permanent, central location run by a gay Chamber that serves the needs of both
LGBT and gay-friendly visitors and locals.”
Located at 1130 Washington Avenue, Old City Hall is literally at the epicenter of
LGBT activity in South Beach. Steps to Ocean Drive and the beach, a few blocks
south of famed Lincoln Road and right in the middle of bars, restaurants, shops and
hotels, Old City Hall is easily accessible by foot, car, bus or Rollerblade. The
Mediterranean Neo-Classical designed building was originally built in 1927 and
reopened last October after a three-year, $7 million renovation by the City.
In addition to offices for the MDGLCC staff and volunteers, the 2,500 square-foot
space on the first floor of Old City Hall will house a conference room that MDGLCC
members, community groups and other non-profits can use for meetings or
presentations; a computer lab where visitors can check e-mails; a resource center
where visitors and locals can collect information on MDGLCC member companies,
LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations and businesses; and a lounge where people
can simply hang out and meet new friends or take a break from the non-stop Miami
Beach action.
There will also be kiosks to display various LGBT-oriented memorabilia as well as
branded merchandise for sale as souvenirs. The Center will also have the ability to
play host to art shows, book signings, receptions and fundraisers, many of which
could be held in conjunction with the high-profile events that Miami Beach attracts,
such as the Winter Party, Art Basel Miami Beach, the South Beach Wine & Food
Festival and Art Deco Weekend.
Besides being a central location
for LGBT and LGBT-friendly
businesses and services to
distribute literature and
information, the Visitor Center
will have high-profile as well as
LGBT and gay-friendly visitors and locals.”
Located at 1130 Washington Avenue, Old City Hall is literally at the epicenter of
LGBT activity in South Beach. Steps to Ocean Drive and the beach, a few blocks
south of famed Lincoln Road and right in the middle of bars, restaurants, shops and
hotels, Old City Hall is easily accessible by foot, car, bus or Rollerblade. The
Mediterranean Neo-Classical designed building was originally built in 1927 and
reopened last October after a three-year, $7 million renovation by the City.
In addition to offices for the MDGLCC staff and volunteers, the 2,500 square-foot
space on the first floor of Old City Hall will house a conference room that MDGLCC
members, community groups and other non-profits can use for meetings or
presentations; a computer lab where visitors can check e-mails; a resource center
where visitors and locals can collect information on MDGLCC member companies,
LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations and businesses; and a lounge where people
can simply hang out and meet new friends or take a break from the non-stop Miami
Beach action.
There will also be kiosks to display various LGBT-oriented memorabilia as well as
branded merchandise for sale as souvenirs. The Center will also have the ability to
play host to art shows, book signings, receptions and fundraisers, many of which
could be held in conjunction with the high-profile events that Miami Beach attracts,
such as the Winter Party, Art Basel Miami Beach, the South Beach Wine & Food
Festival and Art Deco Weekend.
Besides being a central location
for LGBT and LGBT-friendly
businesses and services to
distribute literature and
information, the Visitor Center
will have high-profile as well as
more subtle opportunities for companies and individuals to show their “pride”
colors. Corporate sponsorships are being sold to help defray the operational
costs of the Center, Adkins said, everything from logos on the walls, to rotating
messages on flat-screen TVs, to naming rights for the Center itself. Corporate
and individual donors can also have their names displayed on a donor wall.
“A Visitor Center of this magnitude makes perfect sense for Miami Beach,”
Adkins said. “We’re arguably among the top LGBT tourist destinations in the
country, if not the world, and the local LGBT community is very well-integrated into
the general population, making this city one of the most progressive and
accepting in the world.”
That integration makes Miami Beach unusual and provides a bigger opportunity
for a Center, Adkins said. “Unlike other cities, there are no ‘gay ghettos’ here
where the LGBT community has congregated, nor are there side streets lined
with pride flags to indicate the few places of acceptance. Here, people freely walk
Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive hand-in-hand and are warmly welcomed at shops,
hotels and restaurants.”
Another benefit of the Visitor Center will be the ability to further quantify the
economic impact of LGBT visitors and the community overall on the local
economy. According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, LGBT
visitors spent more than $1.7 billion throughout Miami-Dade County in 2007.
Ultimately, Adkins hopes the new, high-visibility location will serve as a catalyst to
bring more LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses – and visitors – to Miami Beach.
“We really look forward to the Visitor Center being front-and-center in Miami
Beach,” Adkins said.
colors. Corporate sponsorships are being sold to help defray the operational
costs of the Center, Adkins said, everything from logos on the walls, to rotating
messages on flat-screen TVs, to naming rights for the Center itself. Corporate
and individual donors can also have their names displayed on a donor wall.
“A Visitor Center of this magnitude makes perfect sense for Miami Beach,”
Adkins said. “We’re arguably among the top LGBT tourist destinations in the
country, if not the world, and the local LGBT community is very well-integrated into
the general population, making this city one of the most progressive and
accepting in the world.”
That integration makes Miami Beach unusual and provides a bigger opportunity
for a Center, Adkins said. “Unlike other cities, there are no ‘gay ghettos’ here
where the LGBT community has congregated, nor are there side streets lined
with pride flags to indicate the few places of acceptance. Here, people freely walk
Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive hand-in-hand and are warmly welcomed at shops,
hotels and restaurants.”
Another benefit of the Visitor Center will be the ability to further quantify the
economic impact of LGBT visitors and the community overall on the local
economy. According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, LGBT
visitors spent more than $1.7 billion throughout Miami-Dade County in 2007.
Ultimately, Adkins hopes the new, high-visibility location will serve as a catalyst to
bring more LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses – and visitors – to Miami Beach.
“We really look forward to the Visitor Center being front-and-center in Miami
Beach,” Adkins said.
www.ambiente.us MARCH | MARZO 2010
Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to open
Nation's Only Chamber-Sponsored LGBT Visitor Center
South Beach Location at 11th & Washington
To Roll Out The Welcome Mat For Tourists and Locals
MIAMI BEACH – March 9, 2010 – As the 600-member strong Miami-Dade Gay &
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) packs up its rainbow flag in preparation
for relocating offices to the first floor north of historic Old City Hall in Miami Beach, plans
are being finalized to launch what may be the country’s only gay Chamber-sponsored
LGBT Visitor Center. The new LGBT Visitor Center inside the MDGLCC’s new
headquarters will become a place of community, information, resources and business
networking for the 1.2 million gay and lesbian travelers who visit Miami-Dade County
each year, as well as for the estimated 183,000 LGBT residents who call Miami and
Miami Beach home, said Steve Adkins, president of the MDGLCC. The Center is on-
target to open April 15 with a grand opening dedication celebration for the entire
community with many dignitaries, city leaders and community leaders in attendance.
“We envision the new Visitor Center becoming the nucleus of LGBT activity for visitors,
locals and our business community,
” Adkins said. “Other cities have LGBT
community centers or general tourist
information places, but we’re aware of no
other city in the country that has a
Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to open
Nation's Only Chamber-Sponsored LGBT Visitor Center
South Beach Location at 11th & Washington
To Roll Out The Welcome Mat For Tourists and Locals
MIAMI BEACH – March 9, 2010 – As the 600-member strong Miami-Dade Gay &
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) packs up its rainbow flag in preparation
for relocating offices to the first floor north of historic Old City Hall in Miami Beach, plans
are being finalized to launch what may be the country’s only gay Chamber-sponsored
LGBT Visitor Center. The new LGBT Visitor Center inside the MDGLCC’s new
headquarters will become a place of community, information, resources and business
networking for the 1.2 million gay and lesbian travelers who visit Miami-Dade County
each year, as well as for the estimated 183,000 LGBT residents who call Miami and
Miami Beach home, said Steve Adkins, president of the MDGLCC. The Center is on-
target to open April 15 with a grand opening dedication celebration for the entire
community with many dignitaries, city leaders and community leaders in attendance.
“We envision the new Visitor Center becoming the nucleus of LGBT activity for visitors,
locals and our business community,
” Adkins said. “Other cities have LGBT
community centers or general tourist
information places, but we’re aware of no
other city in the country that has a
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About the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
MDGLCC is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the county for gay and lesbian
businesses. With membership on the rise, the Chamber's mission is to promote
a unified and thriving LGBT and LGBT-friendly business and professional
community throughout the County. The Chamber’s goals are to promote
networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional
community; to promote business opportunities for Chamber members; to
promote Miami and Miami Beach as year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist
destinations; to provide resources for our members; and to provide outreach from
our community to other organizations. For more information, contact the
MDGLCC by calling 305-573-4000, by emailing info@gogaymiami.com, or by
visiting www.gogaymiami.com.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.Do not reproduce without citing these sources.
MDGLCC is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the county for gay and lesbian
businesses. With membership on the rise, the Chamber's mission is to promote
a unified and thriving LGBT and LGBT-friendly business and professional
community throughout the County. The Chamber’s goals are to promote
networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional
community; to promote business opportunities for Chamber members; to
promote Miami and Miami Beach as year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist
destinations; to provide resources for our members; and to provide outreach from
our community to other organizations. For more information, contact the
MDGLCC by calling 305-573-4000, by emailing info@gogaymiami.com, or by
visiting www.gogaymiami.com.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.Do not reproduce without citing these sources.
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