10/21/2026
Last week, Atlanta Fed interim president and CEO Cheryl Venable was joined by Shari Bower, Marycela Diaz, and Lei Fang of the Regional Economic Information Network (REIN) team for a tour of PortMiami. Also known as the “Cruise Capital of the World” and the “Cargo Gateway of the Americas,” PortMiami has been a key REIN contact since 2011, providing valuable insight into cruise, cargo, and regional transportation activity.
The group, led by Richard de Villiers and David Clodfelter, visited cargo and cruise line facilities, including a stop at the Norwegian Cruise Line terminal, The Pearl of Miami. Serving 23 cruise lines and three primary cargo terminal operators, PortMiami welcomed its 10 millionth cruise passenger for the fiscal year on September 14, 2026, surpassing the previous record of 8.56 million passengers set in 2025.
Cheryl also visited the Atlanta Fed Miami Branch, alongside executive vice president Blake Lyons where they engaged with staff for an Ask Me Anything session.