The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon, South Florida’s elite endurance test which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary on Jan. 29, generates more than $52 million for the South Florida economy each year in the form of food and beverage, lodging, retail shopping, local transportation, tourist attractions, other entertainment, race fees, and miscellaneous expenses.
As South Florida’s premier running event and one of the top events in the Southeast, the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon draw about 25,000 participants from all parts of the world. The three-day weekend event features races including a 5K, half marathon, and marathon.
It also includes one of the largest health and fitness expos in the region drawing more than 40,000 visitors and participants for the two days leading up to the race.
The International growth of the race was evidenced in 2016 by more than 6,000 runners representing more than 81 countries. Colombia sent nearly 1,000 runners. There were more than 500 Mexicans and large contingents from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Canada and Brazil. Similar groups are registered for the 2017 race.
Another large segment of the participants each year represent all 50 states. These out-of-town visitors arrive with approximately 7,700 support spectators, according to an economic impact study by the Temple University Sport Industry Research Center.
“The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon continues to be one of Miami’s top tourism events for Latin American and Caribbean tourists,” said race director Frankie Ruiz. “We continue to work closely with our corporate partners to attract the International traveler in order to further cement the Miami Marathon’s reputation as the leading running event of the Americas. Colombia runs Miami; Mexico runs Miami; Canada runs Miami. That is an experience we will continue to emphasize.”
The 2016 edition of the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon generated 11,047 hotel nights in the local area. Just under half of the non-local participants stayed in a hotel, with the Hilton Miami Downtown capturing 8 percent of that business.
The economic impact study also found that 61 percent of non-local participants traveled to Miami by air, with 33 percent of them utilizing American Airlines. Fifty five percent of those runners said they planned to return to Miami for a vacation within 12 months.
The average individual expenditure for non-local domestic participants was $814.33. The average individual expenditure for international participants was $2,501.98.
Overall, participants reported being very satisfied with their sport and travel experience in Miami, with the event itself receiving high praise for its organization and execution.
The Miami Marathon is Florida’s elite distance race with 25,000 runners representing all 50 states and more than 80 countries converging on Miami and South Beach to experience one of the most unique courses in the world. The race has come a long way since 3,400 runners participated in the first Miami Marathon in 2003.
