Miami team cooks up a feast in Toronto

Greater Miami and the Beaches hosted a lunch event in Etobicoke yesterday afternoon to meet partners in the Canadian travel industry and share updates on everything that’s new in the area.

Linda Stilmann, senior director of sales, travel industry, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, was joined by representatives from nine partners at the event, which saw attendees split into teams to prepare five dishes for lunch at Cirillo’s Culinary Academy.

Partners present included Charles Group Hotels, Pestana South Beach Art Deco Boutique Hotel, the Confidante Miami Beach, Mayfair Hotel & Spa, Nobu Hotel Eden Roc, Residence Inn Marriott Miami Beach, Residence Inn Marriott Miami Aventura Mall, South Dade, and SLS South Beach.

Speaking to PAX, Stilmann reinforced the importance of Canadian tourism to the area, while also noting that it had mercifully been spared the worst effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, despite flooding and debris-laden streets.

“Canada is our number one market,” commented Stilmann, "so we have come up here to meet the industry and say thanks for the business that they bring – this is the VIP event."

Although Florida was pummelled by the recent hurricanes, Stilmann said that Miami "was actually very fortunate. They still had a storm, some flooding and a lot of damaged trees and debris, but 95 per cent of hotels are open, and the beaches are open."

Miami Aquarium, she said, was due to reopen on Oct. 15, 2017, having sustained some structural damage, with most other attractions already up and running.

Having liaised with 70-75 agents the previous night at a trade show-style event, the next leg of the group’s Canadian trip will see them touch down in Montreal and Quebec City – with Stilmann acknowledging the importance of the Quebec market to Miami tourism.

Invited guests then tucked into a meal of their own making, with some of the fare on offer including soup, salmon, lamb and hen dishes.