In November 2018, the City of Miami Beach established Miami Beach Convention Center (“MBCC”) Rental Waiver Guidelines including an application, review and approval process. The waiver is administered by the Administration, with a recommendation to the Mayor and City Commission.

The rental discount/waiver is specific to room and space rental fees only. The event producer/organizer is solely responsible for any and all other associated MBCC fees as assessed for the event, including but not limited to, audio, visual, utilities, furniture rentals, equipment, security, food and beverage, corkage fees, room set-up and cleaning.

The City received two (2) applications for a rental fee waiver for the use of the MBCC. Each application has a resident community impact and/or a civic or social benefit to the residents of Miami Beach.

The first application is for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Scholarship Breakfast ("Scholarship Breakfast") which is part of a mentoring initiative committed to closing the minority male achievement gap. The primary goals of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project (“5000 Role Models”) is to guide minority male students along a carefully charted path through grades K-12 and college or ensuring the attainment of other post-secondary credentials, and increasing their employability in higher wage, high skill jobs within high demand industries. The Scholarship Breakfast is a fundraising program to fund scholarships to 50 minority male students.

The second application is for the Miami City Ballet, Inc. Gala, an annual fundraiser to produce and present the highest level of dance performances throughout Florida, the U.S. and abroad. The primary goal of the Miami City Ballet is to train young aspiring dancers and to develop the Miami City Ballet School into a leader of dance education.

The Scholarship Breakfast hosted more than 2,500 attendees from the Miami-Dade County community and was held in the Grand Ballroom of the MBCC on January 15-16, 2023, including event load-in and load-out. The 5000 Role Models requested that the City waive MBCC rental fees in an amount not to exceed $32,728.50. The 5000 Role Models satisfied the MBCC rental waiver application criteria by providing a resident community impact through its delivery of services to the residents of Miami Beach.

The Miami City Ballet Gala hosted more than 450 attendees from the Miami-Dade County community and was held in the Sunset Vista Ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center on March 29-31, 2023, including event load-in and load-out. The Miami City Ballet requested that the City waive MBCC rental fees in an amount not to exceed $36,194.01 and satisfied the MBCC rental waiver application criteria by being an organization based in Miami Beach and providing services to the residents of Miami Beach.

MBCC rental waiver application documents and requirements include, but are not limited to, proof of not-for-profit status and financial statement or IRS Form 990. Additionally, the event must be either a major countywide special event, demonstrate priority 1 room night generation in Miami Beach hotels, be produced by an organization based in Miami Beach or provide most services to the residents of Miami Beach. If ticketed, the event provides free entry or a discounted rate to Miami Beach residents, students and/or seniors and the City receives sponsorship recognition.