William D. Talbert III, CDME
President & CEO, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

As President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) for the past nine years, and as Chief Operating Officer for the prior nine years, William D. Talbert, III has distinguished himself as a highly respected visitor industry and community leader.

Under Bill’s leadership, the GMCVB has become extremely competitive in the global travel marketplace. Bill has guided the organization through several significant accomplishments, such as assisting with the passage of the Food and Beverage tax to fund the GMCVB’s advertising budget and negotiating inter-local government funding agreements for four successful Super Bowl bids.

Bill’s numerous professional affiliations include serving as immediate past Chair of Destination Marketing Association International’s (DMAI) Board of Directors, past Chair of the Florida Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (FACVB), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and a member of the Florida International University School of Hospitality Management Executive Advisory Board.

He has been named Tourism Professional of the Year by the Academy of Travel and Tourism, and received the APEX Award for Distinguished Service by Black Meetings & Conventions magazine.

Talbert holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. He has also earned the highest educational achievement in the destination marketing industry, the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME).