Despite a tough economy, tourism in Miami-Dade was up, driven, says the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, by international visitors. According to Smith Travel Research, average room rates in Miami-Dade in the first seven months of the year were second only to New York’s. The destination was No. 3 in average occupancy, behind New York and Hawaii.

Hotel Indicator	Jan.-July 2008	% Change from Jan.-July 2007
Occupancy	75.8%	+0.8%
Average daily room rate	$173	+2.3%
Source: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau