Florida leaders monitor COVID-19

Florida leaders monitor COVID-19

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read March 2020 — As an increasing number of countries experience outbreaks of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, Florida leaders are urging residents to stay calm despite two confirmed cases in the Sunshine State. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed two people in Manatee and Hillsborough counties having tested positive for COVID-19, the Palm Beach Post reported. “Despite these cases, the overall immediate threat to the public remains low,” DeSantis said, according to the newspaper. State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees advised residents to stay calm. “You can go about your normal business,” he said. 

 

As of Tuesday, there have been 124 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. While there have been no confirmed cases in Palm Beach, the county and municipalities are monitoring the situation closely. Town of Palm Beach officials, fire rescue personnel and law enforcement have been actively monitoring developments related to the Coronavirus since it was first discovered in Wuhan, China, the town of Palm Beach said in a press release.

The town of Palm Beach public safety personnel have reviewed and adjusted their emergency response plans in full compliance with CDC and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) recommendations, and are prepared to handle any potential coronavirus impact in our community should it occur, the municipality announced. 

Currently, Palm Beach County schools function as normal, though the district is ramping up its cleaning methods in all schools, the Palm Beach Daily News reported. The district is buying additional bleach and wipes to disinfect surfaces throughout the school system. The cleaning initiative will be re-evaluated at the end of March “to determine if continued intensive cleaning is warranted,” the newspaper reported.

In its risk assessment, the CDC reports that most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to the virus. The COVID-19 virus is not spreading widely in the United States; however, updates are to follow, the CDC reported. There is no vaccine, so prevention is the best approach, the town of Palm Beach advised. The town recommended residents to wash hands often, avoid the touching of eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible, and to seek out the flu shot if not done already, among other precautions.

 

To learn more, visit:

https://townofpalmbeach.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1204

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

Spotlight On: Lynda Remund, President & CEO, Tampa Downtown Partnership

Spotlight On: Lynda Remund, President & CEO, Tampa Downtown Partnership

By: Max Crampton-Thomas

2 min read March 2020 — A downtown is the city’s core and ultimately the face of any given region, so it is important to ensure that it is as strong as possible, said Lynda Remund, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership during a conversation with Invest:. Consistent reinvestment and place-making are major keys in unlocking the full potential of what the Downtown Tampa area can be, she said.

 

How important is a strong downtown to the economic growth of Tampa Bay? 

 

If you go to any city in the United States or around the world, you will see that a strong downtown is their central core and is really the face of that region. I believe it is very important that we have that strong city center. Downtown Tampa is growing by leaps and bounds and we are excited about that. A quick look around Tampa reveals that the Downtown area is not only growing but so are the outskirts and the suburbs. This is apparent when looking at areas like Midtown and projects like those in West Shore. We are proud that Downtown is such a strong center for our city, but happy to see that the region is developing as well.

 

What is the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s role in developing the Downtown area? 

 

We do a lot of place-making in Downtown Tampa, and it is really about creating a space for people to gather and make things happen. For example, our ambassador program, which is like a concierge on the street, helps with things like directions and restaurant suggestions. The participants are feel-good ambassadors who can talk to visitors, residents and workers who are Downtown and make sure they are happy and having a good experience. We also have our litter patrol out on the street to ensure our beautification efforts are being met. We advocate for transportation solutions for the Downtown, like safer streets, pedestrian crosswalks, wayfinding signage and anything else that is going to make a person’s experience better.

 

One of our top priorities is reinvesting into the Downtown area. We are looking at getting involved in some small-scale capital improvement projects. We will be reinvesting in a couple of small projects that will help pedestrian safety in regard to signage, lighting and aesthetics for the Downtown. Downtown is probably the safest place in the whole city and we are working to make it even safer. We are also bringing the International Downtown Association Conference here in October 2020. That is an audience of about 1,000 people from around the world, consisting of planners, elected officials, architects and business leaders. All of these experts will be here to share best practices and we are excited to receive them.

 

How important is smart growth to the development of Downtown Tampa?

 

Smart growth is vitally important to the Downtown region. Having a strong city center is the basis for any successful city. Tampa is now being recognized as a top spot not only in Florida, but in the nation. We have hundreds of new residents moving into this region everyday. Our statistics show that housing in Downtown alone has increased 219% in the last 11 years. I believe the growth that is happening now is sustainable growth, and I do not believe that is going to change. There are more cranes Downtown than ever before and new businesses are continuously moving in here. People are making the investment into Tampa and especially Downtown. 

 

What would you identify as the biggest challenge facing economic development in this region?

 

One of our biggest challenges in this region is obviously transportation, so having a commuter system in place will help to mitigate this issue. We often hear from big companies that are looking to move here or even conventions hoping to come here that they are looking for a place where people are able to move around easily. We are starting to provide more of these options, but we have so much more work to do to become a more viable option for people.

 

To learn more about our interviewee, visit: 

https://www.tampasdowntown.com/

A look at American Airlines’ Charlotte operations: 700 daily departures and counting

A look at American Airlines’ Charlotte operations: 700 daily departures and counting

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read Feb 2020 — From its strong headquarter relocation culture to its growing population and access to both capital and high-skilled talent, the Queen City has been flying high for several years. Undoubtedly, much of the region’s success can be directly attributed to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and the American Airlines hub that now serves more than 700 daily departures. 

The airport is undergoing a $3 billion makeover, modernizing and expanding its infrastructure with American at the center of the renovation efforts. In this process, the airport and American are helping recruit companies to Charlotte and training the next generation of the aviation workforce.  

This past holiday season, the airport renovation projects began to materialize as American added four gates on Concourse A to its Charlotte operations. “Charlotte 700” refers to American’s growth strategy in the Queen City and aims to serve more than 700 daily flight departures, a figure which Vice President of Operations Dec Lee said the airline surpassed. “Charlotte 700 refers to our original plan to have 700 flight departures a day, but we are actually over 700 departures a day now,” Lee told Invest: Charlotte. “Every time you want to add options for customers, you have to make sure that you can handle that and still have a great operation. We have a great collaboration with our network team and with the airport to build the right flight schedule,” he said.

 

The airport and American have been a vital part of the region’s economic diversification success and thriving headquarter relocation culture. “When you listen to some of the corporate announcements explaining why companies have moved here, you often hear about the ability to fly out of the hub. It is a great experience, particularly for business travelers, to be able to fly out in the morning and come back in the afternoon,” Lee said. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles echoed Lee’s sentiments. “We have invested heavily to make our airport a transport hub for the region with access to global businesses,” Lyles told Invest: Charlotte. 

Charlotte government officials and business leaders have been working in tandem to promote the Queen City as a business destination to local and international companies. One major target sits across the Atlantic. “This year, we will make a concerted effort to reach out to companies in Europe to let them know that Charlotte, thanks to its strong travel infrastructure, is a viable destination for their U.S. expansion,” Lyles said. 

For those interested in aviation, mechanics and engineering, American could be a potential job destination. The airline is coming to the end of a labor cycle, meaning opportunities will open for young workers. “We have a population of mechanics and pilots who are beginning to reach retirement age. That is unfortunate for us, but it is a fantastic opportunity to bring new folks into an industry that is doing so well compared to the early 2000s,” Lee said.  Overall, the future looks bright for the next generation of pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants. “You are bringing people into an industry that is growing and vibrant, and these jobs are exciting jobs.”

 

To learn more about our interviewees, visit: 

https://www.aa.com/homePage.do https://www.cltairport.com/

https://charlottenc.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

Spotlight On: Tom Mitchell, Managing Partner, Moore & Van Allen

Spotlight On: Tom Mitchell, Managing Partner, Moore & Van Allen

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read February 2020 — Diversity encapsulates the evolution of Charlotte’s legal sector. Diversity in legal practices and attorneys are a direct result of the growth the region is experiencing. Large, national firms like Moore & Van Allen have benefited from the diversification of the local economy and talent coming to the Charlotte region. From a revenue standpoint, 2019 was a record year for the firm, Managing Partner Tom Mitchell told Invest: Charlotte. The firm encourages pro bono practice as a way to give back to the Charlotte community and provide young lawyers valuable experience, he said.

What were some highlights for the firm in 2019?

2019 was another record-setting year from a revenue standpoint for Moore & Van Allen. We are an AmLaw 150 law firm, which means we are one of the Top 150 law firms in the country based on revenue. Our business expanded in many of our core areas, such as finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, intellectual property and regulatory and investigations. As the business grows, we continue to hire attorneys to help us service our clients efficiently. We have approximately 325 lawyers, most of them based in Charlotte. We also offer strong contributions in the public service and pro bono arena. For example, we worked on the merger of the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte and Urban Ministry Center last year. We are very proud of this work and can already see the benefits the merger brings to our community.      

 

How have the legal needs of businesses evolved in the last few years?

Charlotte has always been a strong banking center. At Moore & Van Allen, our finance group has been one of our largest practice groups for many years. Recently, with the amount of large companies moving their headquarters to Charlotte, corporate and transactional legal practices in the region have become more diverse. For example, with more technology companies in Charlotte creating jobs in the region, legal practices such as intellectual property, data security and privacy continue to expand. The relocation of large companies to Charlotte has had a significant impact on the legal sector here.

 

How is Moore & Van Allen shaping the next generation of legal talent?

Charlotte offers a competitive and unique quality of life. The sophistication of our legal practices allows us to recruit top talent locally and nationally. We showcase Charlotte as a great place to live and work. With our depth and sophistication in over 20 practice areas, we can provide opportunities early on to our newer attorneys, allowing them to develop their practice and skills more quickly than they might in other cities. 

 

Also, we have been intentional in our efforts to emphasize diversity at Moore & Van Allen. For example, we host a diversity conference each year for first-year law students where we expose them to the practice of law. We also have a strong mentoring program, which contributes greatly to sustaining the pipeline of talent necessary to maintain a diverse workforce and client base for our firm.  

 

How can law firms be more involved in their communities?

At Moore & Van Allen, we are committed to charitable, bar, civic and pro bono service and encourage our attorneys to give back to the community. We have a very active public service committee that identifies, coordinates and facilities public service opportunities for our attorneys, including in such areas as housing rights, assistance with estate planning, and human trafficking prevention, among others. These opportunities also provide great training for our young lawyers. As a result, not only are our lawyers helping someone in need, they are gaining valuable experience as a litigator or transactional lawyer whether in the courtroom or otherwise. Most importantly, our attorneys and staff uphold the legacy of service and corporate social responsibility that Moore & Van Allen is incredibly proud of. 

 

To learn more about our interviewees, visit: http://www.mvalaw.com/

Spotlight On: Michael Hendricks, Office Managing Partner Tampa, Frazier & Deeter

Spotlight On: Michael Hendricks, Office Managing Partner Tampa, Frazier & Deeter

By: Max Crampton-Thomas

2 min read February 2020 — Recent advancements in technology, economic uncertainty and the constantly changing needs of businesses and individuals alike have resulted in the accounting world having to expand its offerings into a multitude of advisory services. Invest: spoke with Michael Hendricks about how Frazier and Deeter, a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm, is adapting to these changes. He also spoke about the need to attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive talent market, and how his firm is going the extra step to make sure this young talent feels that they can have an impact on the business regardless of their tenure. 

 

 

Why is an office in Tampa Bay conducive to the overall success of the business? 

 

We have been in the marketplace now for five years. When identifying new opportunities, we look for areas where middle-market companies may be under-served. What attracted us to Tampa Bay was really the growth that the region has been experiencing over the past decade. We love the demographics of the region and the industries this area focuses on. We really look to get involved with the real estate, technology, distribution and manufacturing marketplaces. 

 

How have you seen the accounting industry evolve with recent advancements in technology?

 

I believe our industry is evolving quite a bit, to the point where we are going to see many tax and audit services going the way of artificial intelligence. Everything is going to be a little bit more competitive when it comes to pricing, so new ventures like consulting, back office, cybersecurity, data analytics and other consultative services is where I believe we will see our industry grow. We have been investing a lot of time into this.

 

What efforts have been put forth to help retain young professionals in your business? 

 

We have tried to keep the younger generation engaged in the business by setting up roundtable discussions and giving them a voice to present concerns to management. Every year, we pick out 10-15 individuals from our senior and supervisor levels and give them a chance to voice concerns and present ideas that they think can help resolve these issues. This activity offers an opportunity for them to grow. They are able to come to the board of partners and talk to them as a united voice. This is an ongoing process and every year we have a new group assembled. We think it is a great way to have the younger generations engage with the firm’s leadership group in a comfortable setting. The conversation can sound negative on the surface, but really it’s a great way for people to talk about what we could do better as a company. I find if you give employees at all levels a voice, they feel more invested and more ingrained in the culture, rather than just being another number in an organization.

 

What would you identify as the most daunting issue for your industry? 

 

The one issue that we consistently hear in our industry relates to talent acquisition and retention. I believe this is changing. We see a lot of students from Florida universities deciding to move to the Tampa Bay region after graduation. One of our most successful recruiting tactics has been finding people who want to live in a place like Tampa Bay but who aren’t already here. Of our last 10 hires, four have come from out of market. We offer a lifestyle in this region that is still not on everyone’s radar, and as more people find out about it, they love what it has to offer.

 

How can a firm like yours remain on a sustainable growth path in the case of another economic downturn? 

 

Planning in advance and smart decision-making is the best way to handle another economic downturn. We always look to hire good people and we will never turn down a good person if we think there is a fit. We also know our business. We are able to adapt with the range of services that we offer to our clients. We become engaged with our clients, we know the services we are offering and how they help our clients. We have to convey the value that we offer, and as long as we are doing that we should be able to withstand any downturn.

 

To learn more about our interviewee, visit: 

https://www.frazierdeeter.com/

 

 

Face Off: How local chambers of commerce are responding to the region’s population growth

Face Off: How local chambers of commerce are responding to the region’s population growth

By: Yolanda Rivas

2 min read February 2020 — Both the number of visitors to Orlando and its population are on the rise. The Invest: team spoke with Betsy Gardner Eckbert, president and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, and Andrew Cole, president and CEO of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, about their latest efforts to respond to the local growth and the challenges their chambers face.

Andrew Cole

How is the community responding to the region’s visitor growth?

Betsy Gardner Eckbert: The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce started several efforts to target and reach international guests. The second-biggest group of visitors that we receive in Winter Park is international. Half of the international visitors we received two years ago were coming from the United Kingdom. To respond to that demand we put together our Tourism Task Force, which created a business plan through destination marketing efforts, and as a result we had a 560 percent increase in traffic to our website from people from the U.K. We increased by 86 percent the traffic of people from the U.K. through the door of our Welcome Center. We will continue to expand our reach to international guests from different countries as well, including Canada and Brazil. 

Andrew Cole: We’re anticipating having almost 2 million people in Orange County by 2030. I think that speaks volumes, and we’re preparing for that population growth. Our transportation infrastructure is being enhanced, Virgin Trains is making its way into Orlando, the Orlando International Airport is building a new terminal, and our local governments are looking at additional transportation solutions and housing affordability issues. Businesses are expanding, creating new jobs, such as Universal Studio’s new Epic Universe theme park, Disney’s continued growth of their parks, and the Creative Village in Downtown Orlando is an innovation district for high-tech, digital media and creative companies providing new opportunities. Tourists and visitor numbers continue to increase providing plenty of opportunities for businesses to thrive. It’s exciting to know that businesses that are here and those relocating here have opportunities to grow and expand their footprint in Orlando.

Betsy Gardner Eckbert

What are some challenges for your chamber?

Eckbert: One of the challenges for our members is attracting and retaining the appropriate talent. To support them, we launched a pilot program to identify talented professionals — mostly women with impressive degrees who have stayed home to raise a family. Our program helps them get back into the workplace. Through this pilot return-to-work program we placed 83 percent of the participating women within six months in local and global companies. We are very excited to have the ability to furnish our members with a talent base of people who are reliable and have the skills and talents they are looking for. 

Cole: One of our biggest challenges is making sure that we have smart growth in that we’re looking at all aspects of the impact any new development will have on the area. We also have the battle between people who want to stay rural and those who want to see development. As long as we can plan smart growth, continue to address our challenges and remain forward thinking, I know Orlando will continue to be the place to be.

To learn more about our interviewees, visit:

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://winterpark.org/ 

East Orlando Chamber of Commerce: https://www.eocc.org/

Spotlight On: Michael A. Okaty, Office Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

Spotlight On: Michael A. Okaty, Office Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

By: Yolanda Rivas

2 min read February 2020 — Orlando needs to promote itself as a hotbed for investors and companies as it enters more and more into the spotlight as a destination for private investors and venture capitalists. Historically, much of the local M&A activity has been on the sell side, said Michael A. Okaty, office managing partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, in an interview with Invest:.

Are you seeing a comeback of the corporate consolidation trend in the Orlando market?

 

Yes, I think that’s been happening for the last several years. We are seeing both consolidation of strategic owners who are trying to grow and consolidate, but also financial buyers, private equity and family offices that are trying to consolidate what would otherwise be fragmented industries into larger companies with more economies of scale.

 

We live in a middle-market city so more often than not we would tend to be on the sell side, representing a solid, family-owned, multidecade, multigeneration business that has gotten to the point where the founders are looking for liquidity and there are buyers, both strategic and financial, out there looking to roll up. Home-grown businesses based here over the last few years tend to be on the sell side. We don’t have a lot of large, publicly-traded companies based here, but we have a lot of defense and aerospace companies, like Siemens and Lockheed, but they are in a different league. Still, companies in Orlando, to the extent that they are engaging in M&A activity, are probably on the sell side.

 

What are the fastest areas of growth for the firm in the Orlando market?

 

Healthcare M&A, both in consolidation as well as provider practices and primary care groups. There’s also the area of medical office buildings, and we do a lot of work in the senior housing area. Healthcare and healthcare M&A is a really hot, growing area.

 

Private equity and venture capital, regardless of the industry, are also moving. They are looking at everything from diversified services like home plumbing and electrical to software technology, cybersecurity and health-related services. The interest of private equity and VCs in Florida, and Central Florida in particular, is increasing.

 

Another big area in Central Florida is simulation. Orlando is the capital of the simulation industry, both for medical and military simulation and engineering. The same kind of simulation that can be used in the military field can be used in healthcare. For example, surgeons are using simulation to practice surgery before actually doing the procedure.

 

Are there any particular areas where you are looking to expand your reach?

 

Real estate, the hospitality industry and healthcare. We have a major presence in real estate, and in particular in the hospitality industry, representing the vacation clubs that are based here in Orlando and the senior housing industry nationwide. We have a major presence in those areas.

 

To learn more about our interviewee, visit:

Foley & Lardner LLP: https://www.foley.com/en/offices/orlando 

Face Off: Bringing More Energy to the Bay

Face Off: Bringing More Energy to the Bay

By: Max Crampton Thomas

4 min read February 2020 — As the Tampa Bay region continues to grow both in population size and new developments, the need for access to more energy and cleaner energy solutions grows with it. Invest: spoke with the leaders of two of the main sources of energy for the region and their innovative approach to creating cleaner energy solutions. T.J. Szelistowski serves as the president for Peoples Gas, which has provided Florida residents and businesses with reliable, environmentally-friendly, economical natural gas products and service since 1895. Nancy Tower leads Tampa Electric as its president and CEO. The utility has served the Tampa Bay area for 120 years, with more than 5,000MW of generating capacity. 

How is your company innovating in terms of technology?

T.J. Szelistowski: The last time we spoke, we discussed implementing gas-fired heat pumps that use natural gas instead of electricity for air conditioning. We are working with several customers on installations of this technology.  Additionally, we have installed the technology in three of our facilities and have been pleased with the performance.  

In terms of other technologies, we are targeting farming and waste facilities that release methane into the air. Our environmental solution is to capture that methane and clean it up to reinject it into the system. This not only provides a cleaner form of natural gas but also reduces methane emissions. We look forward to announcing some significant projects with this technology in the near future.

Nancy Tower: We believe battery storage is a part of our energy future. The technology is new, and we’re not ready to deploy that on a large scale until we figure out the true impact it will have on our system. We have put in place a battery storage project this year near our Big Bend solar project, which will give us really good information on how solar and battery storage interacts with our system. We’re really looking at how we can integrate battery storage into the complexity of the renewable energy ecosystem.

In other technologies, we are also in the middle of a large-scale installation of smart meters, which provide a lot more information and allow us to provide customers with superior service. 

T.J. Szelistowski

Why has investment in cleaner, more renewable energy and environmental sustainability been such a focus for your company?

Szelistowski: Natural gas is the perfect partner to renewable solar energy to provide capacity when the sun is not shining and to ensure energy is available to customers around the clock. Additionally, natural gas can provide great environmental benefits by replacing diesel fuel usage in large vehicles, such as buses and waste-management trucks.   

 A variety of ships are starting to convert to natural gas because of changing environmental regulations, specifically IMO 2020, which slashes permissible levels of sulfur permitted in fuel for seaborne vessels to minimal levels and opens the door for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative.

Tower: The biggest factor is that customers want it. When thinking back over the last few years, the number of people focused on a cleaner environment has increased exponentially. This is symbolic of the focus citizens and our customers have on environmental stewardship, and that is not going away. We are very happy with our progress.

I think it’s our obligation on behalf of customers to demonstrate that clean energy is not only our responsibility in terms of an environmental perspective, but also from a cost perspective. We are focused on both of those things simultaneously. As the entity generating electricity, we have the responsibility of doing that in the most responsible way.

Nancy Tower

How would you respond to the argument that clean energy is not yet cost-effective or readily available?  

Szelistowski: Natural gas interstate transmission pipelines are relatively new to Florida compared with the Northeast, having been introduced only in the 1950s. In addition, natural gas is a primary source of space heating in many parts of the country. With limited space heating in Florida, natural gas is primarily used for cooking, water heating and clothes drying in addition to industrial uses. We see a great desire for natural gas by people who have moved from other parts of the country and have enjoyed using natural gas in the past.  

In terms of misconceptions, people do not realize the widespread availability of natural gas in Florida. Additionally, they may not realize the affordable nature of home and business use of natural gas. With low and steady gas prices, natural gas provides a great alternative to both business and homes.  

Tower: It is our job to ensure that our generation portfolio is the most cost-effective for customers. Over the long term, we have carried out extensive cost modeling to ensure we can meet these expectations. In the next number of years, we will add more solar capacity and our generation will include more small-scale methods combined with battery storage. This doesn’t come without hard work and we need to find the right ways to keep costs low. This involves finding the right land close to our transmission infrastructure, ensuring suppliers are providing competitive prices and efficient cost management. Costs have come down, but we need to ensure we tightly manage this.

To learn more about our interviewees, visit:

https://www.tampaelectric.com/

https://www.peoplesgas.com/

Miami’s Top 5 Fantastic Food Festivities

Miami’s Top 5 Fantastic Food Festivities

By: Max Crampton Thomas

4 min read February 2020 — This weekend on Miami Beach there are guaranteed to be three things – food, wine and good times. While this is the recipe for most memorable times had in one of Miami’s top tourist destinations, this weekend in particular is heightened by the annual The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival. In most markets, a festival like this would be an outlier as the premier food and beverage event for that year, but Miami is not most markets. The fact is, Miami-Dade is home to an onslaught of premier food and beverage festivities that would make any culinary connoisseur’s mouth water. Invest: explores five of the top foodie festivities in the Miami-Dade region. 

South Beach Seafood Festival  

To be considered a Top 5 Speciality Festival by USAToday, listed by Forbes as a Top 5 thing to do in fall and recognized by Travel Channel as the best seafood festival in the United States is no small accomplishment. This four-day festival features three nights of culinary events that lead up to the ultimate seafood festival experience. These preliminary events include an exclusive VIP experience, An Evening at Joe’s, brought to life by food from the historic Joe’s Stone Crab, a cocktail hour-type event called Crabs, Slabs and Cabs featuring Surf N Turf favorites paired with various cabernets, and finally the VIP Chef Showdown, which showcases 14 of the best local chefs cooking up their greatest culinary creations. All of these lead into the big event on the fourth day that spans over four blocks of Miami Beach, features 30 bars, music, culinary demonstrations and enough delicious seafood to please the over 15,000 attendees. This event takes place from Oct. 21-24, 2020. 

For more, visit: https://sobeseafoodfest.com/

 

 

Seed Food & Wine Week 

Plant-based diets may not be for everyone, but this four-day event features culinary dishes and experiences that could make even the most devout carnivores consider incorporating more meat-alternatives into their meal plan. Spanning the course of four days, this event touts itself as more of an experience than just a festival as it features a plant-based burger battle, a plant-based pitch off, taco tailgate party, rise and shine yoga experience and meditation, and finally the big event: Seed Festival Day Tasting Village. This vegan-inspired week is also unique in that its events are not centralized and take place in various spots around Miami-Dade, including Wynwood and Downtown Miami. The event runs from Nov. 7-10. 

To learn more, visit: https://www.seedfoodandwine.com/

Doral Food & Wine Festival 

This food and wine festival is going on its fourth year, and while the event has grown significantly since its inception in 2016, this year promises to be bigger, better and even tastier. Over the course of two days, families are encouraged to come out to Doral Central Park and experience live entertainment and live cooking demonstrations. While wine may be in the title, the event is geared toward the entire family, with free entry for kids and an entire area, referred to as the Kids Zone, dedicated to fun activities and games for the little ones. Taking place over March 21 and 22, this year’s event looks to attract over 10,000 people. 

For more, visit: https://doralfoodandwinefestival.com/

South Florida’s Taste of the Nation

This culinary adventure is a one-night experience that is not only delicious and fun, it also supports a great cause. Described as an elegant evening with some of South Florida’s greatest chefs and mixologists, Taste of the Nation offers guests a chance to try food and drinks from over 50 different South-Florida based restaurants and bars. While normally the best parts of these events are the food and drink, it is actually the impact of dollars collected from the night that is most significant as 100% of local proceeds support the No Kid Hungry campaign’s work to bring an end to childhood hunger in Florida. The event takes place the night of May 16, 2020. 

For more information, visit: https://events.nokidhungry.org/events/south-floridas-taste-nation/

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) 

SOBEWFF is a five-day gathering of “who’s who” in the culinary world, over 100 different festival events and over 65,000 people in total attendance. This world-renowned festival has an event for everyone, from the casual food and wine fan to the highest class of food critic. While many of these events could be considered the “big event,” perhaps most well-known is the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village showcasing offerings from more than 50 restaurants and a variety of wines and spirits as well as a closing cooking demonstration by well-known celebrity chef Guy Fieri. The festival is in full swing Feb.19-23. 

To learn more, visit: https://sobewff.org/

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