Miami team assembles to host Summit of the Americas

Miami-Dade is creating a host committee with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Beacon Council, CAMACOL, and the public and private sectors for the Summit of the Americas next summer. The county is competing nationally to be host.

A letter from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to Kevin Michael O’Reilly, deputy assistant secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, says the group would ensure community collaboration and that support organizations would pay part of the cost.

The two- to three-day summit’s 10,000 participants are to include President Joe Biden, up to 50 chiefs of state and heads of government, plus high-level Americas government participants, regional and global international organizations, support staff, security, media and businesspersons, a State Department notice details.

Minimum requirements to host include an international airport with frequent connections in the Western Hemisphere; a fixed based operator for private aircraft, and parking for 30 private aircraft. Miami International Airport and Miami Opa-locka Airport can each handle that, Greg Chin, Aviation Department communications director, confirmed.

Also needed: 20,000 hotel room nights of international standard including 100 suites for heads of government and cabinet-level ministers; conference facilities for multiple meetings; political, business and civic support; and local security capable of supporting delegates and VIPs.

“The ties between our county and Latin America and the Caribbean span the length of our history, forged by trade, cultural and social exchange, and deep connections across families and communities,” Mayor Levine Cava wrote with the county’s hosting bid.

Hosting has associated costs for the county and host city. For instance, in bid requirements, the State Department asks applicants to explain how the city would fund required extra security.

“Cities that bid on such events must take into account and budget for the extensive costs of security and public safety, as that responsibility lies solely with the host city,” the notice says.

The only Summit of the Americas held in the US was the first, in 1994 in Miami. Volunteers totaled 1,000-plus, with 143 paid staff and a steering committee of more than 100. Over 1,000 secret service agents plus overtime police provided security. Beautification alone cost $14 million.

Hosting bids must describe area ties to the Western Hemisphere, explain venues that could handle large events, and list hotel availabilities, primary event venue facilities with catering, audio-visual, perimeter security, on-site maintenance, management, medical, cell phone coverage for large groups, and high-speed internet access.

Summit meetings would include the Concluding Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) National Summit Coordinators Plenipotentiaries Meeting (2-3 days, about 200 delegates); SIRG Ministerial Meeting (1 day, about 300 delegates); CEO Summit (3 days, 1,000 to 5,000 people); Civil Society Forum (2 days, 1,000 to 1,200 people); and Young Americas Forum (2 days, 500 to 700 people).

Also: the summit inaugural ceremony and dinner (1,000 to 3,000 delegates at the ceremony, and two groups of 100 to 300 attendees each at separate dinners); and Summit Leaders Meeting (1 to 2 days, up to 300 delegates; about 10,000 delegates) in other venues.