Miami real estate listings in Sunny Isles Beach

SUNNY ISLES BEACH

City aims to boost tourism

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is setting up shop in City Hall as part of an effort to promote local businesses.

BY CARLI TEPROFF

With more than 10 luxury hotels along the coastline, Sunny Isles Beach residents and officials see the small city as a destination for people around the world.

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau agrees.

In a joint venture, the city agreed to provide space in City Hall for Ibis Romero, the bureau's associate vice president of membership. Romero will market the city's restaurants and hotels in an effort to get more tourists to travel to Sunny Isles Beach.

David Whitaker, senior vice president of Marketing and Tourism for the visitor's bureau, said Sunny Isles Beach has begun to attract a lot of tourists who travel to South Florida.

''You know how important the tourist and visitor industry is to the economic vitality of this community,'' Whitaker said Dec. 14 to the Sunny Isles Beach commissioners. ``And what you have done here in this outstanding destination really helps us sell this region all over the world.''

Romero, who is scheduled to move into City Hall Jan. 1, will now serve as the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association's executive director. The association has members including Acqualina, a Rosewood resort; Best Western Thunderbird Beach Resort; LeMeridien; and Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort.

The resort association, which has been in existence for more than 20 years, is a way for the hotels and restaurants to team up to attract visitors. According to the association's website, www.sunnyislesfla.com, about a million visitors come to stay in hotels, eat in restaurants or enjoy the beach.

Bill Lone Sr., who was the association's executive director for many years, died last May leaving a vacancy.

Mayor Norman Edelcup said by having someone from the visitor's bureau at City Hall, the city's visibility as a vacation destination would be elevated.

''We have begun to attract people from all over the world,'' Edelcup said. ``It is just a matter of getting our name out there.''

Michelle Revuelta, the acting associate vice president of media relations, said this is the first time the bureau is providing a staff person.

The city has already created a Tourism and Development Advisory Board to allow the residents to have input in promoting the city.

Tony LoCastro, chair of the advisory board, said the board's job is to help create more activities like an Arts in the Park Series.

''The more activities that we provide the more people will want to live here and visit here,'' he said.

LoCastro said the partnership is great for the city.

''I am for anything that stimulates interest and brings publicity to the city,'' he said.

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