This week, GMCVB President & CEO, William D. Talbert III, CDME received the following distinguished recognitions for his outstanding leadership, accomplishments and contributions to hospitality and tourism education and the larger global travel industry.
Hospitality & Tourism Leader of the Year by the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA):
The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA) honoured GMCVB President & CEO, William D. Talbert III, CDME as its 1st annual Hospitality & Tourism Leader of the Year. Hosted at the JW Marriott Miami, all proceeds from the event will go toward the GMBHA/GMCVB Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) Scholarship Fund in Bill Talbert's name. U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Roger Dow made a surprise appearance and other dignitaries there to honour Bill included, Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava, Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak, Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon and many GMCVB Board Members.
FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Hall of Fame Award: The FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management recognized GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert III, CDME at the school’s brand-new Hall of Fame. Bill is a member of the FIU Chaplin School’s Executive Advisory Board and the school’s first recipient of its inaugural Hall of Fame Award for his leadership and outstanding accomplishments in the global hospitality and tourism industry. Way to go Bill!
William D. Talbert, III, CDME has served as President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) for the past twenty years, and Chief Operating Officer the previous nine.
Among his major accomplishments, Mr. Talbert assisted with the passage of the Travel Promotion Act of 2010 and has led efforts to win and subsequently host five Super Bowls and three International Pow Wows. Under his leadership, the GMCVB was awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program in 2007. In 1993, he helped establish the Black Hospitality Initiative (BHI) of Greater Miami to increase African-American participation in the visitor industry through hospitality scholarships, internships and mentoring. To ensure the future success of Miami’s meetings business, he passionately championed efforts to secure a $620 million renovation for the newly “reimagined” Miami Beach Convention Centre, and subsequent approval by voters to establish an adjacent headquarter hotel.
Throughout his tenure, Greater Miami and the Beaches has consistently posted record-breaking visitor numbers, expenditures and tourist-generated taxes – in 2018, 23.3 million visitors generated an economic impact of nearly $18 billion and employed a record 142,100.
Mr. Talbert’s leadership has been sought after by many organizations, including: Visit Florida (Chair/ Executive Committee), Destination Marketing Association International (Chair/Board of Trustees), U.S. Travel Executive Committee, Brand USA, Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (Chair), and Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Dean’s Advisory Council. In June 2016, he was appointed to the United States Commerce Department’s Travel & Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) and subsequently reappointed for a second 2-year term in August 2018. TTAB serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel industry and offers recommendations on implementation of the National Travel and Tourism Strategy. He is also a board member of multiple Miami-based business and non-profit organizations.
Mr. Talbert holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. In 2006, he earned the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation – the highest educational achievement in the destination marketing industry.
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