Resilience keynotes for Miami conferences, where the 7th marathon finished
Miami was the finish line of Paris’s seven marathons on seven continents. It is also a gateway for business across the Americas, and a city that hosts a packed events calendar.
The city where the last marathon ended
Paris ran seven marathons on seven continents – Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami – in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes. The final one was run in Miami, which makes this a natural place to tell the story of what it takes to keep going when your body says stop.
Miami is a major hub for international banking and trade with Latin America, and home to PortMiami, known as the cruise capital of the world. Its hospitality, tourism, finance and real-estate teams operate in fast, competitive markets.
Paris’s hospitality credentials include IHG, where he spoke at IHG Ignite about the grit behind the marathons, and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Who Paris speaks to in Miami
Hospitality and tourism
Leadership and sales events for hotel, cruise and tourism teams.
Banking and trade
Offsites for teams working across the Americas.
Sales kick-offs
The marathon story as a frame for a year of hard targets.
Conferences
Main-stage keynotes for the city’s busy conference calendar.
Where Miami meets
Miami’s calendar includes Art Basel Miami Beach every December, along with many corporate and hospitality-industry events across the year.
- Miami Beach Convention Center – home to Art Basel Miami Beach each December
- Hotel and resort venues – across Miami Beach, Brickell and Downtown Miami
Ways to book Paris in Miami
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
At IHG Ignite, Paris told the story of the grit behind seven marathons on seven continents. In Miami, that story ends where the challenge did. IHG Ignite keynote recap · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Miami, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Miami, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the USA, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Miami’s economy and who the talk is for
Miami has a population of about 442,241 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Miami is the head-office city for organisations such as Palantir Technologies (computer and network surveillance), Royal Caribbean Group (cruise line) and Laureate Education (educational system).
Technology and software (Palantir Technologies). Technology teams ship, fail, learn and ship again. Paris connects that loop to life on an ocean rowing boat, where a broken plan is normal and the crew that adapts fastest wins. It suits engineering all-hands, product kick-offs and AI transformation programmes.
Students, graduates and faculty
Miami’s universities, including Barry University, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and Miami International University of Art & Design, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
Other large venues in Miami
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Miami venues include Kaseya Center, Old United States Post Office and Courthouse, Knight International Center and David W. Dyer Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Miami organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Miami
These are typical Miami events for The Grit Code:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Miami?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, offsites and company events in Miami and Miami Beach, in person or virtually.
What is Paris’s connection to Miami?
Miami was the seventh and final marathon of his seven marathons on seven continents, completed in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
How far ahead should we book a Miami event?
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.
Is the keynote suitable for hospitality audiences?
Yes. Paris has spoken for IHG and at the UN Tourism General Assembly, and tailors each talk after a briefing call.
Which Miami industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Miami it suits technology and software audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Miami?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Barry University and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Miami?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Miami?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact