MBCC ready for unconventional events at the Miami Beach Convention Center
(MIAMI, FL) – September 22, 2020 – As buildings across Miami Dade County reopen at reduced capacities, the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) has developed and deployed health and safety measures to support a safe return to live events and gatherings at the venue.
“Traditional conventions remain fundamental to the MBCC’s calendar,” said Micah Allen, Director of Sales for the MBCC. “We even revised our short-term meeting package pricing for new traditional convention center events from the region.”
Ms. Allen continued, “But we have the space that you need to achieve social distancing for many different event types: meetings, seminars, tradeshows, expos, consumer events, sporting-events, e-sports, film screenings, weddings, receptions, and other social events. We diversify the event mix with ‘unconventional’ activities and leverage large indoor and outdoor spaces so people can safely gather and be together to conduct business and share experiences. We’re MBCC Ready!”
MBCC Ready reopening plans detail the rigorous venue health and safety measures deployed to reduce the risk of transmission and return to live events, highlighting the venue’s 1.4 million square feet of flexible event space to achieve social distancing and 9-acres of surrounding green space to support outdoor activities.
The MBCC’s 1.4 million square feet of beautiful and divisible event space includes glamourous ballrooms, practical meeting rooms, and an expansive 500,000 sq. ft. Exhibit Hall:
- Grand Ballroom, 60,000 square feet
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Space, 18,000 sq. ft.
- Grand Ballroom Terrace
- Grand Staircase
- Access to Collins Canal Park and Carl Fisher Clubhouse
- Private entry from the northeast on Washington Avenue
- •Sunset Vista, 20,000 square feet
- Sunset Vista Prefunction Space, 10,000 square feet
- Sunset Vista Terrace, 11,000 square feet o Access to Pride Park
- Private entry from the south west on Convention Center Drive
- Grand Lobby, 100,000 square feet
- East Lobby, 100,000 square feet.
- Three junior ballrooms ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 square feet
- Up to 84 meeting rooms ranging in size
- 500,000 square feet of Exhibit Hall space.
The MBCC’s Grand Ballroom is flexible, sophisticated and production-friendly; as South Florida’s largest ballroom space the opportunities for innovative event design in the Grand Ballroom are endless. The adjoining Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area offers high ceilings, open space and an abundance of natural light. The adjoining Grand Ballroom Terrace and Staircase overlook Collins Canal Park’s lush tropical gardens, showcasing inspirational artwork by Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places program. The Grand Ballroom offers secure and separate private entry from the northeast on Washington Avenue to complete the VIP experience.
The Sunset Vista Ballroom also offers adjoining Prefunction and Terrace space to support flexible event designs, healthy social distancing, and spectacular sunset views of Pride Park. Private entry supports a seamless guest experience for the Sunset Vista spaces. MBCC’s other flexible junior ballrooms, and up to 84 meeting rooms also offer flexible options for safe and healthy event designs.
The Exhibit Halls combine for up to 500,000 sq. ft. of flexible space. Best known for hosting tradeshows and expos, the Exhibit Halls are a blank canvas for larger event space solutions. Spacious, sophisticated and sunlit prefuction spaces and lobbies support easy and secure access into the venue, promoting a safe and healthy guest flow for a variety of event types. The Grand Ballroom Terrace and the Sunset Vista Terrace overlook 9-acres of lush green space comprised of Collins Canal Park, Pride Park and historic Carl Fisher Clubhouse. The outdoor spaces on the City Center Campus surrounding the MBCC provide additional healthy event solutions to celebrate together safely and accommodate gatherings.
Sodexo and Centerplate’s program Together We Rise details companywide food and beverage safety measures that support easy catering and concessions. MBCC’s exclusive catering by Centerplate features Chef Ismael Lasalle’s custom menus highlighting locally sourced ingredients and South Florida’s rich flavors. Tastemaker and influencer Steven Haas helps MBCC’s clients design unforgettable event experiences. MBCC’s delicious menu offerings are beautifully served by Centerplate with elegance, presentation and tons of flavor.
MBCC’s customizable event layouts support social distancing for a wide range of guest counts, and work in tandem with health and safety measures to build confidence in the event experience and safely reopen the venue for live events.
MBCC’s other reopening measures include recent awarding of GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation supporting comprehensive cleaning and disinfection protocols with third-party validation. Introduction of Health Ambassadors to facilitate the event planning process. MBCC staff participation in the City of Miami Beach’s MB Standard program, undergoing regular COVID-19 testing, health screenings and more. MBCC has also added new physical and digital, permanent and portable signage throughout the venue that reinforce CDC recommended practices.
The MBCC’s commitment to fundamental practices recommended by the CDC are reinforced with new physical and digital, permanent and portable signage deployed throughout the venue’s front of house and back of house areas. Additional wall-mounted and portable hand sanitizer stations, as well as touch-free and environmentally friendly restroom features, are other physical measures that promote healthy practices. New health and safety practices align with the MBCC’s LEED® Silver Certification achieved as part of the venue’s $620-million-dollar expansion project which includes many environmentally-friendly features.
MBCC is steps away from Miami Beach’s best shopping, arts, culture, and entertainment (and beautiful beaches!), for pre-and-post event activities that support the vibrant local community.
The MBCC established the MBCC Recovery Task Force in order to develop and implement fundamental practices and procedures which adhere to local public health recommendations (including those from the City of Miami Beach, Miami Dade County, State of Florida, CDC and WHO), while also incorporating venue industry best practices and recommendations from Spectra Venue Management, Sodexo-Centerplate, Smart City Networks, Everlast Productions and 1st Class Valet. Prior to the development of this Reopening Plan document, the Task Force released the MBCC’s Recovery Plan (comprised of Guiding Principles & Metrics, as well as Venue Measures), in support of practices that protect the collective health and pave the way for a safe return to live events.
Some videos linked in this document were captured prior to the coronavirus pandemic and may not reflect the current venue measures in place, such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
The (MBCC) is the centerpiece to Miami Beach’s meetings and conventions industry. Reimagined following a $620- million-dollar renovation, the expanded MBCC includes a new 60,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, 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, almost 2,100 miles of cabling to support all IT communications, $7.1 million dollars’ worth of art curated by the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places program, 9-acres of public green space that can serve as incremental event space, and much, much more.
For general information, visit www.miamibeachconvention.com or call 786-276-2600. Learn more about the MBCC’s Venue Measures on our website. For booking inquiries, contact [email protected]. Visit the GMCVB for a virtual tour of the MBCC. Follow MBCC on Facebook, Instagram, You Tube, Twitter and Linked In.
The Miami Beach Convention Center is proudly managed by Spectra Venue Management. Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships. Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com. Follow Spectra on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.