Best of 2011: 10 Miami Event Industry Highlights

January marked the grand opening of the $60 million New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry. The 30,000-square-foot performance hall launched as the new home of the symphony with seating for 756 people. The multifunctional space features a first-floor atrium that can accommodate 250 guests for a cocktail reception; an outdoor space, part of the Miami Beach Soundscape, with room for 1,000 people; and the 2,400-square-foot SunTrust Pavilion that can seat 175 or accommodate 250 reception-style.

2. Ultra Music Fest split from the Winter Music Conference in March for the first time. Still, Ultra drew its largest crowd since its inception—150,000 spectators, 100,000 more than last year. Founders also expanded the festival from a two-day festival to a three-day event with more than 300 acts. Tickets sold out 34 days before the event began. Liquor companies, including Hennessy and Belvedere Vodka, chose to throw parties during Ultra weekend. DJ Kaskade headlined the official after-party at LIV nightclub (pictured).

Art Basel Miami Beach saw a record 50,000 visitors, more than 260 galleries, and more than 2,000 artists in December. This year marked the show's 10th edition, and to celebrate, the fair announced a new collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art. The international art fair also hosted the "Ten Great Years Celebration" at the New World Center with multiple performances in its orchestra hall, atrium, rooftop garden, and Sun Trust Pavilion.

For the first time, the Zo's Summer Groove benefit dinner and gala opened to the public for the concert portion of the July event, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Headliners included Alicia Keys, Cee Lo Green, and Carlos Mencia. Comedian Dave Chappelle, who disappointed crowds with an act during a comedic show the night before, made a special appearance on stage at the gala. The event sold out with some 4,000 guests in attendance. Producers MMG placed tiny, white LED lights on each armrest of the 4,000 available seats, to give guests the impression that they were under a starry night.

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center opened in October after five years of construction. The $53 million center in Cutler Bay is made up of two buildings designed by local firm Arquitectonica. This new center has a 966-seat main stage theater, activities building with a lab theater, dance rehearsal studio, and room for a future cafe. The buildings have a vast space that links them together, accommodating more than 700 for events like concerts and festivals.

At February's "Let Them Eat Cake" 10-year anniversary party for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Carnaval dancers, ice sculptors who used chainsaws to turn a huge chunk of ice into an American Express card, and performers from Cirque USA poured glasses of champagne while hanging upside down. More than 800 guests attended the event at venue 1111 Lincoln Road. The party, one of the hottest tickets to land, featured cocktails from sponsor Moet Hennessy USA and guests including Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Giada de Laurentiis, and Alain Ducasse.

Muscle Milk brought its pop-up fitness retreat to Miami for the first time during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in July. The satellite event, at Nikki Beach, brought out locals who wanted to get bikini-ready before the week filled with fashion events. The pop-up retreat had a workout class called "No Gym Required," led by fitness guru and author Jennifer Cohen; dance yoga sessions and massage therapy by the Spa Luxury Group; and music by DJ Irie onstage, while guests worked out on the dance floor with towels and mats featuring the Muscle Milk logo.

The Sony Ericsson Open tournament had a record-breaking event in March and April. More than 316,000 visitors flocked to the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, including a record of 14,625 spectators at the men's final. For this latest installment, more than 600 credentialed media from 36 countries covered the top-tier event on the World Tennis Association tour.

To offset the cost of the new arena structure, AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup shared its venue with the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup in April. The partnership ended up bringing in more tourists during Miami's busy season than in years past. AMG returned for the second year as a title sponsor for the event, which attracted more than 10,000 spectators for the four-day tournament.

The Havaianas brand made its way onto the South Florida scene this year. The company sponsored the Shape Bikini Body Tour; collaborated with the Standard Miami, the Webster, Gilt City Miami, and "Ocean Drive" magazine on this year's Swim Week Lazy Sunday Party; and passed out pairs of the brand's limited-edition sandals to passers-by during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.