Robert Finvarb on Why U.S. Travelers Are Now the Backbone of South Florida Hotels

Executive Summary — South Florida Tourism (2025) Source: South Florida Business Journal | Reporting by Cortney Danielle Moore (Dec. 11, 2025) South Florida’s tourism economy remains resilient in 2025, but reporting from the South Florida Business Journal highlights clear shifts in traveler behavior beneath the topline numbers. International visitation continues to lag — remaining approximately 25% below 2019 levels — pressured by higher airfares, a strong U.S. dollar, visa delays, and increased immigration scrutiny. Within this environment, Robert Finvarb and Brian Vujnovic, co-founders of MIA Hospitality Management, note that U.S. travelers remain the backbone of hotel performance in South Florida. According to the Business Journal, domestic leisure and corporate travel continues to perform strongly across their portfolio, with corporate travel growing year over year, helping to offset softness in international demand. The article characterizes the current market as a rebalancing rather than a downturn. Travelers are becoming more selective — shortening stays, weighing total trip cost, and factoring in ease of entry, safety perceptions, and the state’s political climate when choosing destinations. While select international markets such as the U.K. and Brazil show modest gains, traditionally strong feeder markets including Canada, Colombia, and Venezuela are declining. As reported by the South Florida Business Journal, MIA Hospitality Management’s experience reinforces a central takeaway for the region: South Florida’s hospitality sector remains fundamentally supported by domestic demand, particularly U.S. leisure and corporate travelers. However, operators cannot rely on historical loyalty alone, as evolving traveler sensitivities around cost, inclusion, and experience are reshaping visitation patterns and spending behavior.