Long a powerhouse vacation spot thanks to its vibrant atmosphere, beachside setting, and booming cruise industry, Miami- Dade County has also become a top business leader. The city of Miami’s diversified economy continues to grow and registers record low unemployment figures in spite of national slowdowns and a high cost of living in the region.

“South Florida is emerging as a global business destination,” said Frank Nero, president and CEO of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade’s official economic development organization. “Over the past 10 years we have diversified our economy and created a regional force that is attracting multinationals across all industry sectors. Their role in our local economy cannot be overstated; as they grow and their activities grow, our communities benefit by the new investment and job opportunities created.”

An early 2008 study showed that 1,200 multinational companies in the Miami metropolitan area collectively manage more than $200 billion in revenue. That multinational diversification has helped the local economy remain strong at a time when the value of the dollar is falling, drawing instead from the expanding global economy and the strength of Miami’s key trade partners including Brazil, Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. The falling dollar has also improved the price competitiveness of many of South Florida’s products from merchandise to tourism and healthcare.

One reason for Miami’s international popularity is its excellent transportation connections. Sixty percent of all U.S. trade with Central America travels though Miami; the city also accounts for 46 percent of the Caribbean trade and 27 percent of U.S. trade with South America.

Along with the many goods that ship through Miami, tourism remains a vital part of the city’s economy, ranking as Dade County’s No. 1 moneymaker. The Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami-Dade, better known as the Port of Miami, remains the world’s leading port for cruise line passenger traffic with 3.7 million passengers annually. Land-based tourism remains strong as well; in all, 10.4 million travelers visit Miami annually, about a third of them from Latin America.

Miami is also working to develop new industries. The life sciences industry is already showing strong growth; Miami-Dade is home to approximately 1,500 companies in the life sciences industry employing more than 17,000 workers and generating more than $2.3 billion in total annual revenue. Construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, education, finance and insurance are also vital sectors in the local economy. The metropolitan area is also courting the film and entertainment industry as well as information technology. The College of Engineering at Florida International University recently completed a new $15-million nanotechnology lab, one of many new facilities drawing hightech attention to this city; so much attention, in fact, that the region has established the Internet Coast, or iCoast, an economic development clearinghouse for the South Florida technology industry.

LODGING

CONRAD MIAMI

A multi-million-dollar renovation, unveiled in January, has made this top-class hotel even more noteworthy. Among the additions is Atrio at Level 25, a fine-dining restaurant helmed by award-winning chef Michael Gilligan that now includes a new bar, enhanced space for private groups and the Wine Attic tasting room — all complemented by outstanding views from the hotel’s 25th floor. The hotel’s chic Spa Chakra also has been expanded. Ultra-modern and ultra-luxurious, the hotel offers 203 guestrooms and 103 residence suites, all with high-tech amenities and signature comforts.$$$
CONRAD MIAMI
1395 Brickell Ave
tel 305 503 6500
http://www.conradhotels.com

DORAL GOLF RESORT AND SPA, A MARRIOTT RESORT
A favorite with golfers, this resort features championship courses that have played host to the PGA Tour since 1962. Guestrooms, shaded by plantation shutters, offer private balconies or terraces, deluxe baths and high-speed Internet access. Thanks to its extensive conference center, this resort scores a hole-in-one in terms of business amenities as well, with everything from on-site shipping to computers to secretarial services available at the business center. Two fitness centers and a pampering spa energize guests off the courses.$$$
DORAL GOLF RESORT AND SPA, A MARRIOTT RESORT
4400 N.W. 87th Ave
tel 305 592 2000
http://www.doralresort.com

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI
Located on Brickell Key, this 5-star hotel, like many in Miami, combines business with pleasure in one package. Guestrooms blend an Art Deco style with an Asian vibe manifested in bamboo touches, marble baths, and views that range from island to bay to ocean. Dual phone lines, Bose Wave sound systems and high-speed Internet access are standard in-room features. When it’s time to play, step out to the private beach, head to the spa or work out in the fitness center.$$$
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI
500 Brickell Key Drive
tel 305 913 8288
http://www.mandarinoriental.com

DINING

AZUL

The flavors of the Mediterranean meet the seasonings of Asia in this celebrated restaurant. A wine list featuring more than 700 choices accompanies a wide array of entrees, from Moroccan-inspired lamb to yogurt-marinated swordfish. To top it all off, the restaurant overlooks Biscayne Bay offering unbeatable views.$$$
AZUL
500 Brickell Key Drive
tel 305 913 8288

JOE’S STONE CRAB
Opened in 1913 as a lunch counter selling fish sandwiches, this restaurant has morphed into a Miami institution. After almost a decade in business, the eatery discovered that stone crabs from nearby waters were a tasty treat and the rest is history. Today stone crabs, served chilled with a side of mustard sauce, compete with a variety of other entrees including dry-aged ribeye, rack of lamb, sesame seared tuna and Maine lobster.$$$
JOE’S STONE CRAB
11 Washington Ave
Miami Beach
tel 305 673 0365

NEWS CAFÉ

This 24-hour eatery on Miami Beach has become a Miami mainstay since its opening in 1988 as a newsstand and European-style café. The concept grew and today the popular restaurant features salads, paninis, an array of Middle Eastern dishes and entrees including surf ’n turf, shrimp kabobs, tuna teriyaki and more. The restaurant still includes a full newsstand and also now features a separate bar.$-$$
NEWS CAFÉ
800 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach
tel 305 538 6397

INFO TO GO

Serving 32 million passengers annually, Miami International Airport (MIA) ranks among the country’s busiest. The airport recently completed the new 1.7-million-square-foot South Terminal expansion. The project added Concourse J, designed with a sleek metal exterior to resemble an airplane wing; the new concourse includes space for 61 dining and shopping establishments. Numerous taxi services connect the airport to downtown; other options include local city bus service at Level 1 of Concourse E.

Miami-Dade County offers a 22-mile, elevated rapid transit system called Metrorail (tel 305 770 3131, http://www.miamidade.gov/transit) that covers much of the city and surrounding areas and has connections to Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Downtown visitors can hop the free Metromover (http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/metromover.asp), an automated people-mover that links many downtown businesses and the Brickell business district.

At Home with George Cozonis
General Manager, Sonesta Bayfront Hotel Coconut Grove

Global Traveler: Please tell us about your background in the tourism industry and what brought you to the Sonesta Bayfront Coconut Grove.

George Cozonis: I think I became interested in this business from a young age because when traveling on family vacations I found hotels fascinating. I came to the United States after graduating from high school in my native Greece, in order to pursue a degree in hospitality management. Once I had my degree, I thought that working in the United States for a year before returning home would complement my education. One year turned to two and then to five, 10 and more. I worked for the same company for 20 years at locations in Boston, New York, Miami and Houston.

Four years ago, while working in Houston as general manager of a AAA 5-Diamond hotel, I realized that I missed Miami, where I had lived for eight years previously. I joined Sonesta because it offered me an opportunity to move back to Miami. That is how I came to the Sonesta Bayfront Coconut Grove. I was especially attracted to the position by Sonesta’s good reputation and by Coconut Grove’s storied name. This is, after all, Miami’s “Oldtown.”

GT: How has Miami changed during your tenure at the property?

GC: In the 1980s and early 1990s, Coconut Grove was the most chic and trendy of Miami’s neighborhoods. It attracted affluent and sophisticated visitors from all over. Then, starting with the mid- 1990s, South Beach enjoyed an amazing resurgence and became the center of the universe. Coconut Grove was no longer “the” place.

In the four years since I joined the Sonesta Bayfront, I have seen the pendulum begin its swing back: South Beach has matured and peaked. Coconut Grove has begun appealing, once again, to visitors who want something fresh. It is no coincidence that Nikki Beach, the most famous of South Beach nightclubs, has just opened Nikki Coconut Grove. They added Coconut Grove to a list of glamorous locations where they operate Nikki clubs, like St. Bart’s, St. Tropez, Marbella, Cannes and Manhattan. I think that in the years ahead of us Coconut Grove will, once again, be the epicenter of excitement.

GT: In talking with Miami visitors, what most surprises travelers about Miami?

GC: Miami is one of the most diverse and multifaceted places on earth. Whatever it is that visitors come here to find, they find. But they find a whole lot more that they never expected.

I think that one of the most remarkable things that has taken place in the last few years is Miami’s transformation into a world-class center of excellence in the arts. Our city now boasts some of the most coveted contemporary art collections anywhere.

Miami is in the forefront of where the visual arts are happening and going. It is remarkable! Art Basel Miami Beach confirms that. Five years ago, if we had said that the most important contemporary art event in the world would be taking place in Miami, no one would have believed it. Then there is the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Visitors to Miami expect salsa and merengue or the hottest DJs, but some of the most perfect acoustically and technologically sophisticated performance halls anywhere? Who expects that? Yet the Knight Hall and the Ziff Opera House, inaugurated just two years ago, are, arguably, the finest in the country.

GT: Based on your experience, how do you predict Miami will change in the coming 10 years in terms of appeal for business travelers?

GC: Based on my experience, if there is one thing that Miami is it’s this: Unpredictable. Full of surprises. And so, even if I had an accurate prediction, I would not dare to spoil the surprise!

DIVERSIONS

Hip, hot Miami offers travele rs everything from a pulsating nightlife and a vibrant arts scene to world-class restaurants and museums. The metropolitan region includes the mainland city and the barrier islands, home to Miami Beach (including South Beach) and Key Biscayne.

The beaches of Miami are a top attraction, with activities that range from the usual swimming and sunning to bar-hopping and people-watching along South Beach. And for nature lovers, there’s also excellent bird watching at Crandon Park Visitor and Nature Center (4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, tel 305 361 5421, http://www.miamidade.gov) on Key Biscayne, amed one of the nation’s top 10 beaches.

For a different swimming experience, the Venetian Pool(2701 De Soto Blvd., tel 305 460 5306, http://www.venetianpool.com) is unique. Located in Coral Gables, the 820,000-gallon pool dates to 1923 and was formed from a coral rock quarry. Surrounded by Venetian-style architecture, it is often called the world’s most beautiful swimming pool.

With its stylish atmosphere, it’s no surprise that Miami is also a top shopping destination. The chic Bal Harbour Shopsare known as the place to go for haute couture and fine jewelry while Ocean Drive is noted for its eclectic shops. Coral Gables shoppers have two good options: the outdoor Cocowalk and the stylish Miracle Mile. Just north of downtown, the Miami Design District is a magnet for art and design shoppers and is nicknamed “a mile of style.”

Miami’s close ties with Cuba also bring travelers to Calle Ocho or Eighth Street, the heart of Little Havana. Here hand-rolled cigars fill store shelves and Cuban cafés line the streets. Maximo Gomez Park, better known as Domino Park, is always home to neighborhood domino games. The neighborhood’s Paseo de las Estrellas, or Walk of the Stars, pays tribute to Latin American musicians, singers and actors.

Tropical, family-friendly attractions are another draw in Miami; one of the best known is the Miami Seaquarium (4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, tel 305 361 5705, http://www.miamiseaquarium.com), popular for its dolphin interaction programs. The recently renamed Jungle Island (1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, http://www.parrotjungle.com) has evolved from the former Parrot Jungle, opened in 1936, to a home for a variety of animals living in eco-friendly habitats. Miami MetroZoo (12400 S.W. 152 St., tel 305 251 0400, http://www.miamimetrozoo.com) is always expanding; the latest addition is the Amazon and Beyond, a 27-acre exhibit dedicated to the flora and fauna of tropical America.

Just an hour’s drive from the city, Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wildlife haven that is visited by nearly a million tourists each year. Go in search of the rare Florida panther, watch an alligator meander through the marsh or foray into the forest on the Otter Cave Hammock Trail. One of the most exciting ways to experience the Everglades is by airboat; the boats glide across the sawgrass at 35 mph and offer a unique way to see the natural beauty of the region.