Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Martha Chapman
20NOV08

GM of the Clinton Hotel & Spa Randal Pasut

Brigitte Grosjean of Jungle Island

An on-site artist captured caricatures of the guests

Miami Nice

How refreshing to talk of tropical breezes on a chilly night in T.O. The occasion? A night of speed-dating with congenial hoteliers and attractions reps from Miami at the chic club Loki - where even the refrigerator-sized bouncer added a tropical note in his hot pink tie.

“Canada is our number one international market,” says the Greater Miami VCB’s Jennifer Diaz. “Canadians love our beaches, the climate, and our cosmopolitan vibe.” She predicts even more Canucks will be drawn to MIA thanks to their new Express Yourself ad campaign, showcasing the area’s culture and arts.

History buffs can take walking tours of the carefully-preserved and restored art deco neighbourhood of South Beach. The first two weeks of December are reserved for Art Basel, a smorgasbord of music, dance and fashion modeled after the fair of the same name in Switzerland. And upscale clients can always go to be seen in Bar Harbor (sounds like L.A.’s Rodeo Drive melded with London’s Bond Street and sprinkled with lots of lovely greenbacks).

Clients travelling with little ones must check out Jungle Island (complete with its adorable Lemur Experience) and of course Miami Seaquarium where kids as young as 5 can enjoy the dolphin encounter.

But it seems that Miami is the place to be for a naughty weekend. Randal Pasut assures me that couples come to his “very sexy” Clinton Hotel in South Beach with more in mind than tuning in CNN to double check the election results. And Jennifer Diaz pointed out that Miami is home to the World Erotic Museum. “Tasteful but, um, expansive.”

Miami Nice meets Miami Vice!