What happens after a city hosts the world? Miami is about to find out.

In 2026 the city hosted seven FIFA World Cup matches, including a quarterfinal and the bronze final. The city’s broader calendar also featured the College Football Playoff national championship game, the World Baseball Classic and the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

The question now is whether this global exposure in 2026 will translate into sustained tourism demand in 2027.

As dean of one of the nation’s leading hospitality schools, I research trends affecting tourism, travel behavior and the hospitality industry in one of the country’s most international visitor markets. My work keeps me closely connected to industry leaders and destination partners across South Florida. Based on the latest economic indicators and South Florida’s calendar of major events, 2027 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the area’s visitor economy.

Right now the data points to fewer domestic budget travelers but more – and higher-spending – international ones.

Start with the biggest shock: the closure of Spirit Airlines in May 2026. The ultra-low-cost carrier headquartered in South Florida was the dominant airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for years. But in spring 2026, jet fuel prices roughly doubled amid the fuel crisis triggered by conflict in the Middle East, and when a hoped-for federal rescue fell through.

Only months earlier the airline had planned 100 peak daily departures from Fort Lauderdale in 2026. That capacity is now gone.

The consequences of this for 2027 fall unevenly. Ultra-low-cost carriers make their living on price-sensitive leisure travelers, such as the families and spontaneous weekenders who fill Florida hotel rooms in the shoulder seasons of April to May and September to November.

With Spirit’s seats gone and fuel costs pushing fares up across the airline industry, the cheapest tier of air........

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