New investments, relocations, events, projects, etc.
TRANSACTIONS
Bombardier Opens New Miami Facility
Canada-based business jet manufacturer Bombardier, Inc. has just opened a new 300,000-square-feet service center at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. The $100 million development will add almost 300 aerospace jobs to Miami’s talent pool and more than quadruple Bombardier’s current Florida maintenance operations.
Kuwaiti Real Estate Company Opens Miami Hotel
Aqarat, along with Miami’s Aria Development Group and London’s YOTEL, have officially opened their 31-story Downtown Miami hotel/condo building, YotelPad. All of the 231 condos, which start around $300,000, have already sold out. The Miami property is YOTEL’s sixth U.S. location and 21st worldwide.
Airlines Launch New Routes To/From Miami
American Airlines is now offering daily flights from Miami International Airport to Tel Aviv, the sole U.S. carrier offering this route. It has also resumed operations to two airports in Cuba: Camagüey (CMW) and Holguín (VRA). Meanwhile, Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, has also restarted its Dublin-Miami route three times per week and Ultra Air, a Colombian ultra-low-cost carrier, has announced 33 new international routes, including flights from Barranquilla, Cali, and Cartagena to Miami.
Miami Realtors Breaks Ground for New Global Headquarters
On October 26, the 102-year-old MIAMI Association of Realtors® began construction on its new global headquarters in Miami Springs. The five-story building, which is scheduled to be finished in 2024, will provide state-of-the-art technology, the capacity to host global conferences and events, member education classes, professional standards hearings, and other services to members of the country’s largest local realtor association.
BP Invests $6 Million in Electric Vehicle “Uber”
Freebee, a rideshare company that partners with local governments to provide free electric vehicle rides to residents, has raised over $8 million in a series A round. The investment was led by British multinational BP, which fronted three-quarters of the money to the Miami-based company. Freebee expects to have moved more than one million passengers by the end of this year and plans to use BP’s investment for further expansion in the U.S.
Christie’s International Real Estate Returns to Miami
The world-renowned auction house has made Fortune International Realty, Miami’s leading real estate firm, its newest affiliate. Fortune, now known as Fortune Christie’s International Real Estate, has 600 agents across 11 offices in Miami and is led by president and CEO Edgardo Defortuna. Christie’s was acquired by Chicago-based firm @properties last December, the ninth largest residential brokerage firm in the U.S., and has since made expansion a priority.
Fresh Del Monte Buys 39 Percent Stake in Tech Startup
A world leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh produce, Fresh Del Monte has now taken a large share in Decapolis, a startup focused on blockchain-based solutions for the food industry. Their traceability technology will allow Fresh Del Monte customers further transparency in the supply chain by providing unchangeable data at each production stage.
Criterion Global Wins International Trade Council Honors
The International Trade Council and Enterprise Estonia recently recognized international media buying agency Criteron Global, which has its Americas HQ in Miami, with the Creative Industries Award at the Go Global conference in Tallinn, Estonia. The award commended Criterion for its work in export marketing and global expansion advertising.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
The 63rd annual Fort Lauderdale Boat Show was held from October 26 to 30 this year, featuring 1,500 yachts and boats on display to a gathering of roughly 100,00 marine enthusiasts and professionals. The statewide economic impact was estimated at $1.79 billion. Next year’s show will take place from October 25 to 29, 2023.
AutoLeadStar Raises $40 Million
The AI-powered marketing platform for the automotive industry closed out its series C financing round to the tune of $40 million with the help of Riverwood Capital. The startup, which provides personalized marketing, digital commerce, and consumer engagement for car dealerships and manufacturers, is headquartered between Miami and Jerusalem with 40 U.S. employees. Its software is used by about 1,000 dealerships across North America.
Irish Consulate Opens in Miami
Ireland has opened its first Consulate General in Miami, appointing diplomat Sarah Kavanagh to head the office. The new consulate, one of eight Ireland has in the U.S., is part of the country’s push to double its diplomatic footprint worldwide and recognizes Miami’s growing role as an international hub for trade, tech and finance, Kavanagh says. It’s located at 201 Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami.
Miami World Center Leases to Global Retailers
Miami World Center, a $4 billion development in Downtown Miami, has signed several global retail tenants. The 27-acre project has signed leases with world-renowned brand Savage X Fenty, which will launch its first Florida site, as well as global brands Lululemon and Ray-Ban. The center will include 300,000-square-feet of shopping, dining, and entertainment, making it one of the biggest private development projects in the country.
242-unit Loews Hotel Opens in the Agave Plaza Project
Loews Hotels & Co. just opened its second property in the Coral Gables suburb of Miami in early November. With 221 guest rooms and 21 suites, the new hotel offers 16,000-square-feet of indoor conference space, including the 9,000-square-foot Alhambra room, Coral Gables’ largest ballroom. The hotel is part of The Plaza Coral Gables, which was developed by Mexican company Agave Holdings.
Maersk Air Cargo’s New Air Freight operated by Miami Based Amerijet International
The inaugural flight of Maersk Air Cargo’s new air freight service was announced in late October, with scheduled flights between Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP) and Incheon, Korea (ICN). The first of Maersk Air Cargo’s three newly acquired Boeing 767-300 freighters made its debut on the premier flight of the transpacific operation’s twice-weekly trips on October 31. All U.S.-Korea flights will be operated by Miami-based cargo airline Amerijet International.
Avianca Gains CEIV Fresh certification
Avianca Cargo has received the International Air Transport Association’s CEIV Fresh certification for the transport of perishable products, making it the first airline in the Americas to do so. The cargo carrier was required to demonstrate to inspectors that it has implemented risk and quality management, that its staff have been trained to handle perishable items, and that it has a uniform approach to the shipment of perishable commodities. The airline’s shipments into Miami are now expected to accelerate.
LATAM Cargo Opens New Route with Reoccurring Flights
LATAM Cargo has introduced a new cargo route from Miami to Santo Domingo, eventually terminating in Colombia and/or Ecuador. The new service will operate twice a week. With a 50-ton freight capacity, LATAM Cargo is using the modern Boeing 767-300F to serve its new route.
Royal Caribbean Introduces a Look at the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean has begun taking reservations for the initial sailing of the new “Icon of the Seas,” the first in a new series of vessels. “Icon of the Seas” will weigh in at 250,600 tons, more than six percent greater than the seven-month-old “Wonder of the Seas,” the current size leader in the cruise ship industry. It will set a new passenger ship record with capacity for 7,600 people.
