Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management has taken a major step toward strengthening its leadership with the appointment of a new chair and three distinguished industry executives to its Executive Advisory Board. As of February 20, 2025, the school announced that Richard Brilliant, a respected alumnus and hospitality executive at Carnival Cruise Lines, would assume the role of board chair. Joining him on the board are John Boettger, managing director at Westmont Hospitality Group; Jorge L. Rodriguez, president of Latin America and the Caribbean at SUBWAY®; and Mutluhan…

Every year, Miami becomes the epicenter of dance music when DJs, producers, and industry folk descend on the city to escape the winter weather, network, and party. Because spring break overlaps with this event, thousands of dance music fans also make the trek to Miami to enjoy sets by their favorite DJs. Officially called Miami Music Week, the parties take over venues and hotel pools in Miami and Miami Beach, with the 2025 dates falling on March 25-30. You can expect to hear dance…

Pura Vida Miami, the café known for its health-conscious menu that includes smoothies and açaí bowls, opened new outposts in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant leased 2,200 square feet at 1601 Collins Avenue, according to the tenant’s news release. The building is the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, which is owned by New York-based Loews Corporation. The restaurant chain, which first opened in 2012 and is led by owners Omer and Jennifer Horev, has been steadily expanding over the past 13 years. Its other Miami…

The highly anticipated Apple Store at Miami Worldcenter is opening its doors on January 24th, bringing an innovative and eco-conscious design to the heart of downtown Miami. Nestled between two Nichols Architects projects—The Jewel Box, a vibrant hub for dining and entertainment, and the Miami World Towers, a three-phase residential project—the store is said to be Apple’s most sustainable location to date. Designed by Gensler, the store embodies cutting-edge green principles while complementing the area’s dynamic urban character. Miami Worldcenter…

In downtown Miami, the rooftop of the Southeast Financial Center (SEFC) now hosts the city’s largest rooftop mural—a vibrant celebration of biodiversity. The Miami Collection, created by French artist Youri Cansell, known as Mantra, was curated by the Justkids art consulting firm. Spanning 3,250 square meters, the monumental artwork took six weeks to complete, requiring 400 hours of work and 200 gallons of paint. Visible from the windows and balconies of three Nichols Architects projects, the mural is adjacent to…