic Ocean can be found at 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.

photo credit: courtesy of 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, 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.

photo credit: courtesy of Eden Roc Miami Beach

Eden Roc Miami Beach

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.

photo credit: courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami Beach

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

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.

photo credit: courtesy of InterContinental Miami

InterContinental Miami

With more than 100,000 square feet of event space and 641 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.

Loews Miami Beach Hotel

Coming off $50 million of renovations, including 65,000 square feet of refreshed meeting space and 790 guest rooms and suites, Loews Miami Beach Hotel is ready to welcome groups large and small. Bask in the warm ocean breeze on the Conference Terrace, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, or stretch your legs with a group fitness class  led by instructors from the onsite exhale Spa + Fitness.

photo credit: courtesy of Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

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 70,000 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 and Malibu Farm, both of which are onsite.

photo credit: courtesy of Trump® National Doral Miami

Trump® National Doral Miami

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 Global DMC Partners