Florencia Tabeni is the COO of MDM Hotel Group, home to the JW Marriott Marquis and JW Marriott Miami, which hosted our authors and inaugural Next Page Celebration Dinner in 2023. The Argentine-born mom of one has been living in the Magic City for 23 years.
What compelled Marriott to partner with Miami Book Fair – in other words, how does our work support your community-building and charitable goals?
MDM Group was very proud to partner with Miami Book Fair – and as the person leading the project, so was I! I think the partnership reflected our commitment to community building and charitable endeavors, and it also aligned with our mission, which includes fostering connections to the cultural arts. That’s very important to us.
Tell me about some of the other organizations you partner with in Miami.
We work with Miami Film Festival, and we’re also the official hotel for Art Miami and Art Wynwood.
How does MBF’s work align with your personal thoughts on access to literary culture?
When I arrived in Miami, the area around the Marriott Marquis was empty. No one would have thought downtown would become what it is today. Miami Book Fair is a part of that, and the work you do to open doors to literary culture for the community resonates deeply with me. I believe everyone should have the chance to immerse themselves in the transformative world of books and reading. It broadens our horizons and allows us to connect with one another.
What was it like working with MBF on the Next Page event?
Everyone at MBF was fantastic, and the synergy between our two teams was excellent. I was very happy and I look forward to collaborating again. Personally, I also attended the lunch event with Kerry Washington – that was a really enjoyable experience.
You’ve lived in Miami a long time – had you attended the Fair in years past?
Oh, yes – definitely! I have a 15-year-old daughter, and when she was little we went to the Fair. It’s a fabulous event for the city.
What are you reading right now and what’s next on your reading list?
The Red Sari by Javier Moro, in Italian. My mother is Italian, and last year I gave myself a goal of becoming fluent in the language. It’s a story of the Gandhi family, told through the eyes of Sonia Gandhi. Next up is a book that a friend from Italy recommended, also in Italian.
What’s a book you read as a child that had a big impact on you?
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This is one of the books that has followed me throughout my life since I was a kid. I have it in English, Spanish, and Italian. I love it. It’s a book meant for children but it’s so deep, and full of so many messages. There’s a quote from the book – “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – that I have everywhere. It’s very powerful for me.
Someone’s writing your biography – what’s the title of the book?
“Happiness Is About the Moment.”
Interview by Elisa Chemayne Agostinho; responses have been edited for space and clarity.
