Hospitality Council Meeting Notes s2

1130 Washington Ave. 1st Floor North Miami Beach, FL 33139 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.gaybizmiami.com OFFICE: 305-673-4440 FAX: 305-673-8883

A Not –For-Profit Corporation

Hospitality Council – Meeting Notes

Attendees – Duncan Clements, Freddy Hernandez, Grisette Roque-Marcos, George Neary, Tim Nardi, Bruce Townsend and, Heriberto “Eddie” Calderon

STAFF: Steve Adkins, Jorge Richa, Scott Bader & Lori Lynch

Guests: Damian Pardo and Steve Haas

Hospitality Council – Meeting Agenda

November 8, 2016 (Thank you to Duncan and his team at The Hall – South Beach)

Agenda

1. Welcome & Introductions (5 mins) 2. GMBHA Update – Wendy Kallergis  Updates for current impact issues (ZIKA, Short term rental) 3. MBVCA Grant Update and Occupancy/Tax Update – Grisette Roque (5 mins) 4. Ocean Drive 10-point plan update - Steve Haas 5. MDGLCC Hospitality Council updates  Pink Flamingo Tourist Bag – Discussion  PluggedIN E-Newsletter (weekly/monthly) 6. Upcoming Impact Events  Gay8; January 15th– Damian Pardo (co-founder)

Notes from Meeting

ISSUES/ACTIONS- Ocean Drive 10-point Plan ACTIONS – Steve Haas has been hired by the Ocean Drive Merchants Association to assist with the implementation of the City of Miami Beach approved plan to improve the quality of local/tourist experience on Ocean Dr. This program, which included the creation of a BID (Business Improvement District) will focus on customer service training at the 47 café’s up and down the drive. Compliance to a consistent look and feel of proposed code requirements is also in the works. Steve’s contract is initially for 3 months but may be extended.

#2 – Hospitality Update – Grisette et al. (See attached handouts from Bill Anderson; GMCVB) ACTION – For grant organizations which receive VCA Funding - We discussed coming up with language for our LGBT Organizations who put on events to place in their Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce EMAIL: [email protected] OFFICE: 305-673-4440 communications/website to discourage travelers from staying in non-licensed short-term rental properties. ONGOING

#3 - Gay8 – ACTION – Damian Pardo (Co-Founder of the event) was present to discuss the upcoming festival taking place on SW 8th Street (Little Havana) on January 15, 2017. Last year’s event, the first of its kind drew over 17,000 attendees. Plans for this year include a larger footprint, more activities for the attendees and a focus on anti-gun violence (10% of proceeds will be donated to RJT Foundation which focuses on this issue). VIP Passes are $100 and benefits Gay8 and RJT.

#4 - MDGLCC Hospitality Initiatives – Landing page on website & PluggedIN e-newsletter ACTION– The MDGLCC website www.gaybizmiami.com was re-launched in early October complete with a new look and feel. As part of our market expansion, a new Hospitality Council page has been included along with a listing of our member properties. Included on this page are:

 Property listing  Pink Flamingo Certified properties  Historical Hospitality Council meeting notes  Link to our new Pink Flamingo Hospitality Certification page

#5- Pink Flamingo (PF) Training Tourist Bags – ISSUE – As part of our PF initiative, tourists visiting our PF Certified properties will receive a pink poker chip embossed with the LGBT Visitor Center’s address & logo. Upon taking this chip to THE Hub at the LGBT Visitor Center, in exchange for completing a brief survey, will receive a bag of take-away’ s. Action – Please provide us with ideas for what should be placed in the take-away gift bags.

Some suggestions for the bags – let us know if you would like to participate!!

 Discount restaurant coupons  Drink discount  Attraction discounts (maybe a coupon book put together by the CHAMBER/CVB)  Map(s)  LGBT Visitor Guide

Next Meeting – January 2017(Date and place TBD)