Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Gathers Travel And Tourism Industry Leaders With Government Partners To Develop Hotel Pledge Aimed At Combating Mosquito Borne Illnesses

In partnership with Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and VISIT FLORIDA, Miami's Travel and Tourism Industry prepared to be industry model in efforts to fight mosquito borne illnesses

News provided by

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

Nov 23, 2016, 09:53 ET

MIAMI, Nov. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA, the Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA), and Florida Lodging and Restaurant Association hosted a Travel & Tourism Industry Forum to elevate ongoing efforts to fight mosquito borne illnesses, including Zika. Held November 21, 2016 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, Miami-based travel industry leaders participating in the forum included hotels, airlines, cruise lines, restaurants, attractions, retail and transportation partners ready to solidify their commitment to create unprecedented industry best practices to support efforts in fighting mosquito-borne illnesses.

William D. Talbert III, CDME, President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Center tan jacket) and Rolando Aedo, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Blue suit directly behind William) in partnership with Paul Phipps, Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Florida and President and Chief Operating Officer of Fontainebleau Miami Beach hosted a Travel & Tourism Forum at Fontainebleau Miami Beach with industry leaders this...

William D. Talbert III, CDME, President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau participates in yesterday's press conference at Roasters' n Toasters deli in Miami Beach with City of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip and Florida Governor Rick Scott (left to right).

As a result of the forum, the GMCVB in partnership with the GMBHA is developing a pledge that will incorporate the industry's commitment and outline a series of mosquito mitigation efforts. The group will finalize the initiative in the near future.

"Yesterday's announcement by Florida Governor Rick Scott that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has lifted the Zika related travel advisory for 35 of the existing 57 streets in Miami Beach is an indication that the program set forth by our government partners is working and Greater Miami is ready to be a model-destination in dealing with Zika and any other mosquito borne-illness," says GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME. "Miami and the Beaches has welcomed a record-breaking (nearly) 12 million overnight visitors in the first time nine months of this year and the safety and health of our residents and visitors continues to be our top priority."