GMBHA marks 30 years of INN Key Awards in Miami

Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association celebrated the 30th Annual INN Key Awards on June 11 at the Hilton Miami Downtown, honoring more than 260 hotel employees and drawing more than 800 hospitality professionals. The milestone event highlighted the workers who power Miami’s tourism economy and marked three decades of the INN Key Awards program. Why it matters: - The INN Key Awards spotlight the hourly hotel employees who shape guest experiences across Greater Miami. - The program has become one of South Florida’s most recognized hospitality honors. - The awards reflect how Miami’s tourism industry depends on front-line hotel workers to maintain service quality and the city’s destination appeal. What happened: - The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association hosted the sold-out 30th Annual INN Key Awards Luncheon on June 11, 2026, at the Hilton Miami Downtown. - More than 800 hospitality professionals, industry leaders, elected officials, sponsors, and community partners attended. - More than 260 nominees from hotels across Miami-Dade County were honored in multiple operational categories. - The event marked the 30th anniversary of the INN Key Awards, which began in 1995. The details: - The awards recognized excellence in guest service, leadership, teamwork, and dedication to the hospitality profession. - Distinguished guests included Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, and Melanie S. Griffin, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. - The celebration used a Miami Vice-inspired theme tied to the city’s 1990s-era image and its growth since the awards began. - Curtis J. Crider, president and CEO of GMBHA, said the event celebrated “the people behind” hospitality and their role in creating memorable experiences for millions of visitors each year. - The association presented a special tribute to Stuart “Stu” Blumberg, GMBHA’s first president and CEO, for helping establish the organization and the awards program. - Amir Blattner, chair of the GMBHA board and general manager of Hyatt Regency Miami, said the awards highlight the people who work behind the scenes and on the front lines of Miami hotels. - GMBHA recognized sponsor support for the event. - Platinum sponsors included GMCVB, American Airlines, SERVPRO, Limo Miami, AL-FLEX Exterminators and Encore. - Gold sponsors included Fisher Island Club, Faena Miami Beach Hotel, Key Transportation, MDM Group, JW Marriott Marquis Miami, JW Marriott Miami, Hotel Beaux Arts, Marriott Miami Dadeland, Courtyard Miami Dadeland, Bouludsud Miami, and Loud and Live. - Silver sponsors included Miccosukee Casino & Resort and Quest Events. Between the lines: - The 30th anniversary underscored how the awards have evolved from a recognition program into a civic celebration of Miami’s tourism workforce. - The nostalgia-driven theme and guest list tied the event to both Miami’s past and its current economic identity. - The sponsor roster shows broad industry backing for employee recognition across the region. What’s next: - GMBHA said the milestone celebration sets up the next chapter of excellence in Miami hospitality. - The association will continue using the INN Key Awards to highlight the people who support the region’s tourism growth. - As Miami expands as a global destination, the hospitality workforce remains central to its competitive edge.