Pow Wow meeting went quite well last night

Last night, about 50 people, maybe more, showed up for the first orientation of the travel Pow Wow, coming to the Grove. They will all be volunteers guides and ambassadors for Pow Wow night. Richard Issa from the BID went over the whole process and explained how the night should go.

On May 18, a couple of thousand conventioneers, all in the travel industry (travel agents, travel writers, etc.), from all around the world are coming to Coconut Grove to partake in all we have to offer.

All that is good about the Grove will be happening in one night -- all the restaurants, galleries and shops will be putting out their best. Musicians, dancers and artists will take over the streets. The pools on top of the Mayfair (Cabana One) and the Sonesta will be tropical paradises where visitors can swim under the moonlight if they wish.

Our local ambassador volunteers will travel on buses from Miami Beach, where the visitors will be based. As the buses come into the Grove, the ambassadors will give a tour as they make their arrival into our village.

In the Grove, ambassadors, will make the visitors feel welcome by guiding them around, answering questions and just being the lovable quirky Grove characters that we are. We will literally walk people to destinations that interest them.

The goal is to have the visitors love the Grove as much as we do, to have the travel writers write about us and have the travel agents send their clients to us on a regular basis.

That one night, May 18, there will be a cash flow of $45,000 to $50,000 spent in the Grove. The ripple affect should last from four to six years and millions of dollars should flow into the Grove during that period.

The Pow Wow is held in different cities each year, so we are quite lucky to have them this year in such a down economy, the much needed tourists sent in for the next few years are much appreciated.