Cooking With Miami!

Greater Miami and the Beaches – including nine partners up from Florida – hosted an industry luncheon yesterday at Cirillo’s Culinary Academy in Etobicoke to thank Canadian partners for all their help in keeping Canada Miami’s number one international market.

Attendees all helped in the preparation of a five-course lunch, which included Cornish hen and lamb, and plenty of tasty side dishes.

Linda Stilmann (pictured, top left), senior director of sales with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, told PressToday that Miami “dodged a huge bullet” from hurricanes Irma and Maria with the only real damage being downed trees and lots of debris.

“We’re open for business,” she said. “Ninety-five per cent of our hotels are open.”

Rafael Fonseca of The Confidante Miami Beach agreed, saying they were blessed not to have received a direct hit.

“It was mostly heavy rain and debris, mostly clean-up,” he said. “Everything is good now.”

The destination’s tourism industry is welcoming visitors with a new promotion launched by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau titled #MiamiNow.

The unprecedented value-offer promotion runs through Oct. 31 and unites six of the 12 beloved GMCVB Temptations Programs – Miami Spice, Miami Spa, Miami Hotel, Miami Attractions, Miami Museums and Shop Miami Month.

The program offers a variety of deals, providing tremendous value on hotels, restaurants, spas, museums, attractions and shopping.

The Miami delegation moves on to Montreal today (Oct. 4) and then to Quebec City.

Pictured, second photo, are (l-r) Fonseca, Stilmann, Luza Gutierrez of Turnberry Hospitality and Tim Cartwright, SLS Hotels.

(http://www.MiamiandBeaches.com)