Miami Beach, FL (November 18, 2025) —Freddie Peterson, General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), has been named the 2025 South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year by the Advisory Board of Miami-Dade Public Schools’ NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT). The honor was presented to Peterson by Julissa Kepner, General Manager at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, Board Chair of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), and last year’s award winner, at AOHT’s 34th Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year gala, held November 13th at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to receive this recognition and deeply appreciate the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism for its unwavering commitment to education and workforce development. AOHT plays a vital role in shaping South Florida’s hospitality future by connecting students with real-world opportunities,” said Freddie Peterson. “I’m grateful for our incredible Miami Beach Convention Center team—not only for what they do every day, but for how we support AOHT’s internship program through our partnership with Oak View Group, creating pathways for local students to thrive.”

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) award is deeply rooted in community impact, highlighting leaders who advance opportunity for local students and strengthen South Florida’s future hospitality workforce. Peterson has been an AOHT board member since 2019 and a longstanding supporter of their mission to pay it forward by preparing students for careers in hospitality and tourism.

The AOHT is a nonprofit educational initiative focused on preparing students for careers in hospitality and tourism and collaborates with organizations like the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), which is owned by the City of Miami Beach, and industry partners for workforce development and community engagement. Each year since 1991, AOHT recognizes leaders who have made substantial contributions to the tourism community, and the South Florida community at large, through their leadership at the office as well as through their volunteerism efforts. Peterson was selected from a distinguished group of nominees for his exceptional leadership, commitment to elevating the guest and client experience at the MBCC, and his dedication to developing the next generation of hospitality professionals.

“We congratulate Freddie Peterson on this well-deserved recognition. His leadership within South Florida’s tourism industry and his steadfast support of the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, have made a meaningful impact on our students and our community,” said Dr. Jose L. Dotres, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Miami-Dade County Public Schools is proud to partner with leaders like Freddie who are committed to developing the next generation of hospitality professionals.”

“It’s a pleasure to congratulate Freddie Peterson on being named the 2025 South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year,” said Julissa Kepner, General Manager at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, Board Chair of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), and last year’s award winner. “Anyone who knows Freddie has heard him say that our industry is built on friendships, partnerships, and relationships — and what makes him truly special is that he doesn’t just say those words, he lives them. Under his leadership, the Miami Beach Convention Center has become more than a venue, it’s become a place where people feel welcome and leave with a lasting impression of hospitality at its finest. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.”

The gala also served as a celebration of AOHT’s mission to prepare students for careers in tourism and hospitality. Funds raised during the event support AOHT’s scholarship programs, classroom resources, and hands-on learning opportunities. For more than three decades, the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award has recognized the individuals whose leadership fuels the region’s continued success as a global tourism destination. Peterson’s recognition underscores his meaningful impact on both the local industry and the future workforce.

The Miami Beach Convention Center, owned by the City of Miami Beach and operated by Oak View Group, has continued to strengthen its position as one of the nation’s premier destinations for meetings, conventions, and events driving economic impact, supporting local businesses, and contributing to Miami Beach’s reputation as a world-class hub for culture, travel, and innovation. The MBCC underwent a transformative $640 million renovation, completed in 2020, and now features 1.4 million square feet of versatile event space, including a stunning 60,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, 500,000 square feet dedicated to exhibitions, 84 breakout rooms, four junior ballrooms, and nine acres of lush green areas such as Pride Park and Collins Canal Park. New highlights like the 1920s-inspired Rum Room restaurant and the Venu private event space, along with ongoing investments, such as $19 million in capital projects in FY25 and a cutting-edge $1.5 million LED walls installation in the Grand Lobby, demonstrate the MBCC’s unwavering commitment to innovation, technological advancement, and exceptional service. Looking ahead, the MBCC Campus is entering into a new era with the highly anticipated Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, an 800-room hotel connected by skybridge and set to open in 2027.

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About the Miami Beach Convention Center

Re-imagined following a $640-million-dollar renovation, the award-winning MBCC includes a new 60,000 square-foot Grand Ballroom, four junior ballrooms, almost 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, an expanded Grand Lobby, pre-function areas that are bathed in natural light, up to 84 breakout rooms, approximately 800 roof deck parking spaces, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $10.2 million dollars’ worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program and a six-acre (Pride Park) and three-acre (Collins Canal Park) public green spaces that can serve as incremental event space. The MBCC Campus includes two new event spaces: Venu, a space for elegant private events and upscale meetings, and Rum Room, a 1920s restaurant with an enticing tapas-style menu and local South Florida rums. The MBCC is proud to have earned Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation, and LEED® Silver Certification as part of the venue’s $640-million expansion project, which includes many environmentally friendly features. A new connected headquarter hotel, a Grand Hyatt, is under development and slated to open in 2027. www.miamibeachconvention.com

About Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Florida and third largest school district in the country. The M-DCPS Department of Career and Technical Education serves thousands of students annually, including the NAF students, helping them graduate with industry certifications, college credits, and employable skills through work-based learning opportunities. These programs are a cornerstone of workforce development in Miami-Dade County, supporting economic growth and individual career success.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is proud to be the home of the largest NAF network in the country with the largest number of Distinguished Academies. NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure high school students are college, career, and future ready.

During the 2024-2025 school year, over 112,000 students attended 634 NAF academies across 35 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2025, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 90% of graduates planning to go to college.

For more information, please visit: ctemiami.dadeschools.net

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