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Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to Open Chamber-Sponsored LGBT Visitor Center in South Beach April 15th
Miami Beach, FL – March 13, 2010 ---
As the 600-member strong Miami-Dade Gay &
“We envision the new Visitor Center becoming the nucleus of LGBT activity for visitors, locals and our business community,” Adkins said. “Other cities have LGBT community centers or general tourist information places, but we’re aware of no other city in the country that has a permanent, central location run by a gay Chamber that serves the needs of both LGBT and gay-friendly visitors and locals.” Located at 1130 Washington Avenue, Old City Hall is literally at the epicenter of LGBT activity in South Beach. Steps to Ocean Drive and the beach, a few blocks south of famed Lincoln Road and right in the middle of bars, restaurants, shops and hotels, Old City Hall is easily accessible by foot, car, bus or Rollerblade. The Mediterranean Neo-Classical designed building was originally built in 1927 and reopened last October after a three-year, $7 million renovation by the City. In addition to offices for the MDGLCC staff and volunteers, the 2,500 square-foot space on the first floor of Old City Hall will house a conference room that MDGLCC members, community groups and other non-profits can use for meetings or presentations; a computer lab where visitors can check e-mails; a resource center where visitors and locals can collect information on MDGLCC member companies, LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations and businesses; and a lounge where people can simply hang out and meet new friends or take a break from the non-stop Miami Beach action. There will also be kiosks to display various
LGBT-oriented memorabilia as well as branded merchandise for sale as
souvenirs. The Center will also have the ability to play host
to art shows, book signings, receptions and fundraisers, many of
which could be held in conjunction with the high-profile events that Besides being a central location for LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses and services to distribute literature and information, the Visitor Center will have high-profile as well as more subtle opportunities for companies and individuals to show their “pride” colors. Corporate sponsorships are being sold to help defray the operational costs of the Center, Adkins said, everything from logos on the walls, to rotating messages on flat-screen TVs, to naming rights for the Center itself. Corporate and individual donors can also have their names displayed on a donor wall.
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Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce (MDGLCC) packs up its rainbow flag in preparation for
relocating offices to the first floor north of historic Old City
Hall in Miami Beach, plans are being finalized to launch what may be
the country’s only gay Chamber-sponsored LGBT Visitor Center.
The new 