Year in Review | 2021

Greetings from our state-of-the-art home and headquarters on Alhambra Plaza!

Our Chamber continued to pivot like all of our local businesses in 2021, finding ways to be even more creative and collaborative. For the 11th year, we hosted Small Business Saturday in downtown Coral Gables. We paid homage to our global business community with our Flags on Ponce, heralding 29 years of international flags flying high above Downtown Coral Gables. Retailers and restaurateurs continued to be innovative with customers, and the outdoor dining along Giralda Plaza and Miracle Mile was a lifesaver. We continue to long for the robust return of our hospitality industry, anchored by our beloved Biltmore Hotel. Mostly, we head into 2022 with a renewed hope and sense of optimism that the best is yet to come! #Let’s2022Together

The dawn of 2021 was filled with great hope for our country, our Chamber and our local business community, especially given the chaos of 2020.

After nearly a year of COVID-19 heartbreak and loss, we finally saw a bright spot on the horizon. Vaccine production was in overdrive (thank you Pfizer, Moderna and J&J) and the initial group of eligible patients received their first shot right before the holidays. For a brief moment, we could breathe again.

We had come through nearly ten months of food lines and desperate moments that led to a rise in mental health issues, an unemployment portal that crashed repeatedly and led to even great despair, and thousands of businesses that shuttered their doors forever, leaving millions of Americans looking for jobs.

Fast forward through 2021 and we have endured two variants – DELTA and OMICRON – each bringing with it a one-two gut punch of surges and rising positivity rates. We have seen the roll-out of the vaccine to nearly every single American who wanted it, followed by a booster shot that was designed to limit severe illness and breakthrough cases. We have started to gather again, realizing how much we have missed each other, personally and professionally.

We have suffered through the “Great Resignation,” making it nearly impossible to find and retain good talent, especially for our hospitality partners.

We have seen the very best in people even as we have been challenged by the times being some of the worst.

Yet, through it all, our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce remained an essential business, leading the way forward with laser-focused programs on economic recovery. While many had lost hope and some even lost touch, our Chamber continued to up our game. In fact, throughout 2021, we have watched our membership grow by 338 new members – a recognition of our relevance and omnipresence.

That optimism is the impetus for the second iteration of this Annual Report, following on the heels of last year’s much heralded inaugural edition.

“WE FOCUSED ON YOUR NEEDS, YOUR STRENGTHS, AND YOUR RECOVERY” - MARK A. TROWBRIDGE PRESIDENT & CEO

There were many milestones that framed 2021 beyond a global pandemic, and thus we felt it important to document these moments, while also memorializing a year of recovery and hope.

Through it all, we persevered, just like you, in being both an asset and vital resource.

These moments included: •Fully funding our endowment account with Morgan Stanley to support our Welcome Center •Activated our new home at 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 100, once again hosting in-person events •Launched the inaugural Architectural Walking Tours out of our Welcome Center with AIA Miami and MCAD •Received forgiveness for both our PPP Loans (totaling $255,000) •Experienced social media growth and engagement across all platforms – our daily lifelines to our remote members •Re-invigorated our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Foundation •Welcomed 338 new members to our Chamber of Commerce •Hosted our Annual Conference in-person •Launched our inaugural Small Business Summit •Laid the groundwork to become a fully accredited Chamber by the US Chamber of Commerce •Released an RFP for our new Strategic Plan (2022-2027) •Celebrating diversity with our DEI initiatives None of these successes happen without tremendous support and incredible engagement – from our volunteer leadership to our Chamber team to our community partners and stakeholders.

This Annual Report will by no means tell you the entire story, as much of what we do as an organization flies under the radar. We’re not used to patting ourselves on the back. That’s just not our style.

But, we will remind you that for 96 years – and certainly the past 365 days – your Chamber has been here for you every step of the way, every single moment of the day.

As 2020 gave way to 2021, we wrapped our arms around our members, mostly from a socially distant vantage point, and focused on your needs, your strengths, and your recovery – in every possible way.

Indeed, it has been one of our finest hours.

MARK A. TROWBRIDGE

PRESIDENT & CEO | CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE @MISTERCORALGABLES

In 2021 we celebrated our one year anniversary of moving our Chamber’s headquarters to the heart of the business community, on the corner of “Main and Main,” at 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 100.

As part of this move into our gorgeous, state-of-the-art retail facility, we launched a new brand, a completely refreshed website, inaugurated our Welcome Center, and deployed an assortment of new services now available to our valued members - that’s YOU! And, we aren’t stopping there! We have BIG things in store for 2022, including more promotional opportunities and the roll-out of some exciting new programs and tours as part of our Welcome Center.

In addition to re-engaging our state-of-the-art offices in 2021, your Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce continues to expand our reach into the community by activating the City’s first official Welcome Center.

With the guidance of, and in partnership with, our friends at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, we continue to bridge the gap between business and leisure travelers and our surrounding community. No matter the activity that may interest you, we offer a plethora of resources and information to help you make the most of the time you spend in The City Beautiful.

TAKE US WITH YOU!

Complete with an interactive kiosk created by Intermedia Touch, our Welcome Center is proud to have lauched our Architectural Walking Tours in partnership with Cheryl Jacobs of AIA Miami / Miami Center for Architecture and Design, Architect Jose Estevez , AIA, and tour guide extraordinaire George Neary.

And - there’s more to come, with perfectly curated foodie tours, Gables swag, greater visitor engagement, and more! We invite you to swing by for a refreshing bottle of water courtesy of Baptist Health South Florida before you head out on your next Coral Gables adventure!

THE BEST IS YET TO COME THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

@GABLESCHAMBER

@GABLESCHAMBER

GABLES COMMUNICATIONS

CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LET’S 2022 TOGETHER