With high and rising room rates, continued interest from developers and record numbers of tourists visiting the area, Miami’s hotel market should continue to improve, a panel of experts said Thursday.

The trade has been mountain climbing out of the droop reached in 2009, when the economic downturn compelled travelers to reduce. but average lodge rates for 2012 are anticipated to surpass the 2008 top and climb even upper in 2013.

“At this point, it really looks like we’re past the recovery stage,” said Suzanne Amaducci-Adams, partner and head of the hospitality group at the Bilzin Sumberg law firm.

Amaducci-Adams moderated the Fourth Annual South Florida lodging Outlook, placed on through the Cornell resort Society’s South Florida chapter, on the Conrad hotel Thursday morning.

Speakers highlighted the infusion of investment, including international companies such as Genting Group and Cube Capital, as another positive sign.

“managing the number one centered investment marketplace,” mentioned Daniel Peek, some other panelist and senior handling director for business real property firm HFF. “dealing with the place the arena desires to be.”

Genting staff, the Malaysian company that bought the Miami bring in building and neighboring belongings closing yr for nearly half one billion greenbacks, had planned to improve a tremendous resort with a casino. but efforts to get approval for gambling from state legislators failed, and the company has said it plans to move forward with a scaled-down undertaking.

Many of the panelists said they thought additional gaming in the area could be positive — if done right.

William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the better Miami convention & visitors Bureau, said the question is what sort of operation the realm needs.

“Clearly, the proposal that came forth last year was too big,” he said. “They made a terrible mistake that they’re living with now and they’ll come back. At the end of the day, the devil’s in the details.”