Miami - The Business Traveler's Guide to Latin America

The Gateway to the Americas is a hub for the region, with plenty to offer the business traveler.

Overview Miami has become more than just a tourism destination. Today it is one of the region's premier business centers. The city on the southeastern end of the Florida peninsula was nicknamed the Gateway to the Americas because it has long served as a transshipment point for much of Latin America's trade with the US and Europe.

That phenomenon has helped it emerge as one of the region's main hubs for multinationals, as more companies from every country in Latin America and Europe locate offices and regional headquarters in Miami. With 60 percent of its population Hispanic, Spanish is a dominant language. A large population of Brazilians also means that Portuguese is spoken, especially downtown.

Banking and finance continue as major industries, concentrated on Brickell Avenue near downtown. IT and entertainment firms are located across the bay on Miami Beach, now a chic international playground. But telecommunications is the latest craze, with several network access points to the Americas, or NAPs, under construction.

Key Business Groups

World Trade Center

777 NW 72nd Ave.

Ste. 3BB65, 33126

Tel: 1-305-871-7910

Fax: 1-305-871-7904

E-mail: info@worldtrade.org

www.worldtrade.org

The Beacon Council

80 SW Eighth St, Ste. 2400, 33130

Tel: 1-305-379-1300

Fax: 1-305-375-0271

E-mail: msacasa@beaconcouncil.com

www.beaconcouncil.com

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

1601 Biscayne Blvd., 33132

Tel: 1-305-350-7700

Fax: 1-305-374-6902

www.greatermiami.com

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

701 Brickell Ave.,

Ste. 2700, 3313

Tel: 1-305-539-3000

Fax: 305-539-2985

www.tropicoolmiami.com

Enterprise Florida

2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd.,

Coral Gables 33134

Tel: 1-305-569-2650

Fax: 1-305-569-2686

www.floridabusiness.com

Dining Options

The Capital Grille

444 Brickell Ave.

Tel: 1-305-374-4500

* This steakhouse is a favorite of Miami business people and executive travelers alike.

Azul

500 Brickell Key Dr. (In the Mandarin Oriental)

Tel: 1-305-913-8254

* The food, with Asian, French and Caribbean accents, is on par with its beautiful setting.

Abrachi

218 Aragon Ave.

Tel: 1-305-441-0700

* Nino Pernitti's Italian eatery, in the heart of multinational Coral Gables, is a top power-lunch meeting place.

Bambu

1661 Meridian Avenue Tel: 1-305-531-4800

* This upscale South Beach restaurant features trendy Japanese food.