Business Travel Guide Miami, Florida
Whether one thinks of Miami as the southernmost major city in North America or as the northern capital of Latin America, one thing is certain: it is a major international business center with numerous multinational and Fortune 500 companies. While tourism and international trade are the economy's strongest segments, real estate, construction and biotechnology are rapidly growing. Many U.S. corporations—including UPS, FedEx and Hewlett-Packard—run their South American operations from Miami. Downtown is Miami's international banking and finance center, and while this neighborhood used to be dead after business hours, a recent explosion of hip restaurants and lounges along the Biscayne/Brickell Corridor (particularly in and around new Mary Brickell Village, the Design District, and the Upper East Side) has made it an increasingly alluring place for business travelers to base their stay. But for accommodations closer to the convention center and the center of nightlife, choose to stay in Miami Beach's landmark Art Deco district, South Beach.
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Taxi cabs and shuttles:
Cabs are located just outside each terminal's baggage claim area. The flat-rate fare from the airport is $32 to South Beach, $22 to downtown Miami or Coconut Grove, $19 to Coral Gables, and $52 to Sunny Isles Beach (location of a number of recently-opened upscale resorts that are oceanfront but quieter than Sobe hotels). Any of several share-ride shuttles can save you money if you reserve ahead. SuperShuttle also offers walk-up service just outside baggage claim, however, wait time for a shuttle is about 15 to 20 minutes. Expect to pay about $20 to reach South Beach, $15 for a ride to Downtown or the Grove, $18 to the Gables, $27 to Sunny Isles Beach; each additional passenger in the same party pays $9-11.
Rental Car:
Except for severe parking problems in certain locales (like South Beach), renting a car can be a great way to get around South Florida. Most national car rental chains have airport counters, but all pick-up/drop-off locations are outside the airport facility, three to five minutes away. Before you leave the rental car facility, make sure that you get a map with its location; the signage is not great around the airport and the facilities can be tricky to find.
Public Transportation:
Public transportation is not recommended for business travelers. Although it only costs $1.50, the short Metrobus trip from the airport to Downtown takes about one hour. As for commuting between mainland Miami and Miami Beach (just a few miles away, across Biscayne Bay), public transport is an inconvenient process at any hour, generally involving several transfers. After dark, when only limited night busses run, public transportation is even more inconvenient and sometimes downright unsafe.
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Information:
For local business news try the South Florida Business Journal, which is published weekly, or the Daily Business Review for more frequent business and legal news.
The Miami Herald, a general interest newspaper, also has a daily business section covering business news from the local to the international. |
Internet:
| AT&T Public Wireless offers wi-fi Internet access in the D and H concourses and plans to add more hotspots in the future. In Concourse G, look for Wireless service by Airpath at gate G2. Yet another provider, Boingo Wireless, offers service at the Bacardi Bar in Concourse E. For a full-service Internet workstation, try the Hotel Lobby Bar on the 8th floor of the Miami International Airport Hotel. |
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The Astor
956 Washington Ave. (Tenth St.)
305-531-8081
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Although
refurbished in 2002, this 1932 hotel retains many of its
original Art Deco elements, like terrazzo floors and aluminum
fixtures. Although the hotel considers the pricey one-bedroom
suites its signature rooms, it is possible to rent a small,
quiet room in the back of the hotel for $145 during the
off- season. En suite marble bathrooms are standard, and
all rooms come with Web TV (many with flat screens) and
high-speed Internet access.
Delano
1685 Collins Ave. (16th St.)
305-672-2000
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Named after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this
1947 landmark was completely renovated in 1995 at a cost
of $28 million. Inspired by the islands of Greece, Phillippe
Starck transformed the complex into a magical retreat
with a 250-foot-long lobby corridor and floor-to-ceiling
windows with flowing sheer drapes. This boutique hotel
continues to be one of the premier South Beach destinations
for celebrities as does its popular restaurant, the Blue
Door. Its 238 elegant lofts, one-bedroom suites and
pool bungalows are romantic with their virginal white
furnishings, but more importantly, they're practical.
All rooms include both wired and wireless high-speed Internet
access. Guests will feel like royalty as they take advantage
of in-room massages, personal trainers and maids who discreetly
unpack their bags.
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Located
downtown on the Miami River and enviably close to
the Riverwalk and Convention Center, this majestic hotel
offers the kind of modern and practical accommodations
travelers have come to count on from Hyatt. Many rooms
have private balconies overlooking Biscayne Bay and the
Miami skyline and all have wireless high-speed Internet
access and fax machines. Among the property's several
restaurants and lounges is the tropical Riverwalk Café,
serving gourmet and casual cuisine. Japengo's nightclub
keeps the Latin rhythm beating 'til morning.
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In
the affluent enclave of Coconut Grove, this avant-garde
hotel is a whimsical tribute to the architectural visions
of Antonio Gaudi. Its location is right in the center
of an array of holiday pleasures, including Cocowalk's
outdoor shopping and dining. Each of the 179 accommodations
is uniquely decorated, but all have vibrant color schemes
and luxurious fabrics. The bedrooms are equipped with
mini bars, complimentary high-speed Internet access and
VCRs. Suites include all of these amenities along with
private terraces and either Roman tubs or Japanese-style
hot tubs.
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This magnificent grand hotel knows how to go the extra
mile. For a special visit, customized packages incorporate
local tours in a Mercedes-Benz, gourmet picnic baskets, "shopping invigoration" spa sessions and romantic
breakfasts in bed. Each of the 115 guest rooms and suites
has a private balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking
manicured gardens, Biscayne Bay or the Miami skyline.
With high-speed Internet access in every room and an on-site
business center, this hotel is as convenient as it is
luxurious. Bizcaya
Grill, the hotel's restaurant, features upscale
steaks and Continental cuisine.
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Asian/Latin American
13/20
$$$$$ |
On the Four Seasons' seventh floor lobby level, Acqua appeals to business travelers for many reasons, including its convenient Brickell banking district location; its impressive views of downtown's skyline and Biscayne Bay; and its luxuriously club-like ambience. Decorated in muted gold and ochre tones, the interior dining room is the picture of understated executive elegance. But the food, local food critics agree, is the main draw. New chef Patrick Boucher has retained many favorites on the former Asian/Latin-accented menu (like Study of Duck: five-spiced breast, foie gras spring roll, and sesame-glazed confit), but has added numerous Mediterranean and contemporary American dishes to keep Acqua's many repeat customers intrigued. The more global menu ranges from the boldly imaginative (hazelnut and dulce de leche-crusted lamb chops with broccolini, warm goat cheese, and fingerling potato salad) to straightforward steakhouse stuff—grilled meats or fish with choice of sauces. |
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Mediterranean/Asian/Latin American
15/20
$$$$$ |
The
Mandarin
Oriental, Miami hotel is built on prestigious Brickell
Key, and as such, its restaurant Azul offers incredible
views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. The dining
room is handsomely appointed too, but there's no
question that the main attraction here is the cuisine
of chef Michelle Bernstein, who has gained national recognition
for her savvy synthesis of Latin, Asian, Caribbean, Mediterranean
and American culinary influences. Her global agility is
convincingly displayed in innumerably innovative ways:
duck legs get glazed with five spice mix, and roasted
chestnut soup is sumptuously spiked with black truffles,
minced mushrooms and pancetta. Top flight service and
a great wine list make Azul one of Miami's premier
dining destinations. |
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French/Contemporary
14/20
$$$$$ |
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Blue Door, decadent in an understated 90s way, wows
with white curtains, white candles, a white grand piano
and impossibly high ceilings. The outdoor verandah is
an equally impressive spot to dine, overlooking a Philippe
Starck life-sized chessboard and eclectic, pastoral
garden. The tropical-accented French cuisine is also
a sight to behold—and be eaten with gusto. A filet
of black grouper gets eloquently enhanced with cashews,
brown butter and roasted fresh hearts of palm; beef
tenderloin crusted with distinction by a green peppercorn
tempura; and roast duck breast enlivened by bacon, figs
and caramelized pears. Blue Door remains South Beach's
standard of grandeur, befitting Miami's flashy
elite, deep-pocketed tourists, or anyone who dares to
dream. |
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Seafood/Small Plates
14/20
$$$$$ |
Steakhouses are the classic power lunch places, so The Oceanaire's national reputation as a steakhouse for seafood lovers makes it a savvy choice for business leaders who think a bit differently than the rest of the pack. Décor is opulent yet no-nonsense traditional— nautical without kitsch, like a sleek 1930s cruise ship—and the place's comfy, high-backed leather booths/banquettes provide enough privacy for deal-making; there's also none of the incessant deejayed thump that impedes conversation in most South Beach hotspots. Food-wise, the place's portions of market-fresh fish (about two dozen different choices daily) are also steakhouse-sized and prepared with scrumptious simplicity. The core menu of All American retro classics (shrimp Dejonghe, Chesapeake Bay-style jumbo lump crab cakes, impeccable oysters-on-the-half-shell from Miami 's most extensive raw bar, etc.) is supplemented by the hip Latin and Asian-accented specialties of local chef/partner Sean Bernal. |
| Prime Blue Grille
315 S Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33131
305-358-5900 |
Steakhouse/Seafood
15/20
$$$$$
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Since this innovative steakhouse's opening in the summer of 2007, it has been the favored lunchroom of city politicians, developers, and other power brokers. Much of the appeal is the place's contemporary design; eschewing the dark, 19th-century hunt club look of typical upscale steakhouses, the Grille uses warm lighter woods and multiple levels for an expansive New Millennium feel. And panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows fully exploit the place's spectacular setting overlooking the Miami River (though there are secluded private dining rooms too). Food's also designed to appeal to modern sensibilities. Steaks are all sourced Brandt antibiotic/hormone-free prime beef, and seafood (of which there's as much on the menu as beef) is wild-caught; all are seared to slightly smoky, juicy perfection by 1800-degree hickory-burning grills and oak-burning ovens. The menu also features wood-oven pizzas, an extensive Design-It-Yourself salad section, and enough tempting veggie side dishes to keep non-carnivores in pig heaven. |
Doral
Resort & Spa Golf Course
4400 NW 87th Ave
305-592-2000
www.doralresort.com
The
Doral Resort's five championship courses include
the world-famous Blue Monster. After hosting the PGA tournament
for more than forty years, this course is one of the most
recognizable in the country. The 18th hole, with its iconic
fountain, was actually named one of the top 100 holes
in the world by Golf Magazine. Each of the challenging
courses includes thick rough and numerous water holes;
in fact, 16 of the Gold Course's 18 holes are surrounded
by water. To hone your game, spend some time at the Jim
McLean Golf School.
The Florida Room
Delano
1685 Collins Ave. (17th St.)
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-672-2000
www.delano-hotel.com
Since its celebrity-packed opening night in late 2007, The Florida Room, a retro piano bar designed by locally-based celeb Lenny Kravitz, has been the hangout for cool old school sorts who want to party like it was 1920. Located in the nightclub-like lobby of the perennially hot Delano hotel, the space's mix of old-style opulence (Swarovski crystal chandelier, smoked glass mirrored ceiling) and tropical touches (wicker bar stools), not to mention the décor's over-the-top focal point—a see-through Lucite grand piano—convey a satisfyingly sinful island/speakeasy feel that is furthered by its menu of potent rum cocktails. Do come early if you favor real live piano bar music over the usual DJed stuff that generally takes over late at night.
Live Latin Music/Dancing
at Hoy Como Ayer
2212 SW 8 th St. (SW 22 nd Ave.)
Miami, FL
305-541-2631
www.hoycomoayer.net
South Beach's dance clubs are definitely dominated by the kind of DJed sounds found everywhere in the country, but for those staying in downtown hotels, Old Havana is only a short hop away, down Calle Ocho. Today is always yesterday at this evocative Cuban club (open Wednesday through Saturday), from the old photos on the walls to the traditional tamales on the tapas platters—and, of course, the live Latin bands that are the main attraction. Acts vary from the eclectic Spam All Stars to roots-oriented songstress Albita Rodriguez, and a sprinkling of old-timers who actually played in Havana way back when (call for schedule), but the sounds are always the sort that get patrons off their seats and onto their feet.
Ocean Cruise
401 Biscayne Blvd. (Port Blvd.)
Island Queen Cruises 305-379-5119
Heritage Schooner 305-442-9697
No tour of Miami would be complete without a spin on the Atlantic. Island Queen Cruises offer sightseeing tours aboard its yachts seven days per week. Hosting a meeting and need to impress? Charter a yacht for the day and cruise the neighboring islands. For something more old-fashioned, consider the Heritage Schooner, a tall ship with billowing sails that offers scenic tours of the Miami River, Coconut Grove, Biscayne Bay and more. Boats for both companies depart from the Bayside Marketplace at 401 Biscayne Blvd.
The
Spa at the Biltmore
The
Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Ave. (Granada St.)
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305-445-1926
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Hidden
within the hotel's fitness center, The Spa at The Biltmore
feels a little bit like a secret club. You ring a bell
for entry, and are ushered into the sanctuary of all sanctuaries—a
waiting area whose subtle golden lighting and pillowed
sofas bring to mind the earthier, Moroccan works of Matisse.
All the requisite treatments are offered and then some.
Those who believe the luxury should never end will appreciate
the seven-hour Biltmore Ultimate Package, which includes
a body polish, signature massage, facial, manicure, pedicure,
make-up and hair-styling.
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P030899 |
(Updated: 05/11/09 KR) |
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