Two-day event brought together MBCC partners, employers and unions to strengthen the local talent pipeline as the Convention Center Campus continues to grow

MIAMI BEACH, FL — August 2026 — The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) welcomed more than 200 job seekers to a two-day Hiring Event on August 5 and 6, connecting local candidates with full- and part-time career opportunities at the MBCC, nine partner organizations and two unions.

Designed as part of an ongoing workforce development effort, the Hiring Event provided prospective candidates with direct access to employers representing the many skilled professions that help power one of South Florida’s premier centers of commerce. Opportunities spanned food and beverage, engineering, electrical services, audiovisual production, event operations, parking, security and other areas supporting the MBCC and its events.

Freddie Peterson, General Manager of the Miami Beach Convention Center, and Steven Anthony, Director of Economic Development for the City of Miami Beach, kicked off the event by welcoming participating employers, partners, unions and job seekers and highlighting the importance of connecting local talent with career opportunities at the MBCC and across its network of partner organizations.

Participating organizations included Oak View Group (OVG), which manages the Miami Beach Convention Center on behalf of the City of Miami Beach; Sodexo Live!, the MBCC’s food and beverage partner; Expo Convention Contractors; 1st Class Parking; Encore; Show Strategy; Allied Universal Security Services; Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services; and Local Union 1175, among others.

The initiative reflects the Convention Center’s broader economic impact and its commitment to strengthening the pipeline of local talent needed to support a growing calendar of regional, national and international events.

“Venue excellence starts with people,” said Peterson. “Our clients and guests experience the finished product, but behind every successful convention, trade show, meeting and special event are talented professionals whose skill, preparation and dedication bring that experience to life. This Hiring Event is about connecting those opportunities with people in our community and building relationships that can grow with us for the future.”

In just the first half of the fiscal year, the MBCC welcomed approximately 500,000 guests across 140 regional, national and international events. The activity generated by those events supports employment not only within the Convention Center, but throughout the region’s hospitality and tourism economy, including hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, retailers and local businesses.

“Convention centers are economic engines,” Peterson added. “The impact of the business generated here extends far beyond our walls. It supports jobs, creates opportunities for local businesses and drives economic activity throughout Miami Beach and Greater Miami. Creating a strong local talent pipeline is an important part of sustaining that impact.”

Job seekers attending the Hiring Event registered through a dedicated QR code, allowing them to remain connected to the MBCC and receive ongoing updates about future career opportunities and openings. The approach extends the initiative beyond the two-day event, creating an ongoing connection between prospective employees and the organizations that help operate and support the venue.

The Hiring Event comes as the MBCC Campus enters another period of significant growth. Following completion of the City of Miami Beach’s $640 million transformation of the Convention Center in 2020, continued investment includes more than 30 active capital improvement projects designed to maintain the standards expected by leading conferences, meetings and trade shows.

The next major addition to the campus will be the 800-room Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, scheduled to open in late 2027 and physically connected to the MBCC. The headquarters hotel is expected to strengthen the destination’s ability to compete for additional conventions and international events, while generating new business and employment opportunities throughout the community.

As the campus and its event portfolio continue to grow, MBCC intends for Hiring Events to become a regular component of its workforce development efforts, creating an ongoing pipeline connecting prospective employees with the employers, contractors, partners and unions that support Convention Center operations.

The August event also brought together community, business and tourism leaders in support of the initiative, underscoring the collaboration among the City of Miami Beach, MBCC, its partners and the broader Greater Miami hospitality and tourism community.

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