BRITWEEK MIAMI RETURNS FOR A SECOND YEAR TO CELEBRATE BURGEONING BRITISH BUSINESS AND CULTURE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

BritWeek Miami, the annual celebration of British culture and industry excellence in South Florida, kicks-off its series of events this week, for a second year, taking place fromMarch 6th–12th, throughout Miami and Miami Beach.

Developed to highlight the achievements and impact of British business in Florida, BritWeek Miami is in alliance with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the British Consulate-General Miami and a series of strategic media, event and industry partners – each collectively helping to bring a focus on the dynamic and fast growing cultural relationship between Britain and Florida.  Founded in California in 2007, BritWeek™ is a recognized 501(c)3 organization, with a strong commitment towards serving the local community. A portion of proceeds resulting from this year’s BritWeek Miami will benefit the Little Dreams Foundation – recording artist Phil Collins’ non-profit charity organization that has recently started its operation in South Florida to help advance the youth and children with an artistic and musical talent.

On Thursday, March 6th. BritWeek Miami presents the GREAT Business Innovation Awards Gala
will be held at The Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami, starting at 6:30pm. The private evening soiree will be the first of four signature events, and will honor the most innovative British companies conducting business in Florida, Floridian companies making a positive contribution to the UK economy, and individuals that have helped further the almost $4 billion bilateral economic partnership. Welsh actress from the long standing British TV series, Dr. Who, Samira Mohamed Ali, will be a master of ceremonies and the British Consulate-General Miami will be presenting a “Special Recognition“ Award to Marcelo Claure, Chairman and CEO of BrightStar Corporation, as a highlight of the evening.  Additional awards will be presented to a number of British company representatives to commemorate excellence in business.  Awards presented throughout the night will include “Innovation In Design,“ ”Innovation In Service Provision,” “Innovation In Sustainability,” “Innovation In Marketing & Communications,” “Innovation In The Consumer Experience” and “Innovation In Technology.”  Also being honored will be Sean Yazbeck, for “British Entrepreneur of the Year.” The British Expat won Season Five of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice,” and whose company just secured a major contract with T-Mobile, resulting in approximately 35 new jobs in Florida.

The second signature event is the BritWeek Miami eMerge Americas Transatlantic Tech Bash, taking place on Friday, March 7th at the offices of Greenberg Traurig in downtown Miami, starting at3:30pm.  eMerge Americas, created by the Technology Foundation of the Americas, aims to serve as a platform for hundreds of innovative entrepreneurs and startups from throughout the region to network with investors and industry luminaries. The Transatlantic Tech Bash, being held during BritWeek Miami,will serve as a prelude to the main eMerge Americas Conference in Miami Beach.

Through international video conferencing technology, industry leaders in three countries will discuss the success-factors behind Europe’s fastest growing digital and creative cluster. Discussions will include why venture-backed, companies like Airbnb, Yammer and Songkick, through to leading international technology firms including Cisco, Google and Intel, have chosen to set up operations in London’s Tech City, and the opportunities that exist for South Florida’s entrepreneurs, companies and investors. Topics will include the challenges and rewards of the new era of global entrepreneurship with those that are erasing physical borders and taking new projects worldwide, as Miami looks to become the tech corridor for the Americas.  The session will also address the measures UK Government has taken to drive its innovation ecosystem and explore what more can be done to foster relationships between the UK and South Florida’s technology leaders.  The afternoon’s guest speaker will be Manny Medina, President and CEO of Medina Capital.  Panel discussions through live videoconference streaming between cities will be held by Umut Tekin,Co-founder and CEO of Park Jockey, Frank Azar, CEO of Alienware, Pablo Salazar, Founder and Managing Partner of Naranya Ventures, Pierre Merit, Managing Director of Game Connections, Christian Hernandez, Co-founder and Managing Partner of White Star Capital and James Vallord-Costa, CEO and Chairman of Hypernia Corporation. The moderator of the panel will be Diane Sanchez, CEO, Technology Foundation of the Americas.

On Monday, March 10th, starting at 8:30am, Port Miami plays host to the week’s third signature event –The BritWeek Port Miami Business Conference 2014The conference focuses on the strategic relationship between The City of Miami, World City, United Kingdom Trade and Investment, CAMACOL, World Trade Center Miami and key international economic powerhouses, to explore Miami’s strategic location as an international business center and ‘gateway’ for UK companies looking to do business in Central and South America and the Caribbean; and to Central and South American and Caribbean companies eyeing UK expansion and broader European opportunities. The panel discussion will focus on Miami as the hub of international trade, as well as views on the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the EU-USA Trade Agreement. The panel of experts will include Bill Johnson, Executive Director of Port Miami, Commissioner Willie GortKen Roberts, President of World City and Yosbel Ibarra of Greenberg Traurig. The special guest moderator from the UK Embassy in Washington will be Mark Kent, UK 1st Secretary of Trade Policy.

The BritWeek Miami Creative Industries Closing Party will act as BritWeek Miami’s finale and closing signature event on Wednesday, March 12th at SLS Hotel South Beach, starting at 8:00pm. This invitation-only, British themed party will celebrate the UK creative industries, attended by a number of British VIPs and personalities from the worlds of art, music, fashion, design, and film/television production, among others. A special guest performance will be made by semi-finalist of NBC’s “The Voice” Lina Guadenzi, as well as a highly anticipated set by the world renowned British DJ, Artful Dodger.

In addition to the four signature events being held throughout the week, BritWeek Miami has developed affiliations with a number of existing events that will adopt a British theme or show especially for the week of BritWeek Miami.  These events include:
BritWeek Miami “Bucks Fizz” Reception at Britto Central on Lincoln Road (Friday, March 7th, 11am-1pm)
Miami Beach Polo Afternoon Tea at The Lord Balfour Hotel (Saturday, March 8th, 3–5:30pm)
BritWeek Sunday in Coral Gables (Sunday, March 9th):
o      Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) screening of “Dom Hemingway” at Coral Gables Art Cinema
o      British Theater at Actors Playhouse production of Monty Python’s “SPAMALOT”
Discounted tickets to both showings through www.britweek.org and www.actorsplayhouse.org
MIFF screening of “Belle” hosted by British Consul General Kevin McGurgan followed by “Still Life” at Regal Cinema South Beach (Tues, March 11th, 6:45pm)
Includes Q&A with the filmmakers
Discounted tickets to both showings through www.britweek.org

BritWeek Miami 2014 is sponsored by UKTI, CNBC, AFEX, The Bond, Port Miami, CAMACOL, Bentley, Jaguar, Greenberg Traurig, Manchester Business School, MDDA, Bentley, Highland Spring and Intelligent Media.  BritWeek Miami is made possible with the help of the following strategic partners: Three Dragons, LLC, MIFF, eMerge Americas, Patricia and Phillip Museum of Science, Miami Innovation Center/Right Space, iris Worldwide, Quintessentially AVIATION, MIAMI EVENTS GROUP, Florida Standard, Daszdal Bolton LLP, ORB International and Tanabi.

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