Convention Center Tampa

What's Happening Downtown Tampa

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 by Partner Pulse

This week in downtown Tampa:

    * Hey pasta lovers, has the Tampa Convention Center got a deal for you! If you attend Tampa Bay Meetings or just have access to the Convention Center Tampa in downtown and just can’t get enough pasta, then make sure you are at the Convention Center Tampa today (11/09) and again on Tuesday, November 17th for the United Way Pasta Luncheon. This is an “all you can eat” event. For only $6.00 you can have as much pasta as you want and know that those carbs are going to a great cause. Click here for more information.

* Mayor Iorio invites you to join her at Cotanchobee/Fort Brooke Park on Tuesday (11/10) at 10:00 a.m. for an event that will honor our armed forces. This should make the Tampa Florida News and for details, click here.

* Veterans Day will be celebrated in downtown on Tuesday (11/10) in Joe Chillura Courthouse Square. Get details about this important event by clicking here.

    * Impromptu Players of Stageworks Theatre will present a Staged Reading of “The God of Isaac.” This is a hysterical comedy by James Sherman and directed by Andrea Graham. The event will take place on Saturday (11/14) from 6:30pm & 9:00pm at Dolce Vita Lounge, Channelside Cinemas (601 Channelside Dr). Tickets are a $25.00 Contribution for general seating or $35.00 Contribution for the reserved section. For tickets call Andrea Graham at (813) 784-6832 or click here. This is a benefit for Stageworks Outreach Programs for At Risk Kids

Also in November:

    * "Aurora Borealis III", Blake's Fine Arts Open House, will take place on November 17th from 6-8 p.m. The marching band will kick off the event at 6 p.m. sharp. This magical torch-lit event will feature strolling performers and musicians in the courtyard as well as choreographed performances on stage by harpists, actors, guitarist, singers and dancers. Journalism and creative writing students will showcase their talent through the spoken word and live broadcasts. Bronzed dancers will be positioned on pedestals as living statues in the courtyard. Video and visual art imagery will be projected on the outside of the building. The gallery and visual art studios will be open to showcase student talent with demonstrations in stained glass, jewelry, photography, printmaking and ceramics. The Fine Arts Faculty will be present in the theatre lobby to answer questions about the individual magnet programs. The Urban Teaching Academy will be available to answer questions. Prospective students and their parents are welcome. The event is free and open to the public! The school is located at 1701 North Boulevard in downtown Tampa. Come to "Aurora Borealis III" and enjoy all of the offerings that this downtown magnet school has to offer!

Ah, the holidays in Tampa Bay!

    * Come experience the innocence and charm of a Victorian Christmas. Escape the commercialism and stress of a modern Christmas and capture the warmth and joy of an old-fashioned holiday with your loved ones. The Henry B. Plant Museum presents the 28th annual Victorian Christmas Stroll from December 1st to 23rd, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.

* "Light Up the Night with the Downtown Tampa Florida Attractions Association’s Holiday Lighted Boat Parades on Friday, December 4th and Friday, December 18th. Parades will begin at 6:30 PM. Come watch these festively decorated boats illuminate the sky and spread holiday cheer throughout Downtown’s Channel District. The Rough Riders will be accepting Teddy Bear donations during the parade and will be the boat to beat as they light up one of their best floats in honor of this holiday tradition!

The Tampa Downtown Partnership serves as the steward of downtown Tampa, cultivating public and private partnerships, and encouraging downtown’s physical and economic development. As a proactive leadership organization, we act as an advocate for the downtown community.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership fosters Tampa’s vibrant and diverse multi-use downtown neighborhoods and plays a key role in creating a 24-hour urban center where people can learn, live, work and play. Programs such as our Clean and Safe team and our transportation initiatives make accessing and navigating Tampa's downtown an easy and enjoyable experience.

As a membership organization, we are driven to serve the Tampa downtown business community and are empowered by what each member brings to our organization. Together, we strive to improve the collective downtown Tampa community, to be an active conduit of information and resources, to promote a shared vision for Tampa’s downtown, and create and implement the plans that support that vision.

Building a Bath of Hot Chocolate

Monday, November 9, 2009 by Partner Pulse

While people attend Tampa Bay Meetings at the Convention Center Tampa and stay at Tampa Bay Hotels and Tampa Bay Resorts it is always interesting to see what is happpening in other parts of the hotel industry.

Even though a specialty line through any of these brands probably will not appear in the Westshore District you should be thankful that you won't have to build a bath of hot chocolate for a customer staying here in Tampa Bay!

Hotel Building Boom Focuses On Boutique Brands

by Curt Nickisch

Lost amid the hammering the hotel industry has been taking lately, there's a building boom. Big hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott and Starwood are rolling out lines of specialty hotels.

What most hotels call the lobby, the new W Boston hotel calls its "living room." Plunk down in one of the leather pods, and you can admire the polished granite floors by leaning back and seeing them reflected in the mirror on the ceiling. In the evening, the staff turns the lights down and the music up.

W is part of a big hotel company called Starwood. This new location is the latest in a growing trend of so-called contemporary lifestyle hotels. Hyatt's line is called Andaz, and Marriott has Edition. The idea is to lure customers bored with mainstream hotels.

W's global brand manager, Eva Ziegler, takes her job very seriously.

"We want to provide access to a world of wow," she says. "Basically, help you to escape from the fears and from the [mundanity] of everyday life, and come into a world where everything is possible."

That might sound attractive, if you can afford it. The W's room rates in Boston start at around $200. Hotel staffers wear designer outfits and no name tags, because they're just as cool as you. They'll get you anything you want — as long as it's legal.

Hot Chocolate Bath

The hotel's general manager, Bill Bunce, remembers the customer who wanted a hot chocolate bath.

"And so to get all of that ready and get it in the tub and marshmallows floating — and they wanted it hot, too, which is even more difficult to do," he says. "But we were able to do it."

Of course, it also went on the customer's bill.

"That's the other key part to it, too," says Bunce, laughing. "Whether they want to pay the price. You could tell me whatever you want. I can deliver it, but there's a price attached to it."
The Market restaurant in W Boston is part of a newly opened boutique hotel that is owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
The Market restaurant at the W Boston hotel

The Market restaurant in W Boston is part of a newly opened boutique hotel that is owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Reed Woodworth, a hotel industry analyst for PKF Consulting, says occupancy is down nationwide even as hotels have been cutting rates.

"It's a particularly difficult time to be opening up a luxury, high-end hotel in an economy that we've had for the past year now," he says.

Betting On The Future

But Woodworth says the hotel companies remember that before the recession, consumers were willing to pay about $80 more to stay in these newer, cooler hotels that don't feel like a chain — even though they are.

The hotel companies are betting on that demand coming back.

"W Hotels basically doesn't build hotels today for tomorrow," says Ziegler. "It builds hotels for the long term. So when the economy comes back, it also means we will own the upswing."

Woodworth says investing in new locations during a downturn can keep customers loyal and interested. But it's risky.

"It's still pretty much the wisdom in the hospitality world that this is going to be a rather slow climb out of this hole," he says. "So while they are riding the upswing as it were, it still looks to be a very gradual upswing over the next few years."

That means it could be a long time before these hotels make money. After all, people have gotten used to paying low rates for high-end hotels. It's going to take a while to convince consumers to pay the high prices they used to pay for these kinds of hotels — even with the lure of hot chocolate in the bathtub.

It's an AOPA Tampa Summit Giveaway...

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Convention Sales

Greetings to all my AOPA peeps in town for the 2009 AOPA Aviation Summit which kicked off today at the Tampa Convention Center and Peter O. Knight Airport! Let me be the first to say that Tampa is grateful to have you guys here, and even more grateful to watch you spend your money in our community! Pardon me, that's just a little economic development humor!

We truly hope that today is the first day of what will be a Summit chock full of new experiences, events, education, and opportunities for all!

To make it just a bit more interesting, Jerm (That's me) is going to do one of his Twitter famous giveaways today especially for you! Yes I know what you are thinking... and yes it is very thoughtful of me and no other city has done this for you before, but hey, that's what we're about here in Tampa, creating memorable experiences for all of our attendees!

Now normally these giveaways are just trivia where I ask questions here on this blog and then ask for you to answer them on Twitter. But today I am in a creative mood, so we are gonna switch it up a bit, but first let me tell you what you are playing for!

I just happen to have some tickets with me to three of our awesome Tampa Florida attractions for the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, and Big Cat Rescue, and I am in the giving mood! Three lucky AOPA attendees or even exhibitors will be the lucky recipients of my new found generosity (two tickets for each)!

All you have to do is be paying attention to the crowd's at either Peter O. Knight Airport, of the Convention Center for a strapping 6'0 guy wearing a black and white striped polo, khaki pants with an IPhone in his hand!

Once I get on sight, at either the airport or convention center, I'll tweet my location and the games will begin! To win, just run up to me (don't run actually), show me your attendee or exhibitor badge, and say "Tampa is Awesome" and you have your pick of the three prizes! How sweet is that!

Its just that simple folks, so be on the lookout for me as I'll be there sometime between 1130 and 130 pm today! Okay, now stop reading this blog and pay attention to the session that your in and I will see you guys later!

p.s. be sure to be following us on Twitter at @VisitTampaBay.

Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet Features - Convention Calendar

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Partner Pulse

Whether you are a Tampa Florida Attraction, in charge of Tampa Bay Shopping, a Tampa Bar or putting on Concerts in Tampa...as a partner of Tampa Bay & Company access to several useful Tampa Bay Marketing tools is only a click away. We hope these will help you reach out to those attending Tampa Bay Meetings at the Convention Center and elsewhere.

Tampa Bay & Company

Sales Booking Reports are updated monthly and the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar is also avaliable through this site. There are two versions of the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar: the first is a pdf version where you can sel

ect the desired date range and you can see information for each convention sorted by the date of arrival.

Another version of the convention calendar is in Microsoft Excel format. This allows you to merge the Tampa Bay Meetings Lead Contact with your Tampa Bay Marketing material giving you direct access to those planners visitting Tampa Bay in the near future.

The Excel version of the Convention Calendar includes a field with the date the Tampa Bay Meeting became definite in Tampa Bay. If you reach out to these contacts on a regular basis you can sort the document on the Date Booked field and only reach out to those contacts with Tampa Bay Meetings booked since you last sent out Tampa Bay Marketing material.

You will need your individual username and password to login to the Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet and access the Tampa Bay & Company Convention Calendar. If you do not have a login contact Tampa Bay & Company Marketing Analyst Julie Zambos at jazambos@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4068 or Tampa Bay & Company Partnership Sales Manager Lauren Bowles at lbowles@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4085.

See below for detailed instructions on other benefits available to you within the Tampa Bay & Company Partner Extranet:

Using the Tampa Bay & Company Website
We encourage you to explore our Web site, www.VisitTampaBay.com, and utilize all of the resources available to you through the Web site.

To access Tampa Bay & Company’s Partners Only section:
• www.VisitTampaBay.com/Partners and click on “Partners Only”.
• Log in using your assigned username and password. If you have not received a username and password, please contact Tampa Bay & Company Marketing Analyst Julie Zambos at jazambos@visittampabay.com or call 813-342-4068 or Tampa Bay & Company Partnership Sales Manager Lauren Bowles at LBowles@VisitTampaBay.com or call (813)342‐4085.

To access the Tampa Bay & Company Meetings Convention Calendar:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website, www.VisitTampaBay.com/partners.
• Once logged in, a list of options appears on the main page as well as the left sidebar. Click on “Convention Calendar” to view upcoming Tampa Bay Community Events, Tampa Bay Conventions, Tampa Bay Meetings, etc.

To access and post events to the Tampa Bay & Company Calendar of Events:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, you will see a link that says “Submit Events.” Click on this link and enter your event info and click “Save.”

To post coupons/special offers for Tampa Bay Area Visitors, Meeting Planners and/or Tampa Bay & Company Partners only:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, you will see a link on the main page that says “Add/Edit/Remove Coupons.”
• To submit a new coupon, click on “add coupon” Enter your information and click “Save.”
• Your coupon will then appear as pending until our staff approves the coupon.
• To edit your coupon, click on the coupon title and click “Save.”

To view Tampa Bay Community Calendar of Events and Tampa Bay & Company Partner coupons:
• For visitor coupons, click “Visitors” and click on “Hot Deals” or “Calendar of Events.”
• For meeting planner coupons, click on “Meeting Planners” and click on “Meeting Planner Hot Deals.”
• For partner coupons, log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website and click on “Partner Coupons.”

To view tips from the Tampa Bay & Company Marketing team:
• Log in to the "Partners Only" section of our website.
• Once logged in click "Marketing Tools" to the left.
• Here you will access marketing tools, research and publications.

To view and/or update your profile:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in click on “View Profile.”
• Here you will be able to view your listings and contacts.
• ONLY the primary contact has access to update your account.

To retrieve various Tampa Bay & Company Sales Booking Reports, Action Plans and information about the Tampa Bay Convention and Tourism industry:
• Log in to the “Partners Only” section of our website.
• Once logged in, a list of options appears on the left sidebar. Click on “Sales” for various options.

Tampa Bay Events, Production Capabilities and Culture All in One Place

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Looking for Tampa Bay Community Information? One place to peruse is one of the Tampa Bay Radio Stations 89.7 WUSF. Their broadcasts include All Things Considered, Florida Matters and University Beats with issues affecting anyone in Tampa Bay, Florida and surrounding areas. Their website contains Tampa Bay News, happenings at Tampa Bay Attractions, Tampa Bay Meetings at the Convention Center Tampa and wonderful Florida Stories.

Why bother with Shopping in Tampa Bay this weekend? Who wants to Golf Tampa Bay or spend all weekend at a Tampa Bay Area Beach when there are so many Tampa Bay cultural events to expand your mind all weekend!

For example the Dali Museum has a calendar listing for this Saturday. Here is the information: Bring your kids to the Dalí Museum for breakfast! On November 7, enjoy a family-friendly, interactive tour through the galleries before it opens to the public, and then enjoy a tasty breakfast buffet as well as arts and crafts. This is one of the Museum’s most popular programs. To register and pre-pay, please call (727) 823-3767 ext. 3024 or email Bethany Mead, Education Coordinator: bmead@thedali.org

Event Category:Kids & Family
Price:General admission is $15 per parent, $10 per child, $20 all others.
Dates and Times:November 7, 9:30AM
Add to my calendar

Venue:Salvador Dalí Museum
Address:1000 Third Street South
City:St. Petersburg State:FL Zip Code:33701-4901
Country:United States
Telephone:727-823-3767
Email: info@salvadordalimuseum.org

IntellisMedia is a division of WUSF Public Broadcasting. Using Tampa Bay Radio Stations WUSF's wealth of experienced media, communications, engineering and production professionals and facilities, we provide customized communications, production and technology services to clients in the corporate, government, education and non-profit sectors.

A New Job Opening...Yes Please

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Partner Pulse

So like everyone else I know right now, I have a few very good friends looking for work in the Tampa Bay market. It’s a scary time right now and it’s good to keep up on what jobs in the Tampa Bay Meetings market are available…especially in the Tampa, FL hospitality industry.

I check the normal online places on a regular basis for jobs at Tampa Bay Resorts or at the Convention Center Tampa but recently I came across a site that was not so expected.

Did you guys know that Tampa Bay & Company has a page that lists job openings for those of us in hospitality. It was so cool to already have jobs narrowed down and not have to search through page after page of ridiculous “work from home” scheme jobs before I got to something legitimate. There are listings from Tampa Bay Hotels and even some Tampa Bay Resorts.

There are several jobs at hotels for people with experience in sales and even jobs through the Hillsborough County Bar Association. You may be surprised by the variety of listings through Tampa Bay & Company. I knew they had a broad base of Tampa Bay Partners but I did not realize they could post jobs too.

If nothing else, add the link to your regular search and see what other Tampa Bay Hotels, Resorts or Attractions are looking to fill positions. You never know when you may find that perfect job for a good friend. Or even better…that perfect job just for you.

Lots of Tampa Fun for AOPA!

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Convention Sales

Hello everyone! Well, it’s another beautiful day in Tampa Bay! Especially if you’re down here for the AOPA Aviation Summit and you call a cold weather city your home. But the weather isn’t the only thing you’ll enjoy while visiting our fair town. In between all the great conference events I’m sure you’ll be checking out, there are a lot of local haunts to explore as well. Tampa’s got something for everyone!

Are you into fine dining? Hop on the streetcar in front the Tampa Convention Center, take a leisurely 20 minute ride to Ybor City and check out one of our favorite local landmarks, The Columbia Restaurant! Besides having Spanish food that would make my Abuelita proud, it has the distinction of being the largest Spanish restaurant in the world! Pick up an authentic sangria pitcher at the gift shop on your way out.

If you enjoy exploring local history, the Tampa Bay History Center, located just a couple blocks from the Tampa Convention on The Riverwalk near Channelside, is the place for you. The History Center highlights our colorful past including Tampa’s cigar factory era. With interactive exhibits and fun activities, the History Center is perfect for fledgling historians of any age.

Raise your hand if you love to shop (I would raise both of mine, but I’m typing)!! Well, then you’ll love the world class Tampa Bay shopping opportunities you can find at the International Plaza. With department stores like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well as shops like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany’s, International Plaza is a place where world class shopping meets upscale dining and nightlife.

I could keep going about my great town, but other duties call. Have fun exploring Tampa while you’re here! And if you don’t get to do everything you wanted to, then come back just for fun another time! Ciao for now!

Downtown Tampa events

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey gang! Travis back with more great Tampa Bay area events, taking place in downtown Tampa!!!! So, let's get to it:

Tonight, start your engines. The 2010 Model Tampa Bay International Auto Show races to the Tampa Convention Center. If you are in the market for a new car, this is a must do before you go to the dealership.

tomorrow, October 24th, the popular Student Dance Happening will take place inside and out at The University of Tampa Oct. 21-24 at 8 p.m. A crowd favorite at UT, the Dance Happening will begin at the David Falk Theatre. The opening portion of the free program will take place inside the Falk Theatre, and the remainder will take place on the Plant Hall East Verandah.

UT graduate Susannah LeMarquand ’01 is the Dance Happening coordinator this year. She has worked on cruise ships and is now working at Busch Gardens while teaching as an adjunct instructor at UT. Presented by the Department of Speech, Theatre, and Dance, the Student Dance Happening features popular music and the work of talented students from all sectors of the University community. Choreography features new work by 21 UT students and alumni. The UT Dance Team and the Black Student Union Dance Team also will perform. Dance styles will include hip hop, modern, tap, lyrical and jazz, with more than 80 students participating. The UT Dance Happening offers something for everyone. Don’t miss this unique “traveling” dance performance. The event is free!!!

Also, the Lightning take on the Buffalo Sabres. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information about the Tampa Bay Lightning, visit their Web site at www.tampabaylightning.com.

Then, on Sunday, October 25th, Get ready for Halloween with friends: new, old, and dead. Historian/actor Maureen Patrick is the guide for an often shocking, frequently hilarious hour-long tour of Oaklawn Cemetery (founded 1850) where pioneer Tampa's well-to-do and ne’er-do-well lie side by side. The graveyard is the final resting place of pirates, slaves, Indian fighters, 13 City mayors, veterans of seven wars, and victims of five yellow fever epidemics. Elegant statuary, moss-hung oaks, and winding brick pathways give Oaklawn a Gothic feel, while tombstone epitaphs range from the genteel to the ridiculous. Patrick will appear in elaborate nineteenth century mourning attire, in the character of Miss Prudence Fipwhistle (born 1855, died 1899.) A $5 donation is requested at the end of the tour and benefits Tampa Historical Society, a not-for-profit organization.

On Monday, October 26th, Make your way to Café Dufrain to celebrate at Corkage Free Monday Nights. Bring your own bottle of wine and the staff of Café Dufrain will uncork it for you. Enjoy fine dining while taking in the water views from the outside patio. Watch the skyline of downtown Tampa turn from day to night. Gaze at passing boats all while relaxing Monday night away.

Finally, on Tuesday, October 27, we are saying Happy Birthday to Mr. Plant! Henry Plant would be having his 190th birthday. The HB Plant Museum thinks that's cause to celebrate and they hope you will join them! What is a birthday without balloons, cupcakes and punch? They await you on the veranda, from noon - 2:00pm. All day Museum admission is complimentary and visitors will be given a 10% discount in the Museum Store. In 1891, Henry Plant opened the most astonishingly magnificent Hotel of its day and it is still relevant as an iconic symbol of Tampa. Take a break from your busy schedule on October 27th, enjoy a cupcake on the veranda overlooking downtown, and stop in the Museum for a Victorian step-back-in-time moment. Happy Birthday Henry Plant!

Now, how's that for some cool Tampa Bay area events??!! Make sure you get out and experience as many as you can.

we'll see you here next time as we continue to bring you great things to do in Tampa Bay!

The Race Report from Terri P...all the way from Prague!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey there Tampa Bay...Terri P. back with more updates from the World Dragon Boat Racing Championship here in Prague! You will hear how Team USA did today from Phil and the others, so I will tell you other stuff from the race course.

It rained last night so the athletes village area was not so great. It will be good in Tampa as we want to host the athlete village in the Tampa Convention Center. Rain will not bother us there for sure. Lots of campers too. Not sure about that. I like a shower too much. Anway, we bought the tent and stuff today, we hauled out the brochures and went to work like we always do…. Selling Tampa...and all the great things to do in Tampa Bay...not to mention the beautiful Tampa Bay weather!

It was easy really. We have a course that you can walk to. We drove one hour to get there. It is like driving to Disney for a race EVERY day. NOT! Beautiful facility but very remote. We are giving away a free paddle and a Tampa attractions package.

Don’t tell Jane Godfrey in my office because I forgot to tell her we were doing that and well, she gets stuck getting the certificates. It is hugely popular. Not as much as the beads and blinky Tampa Bay & Company pins that we are giving out. Crazy!!!

We have lots of people wanting to come in 2011. They are starting their fundraising now for the trip. We spoke with the Czechs, Hungarians, Brits, Ozzies, South Africans, Phillipeans??? What do you call one from the Phillipines except for nice of course.

There are 26 countries here and they all have very favorable things to say about coming to Tampa in 2011. We are the first city ever to pre-promote the event for the upcoming year. Okay the Russians don’t say anything because they don’t speak Czech or English. They just want blinky pins! That is okay too!

We were mobbed today. We were giving out beads and the Ozzies would only take green and gold. Go figure. Hearing ozzie, ozzie, ozzie, oy, oy, oy reminded me of being back in Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games. Very cool. How cannot you not like an Ozzie. By the way, it is not Aussie. It is Ozzie. They call it the land of Oz.

We got out of there today before it started pouring rain. Yep, packed the car of the tent, the brochures and the pins. We will set up again tomorrow. We will be out of blinky pins and beads by tomorrow if it is a day like today.

It is nice to sell Tampa to people who have never heard of our city except for dragon boat racing. Super Bowl? What is that?

Pics to follow from Christine, Kevin and the others...and don't forget you can check out more updates and all of the photos on the Tampa Bay & Company facebook page - www.facebook.com/visittampabay!

It's late, so I'm off to bed...more tomorrow!

Catching Up!

Monday, June 29, 2009 by lindsey norris

Playing catch up today after a week out of the office for business meetings and a little R&R in the islands. (If I owe you an email, it's coming...I promise!) I spent the greater part of last week attending the annual Film Florida meetings in Miami Beach. A very special thanks to our host - Miami Beach Office of Film and Event Production Management.

A large part of our annual meeting is the election of a new Board of Directors as well as new chairs for various councils. I'm proud to have been named the Chair of the Film Commissioner's Council. I will serve this post for one year and can only hope to achieve half the success of our former chair and St Pete/Clearwater Film Commissioner, Jennifer Parramore.

Along with meetings focused on legislative strategies and marketing opportunities, Film Florida hosted the 2009 Film Florida Legend Awards. The Legend Award – launched in 2006 – honors Sunshine State pioneers in the film, television and production industry. The Film Florida Legends Award is to honor those who have made a significant impact on film in Florida – whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera.

This year's honorees are William Grefe (some of you might remember meeting Bill at last year's Gasparilla International Film Festival right here in Tampa), Michelle Marx, Errol Falcon and Mike McGowan Sr (posthumously). No photos available just yet but I will get them up soon.

A quick shout out to our friends at Tigerlily Media, who were the first recipients of the Don Davis Film Finishing Fund for their documentary film, Thespians. A portion of Thespians was filled here in Tampa during the 2008 Florida State Thespian Festival at the Tampa Convention Center. TigerLily’s principals Warren Skeels and Brenda Egedy Kolb were on hand to accept the $1,500 grant to help complete the film. The award presentation was a part of the Legend Award ceremony in Miami Beach last week.

Today, we mourn the loss of Billy Mays, pitchman extroidonaire and a wonderful member of the Tampa Bay production community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

One final note - The Tampa Bay Film Commission will be closed Friday July, 3rd in observation of the 4th of July and will re-open for normal business hours on Monday July 6th.

Stay tuned for more film related Tampa Florida news!

City Bike Tampa: Urban Recreation at its Best

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 by Convention Sales

Ever wonder what the best way is to experience downtown Tampa? City Bike Tampa has got the answer for you... GET OUTSIDE!

City Bike Tampa, a brand new rental company located in downtown, offers visitors, meeting delegates and residents affordable bike, kayak, stroller and car seat rentals, along with guided bike tours and history tours. They offer hourly, daily and weekly rentals and will deliver their equipment to the convention center and area hotels at no additional cost.

City Bike Tampa is determined to deliver friendly, reliable service and a great selection of equipment to all their customers. Check out City Bike Tampa's Web site for more information on the company and to book your bike tour. Thanks for stopping by!

Hats Off to Tampa Bay Hotels & Attractions

Monday, June 22, 2009 by Convention Sales

Many of Tampa Bay's hotels and attractions have received national recognition in the past few months. The 600,000-square-foot, waterfront Tampa Convention Center received Meeting News magazine's 2008 "Top 25 Planners' Choice Award" for its excellent service and on-site staff expertise. The Four-Diamond Renaissance Tampa Hotel was named the 2008 Hotel of the Year by Marriott International, Inc. for its leadership in excellence, overall guest satisfaction and market share.

Tampa's very own Lowry Park Zoo was recognized as the nation's best zoo for kids by Parents magazine, out-ranking famous zoos in San Diego and the Bronx, just to name a few. The Florida Aquarium, located in downtown Tampa, was listed in the Top 10 U.S. aquariums by TripAdvisor.com. Tampa International Airport reported the 14th lowest average airfares in 2008 among the nation's 100 largest airports, coming in at $70 less than the national average cost for a round-trip ticket!

All of these accolades are the result of Tampa Bay's hard-working and dedicated tourism and hospitality industries. I feel lucky to be a part of it all, and I am happy that these hotels and attractions have been nationally recognized as leaders in their field. As always, thanks for reading and keep checking back for more Tampa Bay Meetings news!

The Sail Pavilion on the Riverwalk is Open to the Public

Friday, June 12, 2009 by Convention Sales

It's the moment we've all been waiting for!!! Okay, maybe not ALL of us, but I have for sure! The Sail Pavilion on the Riverwalk is now up and running and open to the public. This waterfront, open-air pavilion is located at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa Bay. The Pavilion is the perfect resting place for downtown patrons, strollers, joggers, dog-walkers, boaters, bicycle riders, meeting attendees, hotel guests and downtown visitors.

The Pavilion offers its guests refreshing drinks and cocktails, sandwiches, salads and other tasty snacks, along with great music. The new waterside attraction is also dog-friendly, offering stainless steel water dishes, complimentary dog biscuits and a full Doggie Menu so you can order a special treat for your special friend. (That just sounded so cheesy haha!) Public docking is also available for all boaters, so make a stop at the Sail Pavilion for a break during your next boating trip.

The Pavilion will have normal operating hours soon, but for this weekend it will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. I'll make sure to post the normal operating hours as soon as I get them.

Make sure to stop by if you're in the area! Thanks for reading!

The answers revealed!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Ok gang, Travis back with the answers to today's trivia question...remember that tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco are on the line. Here was today's questions -

Tampa Tourism Trivia Question - How many "breakout rooms" does the Tampa Convention Center have available, and how large is the Tampa Convention Center Ballroom?

Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco Question - How many times has Cirque du Soleil performed in Tampa?

And here are today's answers -

The Tampa Convention Center has a 36,000-sq-ft. ballroom and 36 breakout rooms

Cirque du Soleil has NEVER been to Tampa before...so this is a first!

Congrats to whoever won the tickets...we know you'll love the show. But if you didn't win, don't worry because we are doing giveaways tomorrow and Thursday too! So stay tuned. In the meantime, make sure you log on to www.cirquedusoleil.com to get all of the details about the show.

Until tomorrow, make sure you pay attention for updates about great things to do in Tampa Bay, including some great Tampa Bay entertainment.

Let the Saltimbanco giveaways begin!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Ok, Ok, Ok...here we go with the trivia question for Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco tickets! Like I said, this giveaway will be a bit more tough, but it's worth it.

AND, let's review the rules before we move forward. 1 - Answer one tourism trivia question; 2 - Answer one Cirque Du Soleil trivia question; 3 - You have to re-tweet the original tweet in order to be eligible to win; and 4 - You have to answer both questions within the same Tweet.

So, here are the two questions for today:

Tampa Tourism Trivia Question - How many "breakout rooms" does the Tampa Convention Center have available, and how large is the Tampa Convention Center Ballroom?

Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco Question - How many times has Cirque du Soleil performed in Tampa?

And there you have it...stay tuned and we'll post the answers later, but if you want to get those tickets, start researching now and be the first to retweet the post on Twitter and give correct answers to BOTH of these questions.

Make sure you log on to www.cirquedusoleil.com to get all of the details about the show. And as always, keep checking back and we'll bring you the best things to do in Tampa Bay!

FreedomFest 2009 This Weekend!

Thursday, May 21, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey Gang! Travis back with some Tampa Bay entertainment that I know you ALL will want to participate in. FreedomFest 2009 is this weekend, which will honor our heroes that serve and have sacrificed for our country. FreedomFest is the inaugural event of a planned series of Riverwalk festivals. Organized and sponsored by Friends of the Riverwalk, the goal is to program the waterfront with entertaining, seasonal celebrations, flavored by Tampa’s rich culture.

Here are the details for the event -

Organizers of FreedomFest 2009 announced details of their Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. from the Cotanchobee Ft. Brook Park Main Festival Stage along with a special Flag “Planting” Activity that will be hosted during the May 23, 24 & 25 event in downtown Tampa.

FreedomFest 2009 is presented by Friends of the Riverwalk, and will feature live music, strolling entertainment, patriotic family activities, historical tours and a host of culinary delights as the community gathers from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along the river to celebrate our liberty and the return of summer

The event will host a Flag “Planting” Activity, with Flags placed in honor of friends and family members that serve and have sacrificed for our freedom. Names will be written on the wooden staff of each flag, with flags placed along the edge of the Riverwalk from the Main Stage to Hero’s Plaza along the southern edge of Cotanchobee Ft. Brook Park.

Following a weekend of family entertainment, FreedomFest will conclude on Monday morning with a Memorial Day Ceremony on the Main Festival Stage in Cotanchobee Ft. Brook Park.

The public is invited to join Master of Ceremonies Tedd Webb, from Newsradio 970 WFLA AM, Dan Mahurin, chairman of Friends of the Riverwalk, Col. Lawrence Martin, 6th Air Mobility Wing Commander at MacDill Air Force Base, and Mayor Pam Iorio to honor and salute those who have served our country as well as remember those who have sacrificed protecting our freedom.

Saturday, May 23, 2009 – Main Stage hosted by US Country 103.5 FM

10:00 am - Sail Pavilion Ribbon Cutting – Tampa Convention Center
10:30 am - Ms. Lisa’s Dance & Co.
11:00 am - Atelier of Dance
11:30 am - Charlie Hotel
1:30 pm - The Flats
4:00 pm - One Night Rodeo

Sunday, May 24, 2009 – Hosted by Mix 100.7 FM
10:00 am - Evvie Walker, Luke Preston & Cindy Matar
11:00 am - Saint Tone
1:30 pm - Kings County
4:00 pm - Industry

And there you have it everyone. So, make sure you head out and enjoy and support this great event. And keep checking back here for more great things to do in Tampa Bay!

Memorial Day 2009 in Tampa Bay!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hello all! Whether you're a Tampa Bay resident or in town for the long weekend, we're excited to have you join us for Memorial Day! If you're looking for things to do in the area this weekend, you've come to the right place.

Beach Parties & Barbeques

-Kim Kardashian at AJA
Kick off your Memorial Day parties with this exclusive party Friday night hosted by Kim Kardashian at AJA in Channelside. Click here for limited tickets!

-Shephard's Wave Party (all weekend)
Annual party at Shephard's at 601-619 S. Gulfview Blvd. on Clearwater Beach. Live music from DJs, drink specials, and more! Entrance prices vary, $40 weekend pass.

-Seminole Hard Rock Casino party by the pool (all weekend)
Enjoy music, gambling, food, and drinks by the pool at the Hard Rock! $20 for entrance. For more info.

-Crabby Bill's Memorial Day Luau
At Crabby Bill's on the Tampa side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway on Sunday from 1pm to midnight come celebrate with drink specials & music for $20.

-Annual 97x Backyard BBQ
Featuring Spill Canvas, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Airborne Toxic Event, and others come hang out with the 97x crew and listen, eat and drink! Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg on 5th Ave. from noon til 9pm on Saturday! Tickets are $10-$15, check out the site for more info.

Family Events

-RiverWalk
Cross your fingers for nice weather and check out the Tampa Riverwalk's Memorial Day Freedom Fest sponsored by our Tampa Bay radio stations & newspapers with the family! Saturday & Sunday from 10am-6pm will have a string (literally) of family activities, food, and music as you walk from the Tamp Convention Center to the Florida Aquarium! Check out the site for more info.

-Channelside
Take the whole family to Channelside Sunday night to celebrate Memorial Day with fireworks and a street festival that begins at 7pm and lasts til 10!

-The Lowry Park Zoo is offering free admission to all military personnel and up to 3 of their direct dependents on Monday so be sure to bring the family to the Zoo!

-Memorial Service
Celebrate Memorial Day with the family at Largo Central Park for a special Sunset Memorial Service at 7pm on Friday at 101 Central Park Drive, Largo, 33771.

We'll keep you updated when we hear of more fun events for this long weekend so keep checking back!

Hangin in the Den to the Ver...

Saturday, April 25, 2009 by Convention Sales

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRR. That could sum up my trip here to Denver in one word. It's COLD!!! The city is very pretty and there are lots of bars and restaurants to choose from, so I would recommend coming here to visit, just maybe during the summer...

In case you're wondering why I'm here, I am attending the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) 2009 Global Conference & Exhibition, which will be held in Tampa Bay in 2010. I am promoting Tampa as next year's meeting location, and providing attendees with information that will help them plan their trip to Tampa. It's nice to get people excited about where the meeting will be next year, especially when it's 40 degrees and rainy outside here in Denver, and I hear it's a warm and beautiful sunny spring day in Tampa.

I've already gone through half of my travel guides and I've only been here since this morning, so it's obvious that attendees are pumped about coming to Tampa Bay. And we are happy to welcome them and show them that Tampa Bay is not only a great city for conventions, but also the only city with constant sunshine and perfect temperatures year-round.

Traveling away from home always makes me appreciate the weather that I

take for granted every day in Tampa. I'm enjoying myself in Denver so far, but I'll be happy to get home and thaw out! :)

I must say though, I've become very fond of the giant blue bear that stares into the Colorado Convention Center. He's the biggest and bluest bear I've ever seen. Kudos to the creative team at the center, what a great mascot!

Check out our Web site for more information on Tampa Bay and to plan your next meeting or vacation in our beautiful city by the bay. Thanks for stopping by!

Tampa's Convention Center Receives National Recognition

Friday, April 10, 2009 by Convention Sales

The Tampa Convention Center, located in downtown Tampa Bay, was recently received one of the hospitality industry's most pretigious awards. MeetingNews magazine awarded TCC with their 2008 "Top 25 Planners' Choice Award".

So what exactly does that mean? Well, it means that Tampa's 600,000-square-foot, waterfront convention center was acknowledged by meeting planners as one of the top 25 centers in the country for its excellent service, on-site staff expertise, and design and quality of meeting/exhibit space. Also included in the criteria are quality of food service, energy conservation programs and other green initiatives.

It is quite clear that the Tampa Convention Center is a top-notch meeting facility and the perfect choice for your next meeting or convention. Contact our Sales Department or check out TCC's Web site for more information on this one-of-a-kind convention center.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

GITA Gets Ready to Network in Tampa!

Thursday, April 9, 2009 by Convention Sales

The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is preparing for Tampa next week. I wrote about them in my blog yesterday and just found out that they are reaching out to their colleagues in a very unique way this year during their conference.

GITA announced its new Solutions Conference Social Event Networking Site, which is allowing attendees to network before, during, and after the conference. The site is an exclusive benefit for attendees of the 2009 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference, set for April 19-22, right here in in Tampa.

One of the objectives of GITA’s Conference is to connect attendees with the right contacts, technology, and education, and this new tool helps them do this more efficiently by enabling them to:

See who else is attending the conference.
Connect with and communicate with other conference attendees.
Share a personal profile with other conference attendees.
Create personalized schedules that can be printed or exported to a laptop or handheld device.
View an interactive event agenda highlighting the time and location of sessions, networking events, and other activities.
Use indoor and outdoor maps to get to know the Tampa Convention Center and the City of Tampa.

Pretty impressive! We can't wait to welcome them to Tampa next week!