The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced a record-breaking 16 million overnight visitors were welcomed to the destination from September 2017 through August 2018.

The figure represents a one per cent increase over the same time the previous year and comes despite Hurricane Irma. 

The increase in overnight visitors drove a record-breaking $26.5 billion in expenditures, an increase of two per cent compared to the same time period the previous year. 

The strength of Greater Miami’s travel and tourism industry is especially evident in hotel performance where revenue per available room (RevPar) grew by more than ten per cent over the same time period the previous year. 

Tourism growth was predominately due to leisure business as the $620 million renovated Miami Beach Convention Centre remained offline to conventions during the construction process. 

Now as the new MBCC nears completion and can once again host citywide conventions, the destination is poised to benefit from further economic-impact generated by the meetings industry.

“Tourism numbers are up at record-breaking levels in the destination despite a hurricane and a convention centre that was offline to citywide conventions during renovations,” said William Talbert,  president of for the GMCVB. 

“Thanks to community partnerships, tourism infrastructure investment and GMCVB destination marketing programs, the tourism industry remained vibrant and steadfast while fuelling growth in hospitality jobs for the community. 

“The travel industry’s future is bright for Greater Miami.”