Back to the Beach: Greater Miami CVB contract renewed

MIAMI BEACH -- The six members of the Miami Beach Commission, plus Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau critic Mayor David Dermer, voted unanimously to renew the city's $5 million per year contract with the bureau for two years.

The bureau, which has a $14 million annual budget, agreed to some recommendations by Dermer and a group of select hoteliers, who initially opposed renewal of the contract in favor of the city doing its own visitor promotion.

Dermer, for the past few months, had complained that the bureau gave the city an insufficient share of the spotlight when measured by its importance and financial contributions.

The bureau agreed to consult more often with city officials on its plans and to provide an additional $1 million to focus more attention on the area's Tropicool summer events, gay and lesbian tourism and boutique hotels, all of which benefit Miami Beach.