In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Alex Batista, Vice President, Convention Sales of the Greater Miami Convention - Visitors Bureau.
What does it mean to you to be here at IBTM?
For us, and well for Miami, being at IBTM here in Barcelona is very important because it also gives us the opportunity to speak to the European market. We also see many clients from the United States who come here and then we connect, we talk a little about what is coming in 2024, what they are seeing and how things are impacting, especially with wars. How it is impacting business in Europe and how it will affect us in the future. We want to have the thermometer of how agencies and how companies are affected by wars. Now there are some that do, there are some that don't. But we are going to be seeing that there, but well, the demand continues especially from Europe, I see the Spanish market. I think he is very interested in returning to the United States, but there is a lot of competition, there is still a lot of competition from many places.
But Miami as a destination still has a very strong demand, a little more than normal, because after the pandemic it is now returning to normal, and here we are seeing all of these from all of our clients, especially from the European market, who are asking us what There are many new things in Miami, it is a good time to reconnect with them and talk about 2024 and 2025.
Speaking of new, if there is something that Miami has, it is that every year when a group returns, it is that they can see a completely renewed city, there are always new things, new properties, new attractions...
Yes, we have many new attractions in the culinary part, many new restaurants that have opened that are now part of what is called Michelin Star, many new restaurants, many restaurants that have changed their menus and also what is the Sports is growing super fast because we are attracting a lot of talent to the city to be with our teams. Now, as you know, Messi is on the Inter Miami team, we have a basketball team that is incredible. The American football team is magnificent. We also have Formula 1, and we have tennis, but we are attracting other sports like basketball, like volleyball, which will now have tournaments. All of that is coming to Miami to play international games. So Miami is growing in the Sports part, with all this talent we have and I am hearing that we are going to bring even more talent. On the other hand, new hotels, as you say, every year is like a new city with so many things we have.
What is the perspective or planning you have for next year in terms of initiatives like this to participate in fairs? How does that road trip continue for you?
Very positively, we are growing in our participation in international events. We are attracting many more hotels and members to exhibit their products, so there is a lot of demand and a lot of interest in international events. The domestic ones too, but the international ones we see much more growth potential in the city.