Hello there! This is Megan, the "Mega-Meetings" blog writer. I am here to fill you in on all of the exciting things going on in the Tampa Bay conventions world. From social groups to large associations and corporations, Tampa Bay has been home to hundreds of national conventions.

Our top-notch hotels, spacious meeting facilities and thrilling attractions make our destination one-of-a-kind for business and leisure travel.

I'll be sure keep you posted on everything from the most recent citywide conventions to hotel and attraction openings and renovations. Also, feel free to post any questions or comments on my page.

If you'd like to stay updated and have my blogs sent to you directly, then subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking on the link to the right.

Stay tuned for some super exciting Tampa Bay meetings  &  convention news!

The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee announced on Friday, Nov. 14 that they have chosen Tampa Bay as host for the 2015 Women's Final Four Championship games! Tampa Bay was host to the 2008 tournament, which was held at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in April. The event was such a huge success that the NCAA decided to award Tampa with one of the five open years.

The other cities that were chosen for future tournaments were Denver (2012), New Orleans (2013), Nashville (2014) and Indianapolis (2016). 

Tampa Bay is looking forward to another great event in 2015... bring on the basketball madness! It seems like it's far away now, but it will be here before we know it.


Thanks for stopping by and keep checking back for more about the beautiful destination that is Tampa Bay!

Can I get a Whoop Whoop for Green hotels?!
One more of our stunning Tampa Bay hotels has dedicated their time and money to going Green. The InterContinental Tampa, Tampa's newest luxury hotel, was awarded the Florida Green Lodging Program designation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for its admirable approach to being an environmentally-conscious hotel property. 

The Green Lodging Program requires facilities to meet environmentally-friendly guidelines by increasing recycling programs, energy efficiency, water conservation, clean air practices and waste reduction. As part of this effort, all guest rooms and suites at the InterContinental are cleaned with all natural green products that are non-toxic and biodegradable, which is the best way to clean the rooms without hurting the environment.


The Green thing is really catching on, and with everyone's help, we can make a difference in the health of our environment. Keep up the good work Tampa Bay!! I want to see every hotel property go Green by the end of 2010! :)

So did the title get your attention? Well it's completely true! Tampa's premier animal attraction, Lowry Park Zoo, is in the process of adding 17,000 square feet of meeting space to their Safari Africa habitat area.

The Safari Lodge will feature two adjoining rooms, which can either be rented out together or separately depending on how much space you need for your event. The 11,000-square-foot Grand Hall is themed as an African courtyard, featuring a facade of authentic-looking hutch-style homes and a rustic tile floor. It even features a cloud and star machine that help transform the ceiling into an African night sky.

The Reilly Reserve is a 3,000-square-foot elevated annex that boasts a panoramic view of the park's African safari, home to giraffes, elephants, zebras and more. The safari will also be lit up at night, which will offer guests a breath-taking view of some stunning creatures in their authentic habitat. The patio area outside of the Reserve is also perfect for cocktail receptions before a seated dinner in the lodge, or just to use as extra space for a large banquet.

The Safari Lodge is set to be completed in early December of this year. It is going to be a sight to see and I am looking forward to being able to offer this unique meeting space to our clients.

As always, thanks for stopping by and checking out what's going on in the exciting world of Tampa Bay meetings!

One of the perks of my job is that I get to experience different restaurants and attractions first-hand in order to know the product that we promote in our community and also write about it in our sales blog and quarterly newsletter. Yesterday I got to experience something that was completely different than anything I had done with the company so far... I went on a water adventure ride!

Tampa Bay&Company staff members were invited to get an exclusive look at a brand new attraction that is now being offered to individuals and groups alike. I was one of the 15 staff members that was brave enough to face this powerful creature on the water. And I was happy that I did.

White Lightning, a new thrill ride in the form of a 1200-horse-power jet boat, is docked at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel in downtown. This boat can seat up to 42 people and is also available for charters. It would be perfect to charter a boat for a small group of attendees that want to get a unique view of the city. You get a fantastic view of downtown Tampa, the Bay, Harbour Island, the St. Pete Times Forum and much more. And it wouldn't be right to not mention how they blasted AC/DC and Bob Marley to set the mood on the way out to the open water.

I can definitely say without a doubt that this attraction is one that you cannot miss. I'm glad I took one for the team, now it's YOUR turn!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. Make sure to ask questions or make comments as you see fit. And make sure to keep coming back for more Tampa Bay meetings info!

In case you haven't heard already... THE RAYS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!

Sorry for the caps, I'm just so totally surprised and excited for our very own Rays baseball team! They beat the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, October 19, in the final playoff game at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. I'm not the biggest baseball fan by any means, but I cannot ignore the fact that this was totally unexpected.

The Rays will play their first World Series games against the Phillies tonight at the Trop, and will need to win four out of the seven games in order to win the World Series.

So you might be wondering what this has to do with Tampa Bay Conventions. The truth is, not very much. But Tampa will definitely see a jump in the economy by the end of the seven games. There will most definitely be lots of Phillies fans traveling down to cheer on their team, more people eating out and watching the games at local bars and restaurants, and quite possibly even a boost in retail sales since people are so happy about their baseball team making it this far. Okay, that last one might be stretching it a little, but you just never know...

Once again, Tampa Bay has been put on the map for major sporting events. Tampa will play host to four out of the seven World Series games (if all seven are played) and will also host Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2009. It's a big year in sports for Tampa Bay. And it just shows that our city is ready and willing to host any event, from the smallest board meeting to the largest sporting events of the year.

GO RAYS!!!! :)

I have to admit that everyone in the Sales department was a bit on edge during the last few weeks of September, as the end of our fiscal year came creeping up on us with devastating speed. But all of our hard work and dedication over the past 12 months has paid off, and we exceeded our room night goal at 106%!

Now is the time for a little pat on the back, Convention Sales! We made it! Now we can start focusing on this year's goal... :)

So I’ve been to a ton of partner events since I started here 18 months ago, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them, but the event that I went to on Tuesday, Oct. 7 was one for the memory banks. The TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, located in North Tampa, has joined forces with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to present an out-of-this-world event center.

Members of our staff were invited to a special preview event at this stunning facility, and we were all treated to a fantastic evening full of champagne and full open bar, delectable food stations, live entertainment and personal tours of the centre. I must say that this event was extremely well-planned and executed. Props to all of you at the Centre and at Busch Gardens for a job well done!

This 18,863 square foot, state-of-the-art venue features cutting edge lighting, sound, video and one-of-a-kind architecture. It really is a sight to see. The front entrance features a large brick fountain with a wall of water cascading behind it, and I can’t forget to mention the torch flames that accent the water so well. Don’t ask me how it’s done… but it is spectacular! And the ballroom reminds me of a 1920s 5-star hotel, all dark cherry wood and beautiful ceiling accents. There’s also a Show Kitchen with an open-fire pizza oven… which by the way was very tasty.

This would be the perfect place to hold any type of event. From weddings to luncheons, receptions and general sessions, the massive space would fit any occasion. Make sure to visit the facility’s Web site to get all the information you need about capacities and catering options. This is a place that you just can’t miss when you’re looking to host your event or meeting in Tampa Bay.

Having trouble deciding which company to use to plan and decorate your next event? Well I now have a company that I highly recommend... conceptBAIT. This local special event planning and design company showed off their impeccable skills at Tampa Bay & Company's Annual Luncheon last week.

The event was held at the Tampa Convention Center on September 24, and was attended by over  550 hospitality partners and members of the community. Everyone in attendance (including myself) was pleasantly surprised when they saw the colorful and festive decorations that filled the ballroom. It took a seven person team 10 hours of prep and 12 hours of setup to pull it off, and it was definitely worth it!

The 12 staff members at conceptBAIT plan and decorate between 50 and 75 events per year, from local weddings to corporate events in Hawaii. They can plan an event from start to finish or just provide the decor, whichever you prefer. They hand-make all of their decorations and floral arrangements in-house, which allows you to see all of your dreams and ideas come to life at your event.

For more information on conceptBAIT, visit their Web site and read some of their testimonials. It's obvious they aim to please... and succeed.

Thanks for reading and make sure you keep coming back for more! :)

So as I promised in August, I am writing a special event venue feature each month and September's feature is Yacht Starship Dining Cruises. In case you haven't ever heard of Yacht Starship, I'm going to give you all the facts you could ever want to know about this Tampa Bay jewel.

Whether your group requires a four-star seated dinner for up to 450 guests, a cocktail reception for up to 600 guests or a festive themed event for up to 1000 guests dockside, you're sure to find what you need aboard the Yacht Starship. Docked at the Channelside District in downtown Tampa, the 180-foot, $8 million yacht has hosted many diverse events since its first sail on the Bay in October 2001.

With the addition of Yacht Starship II in 2007, now docked near Clearwater Beach, the two luxury dining cruise ships are able to cater to clients all over the Bay area, from Tampa to St. Petersburg and even all the way down to Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Yacht Starship received AAA's Three Diamond Rating in 2005 (it was the first dining yacht in the country to receive this honor) and won the 2008 Planners Choice Award from Eventective.com, making it a true asset to Tampa Bay's convention package.

If this isn't enough information for you, check out the Yacht's comprehensive Web site, which includes group menus and pricing, capacities and much more.

Do you have a venue in mind that you would like to learn more about in Tampa Bay? Would you like to recommend next month's special event venue feature? I am always open for suggestions, so hit me up! And make sure to keep stopping by to check out all the awesome things going on in Tampa Bay's conventions world. :)

Three museums will become the newest addition to downtown Tampa by the end of 2009. Take a look at the details:

The Tampa Museum of Art is moving to a brand new 66,000-square-foot facility in downtown Tampa, overlooking the Hillsborough River. Construction will begin in the spring and is set to be completed in the fall of 2009.


The 50,000-square-foot Glazer Children's Museum, adjacent to the Tampa Museum of Art, will be a new attraction for children of all ages to learn about commerce, science and history in an exciting and educational environment.

The Tampa Bay History Center will move from its original home to a new 60,000-square-foot waterfront, "green" facility. This innovative building is the first new downtown construction to be LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The museum will have a theater, space to accommodate special events, exhibits, classrooms and a research library.

Wow, these three new museums are going to add so much to downtown Tampa's attraction package! Can you just picture the wonderful events you could hold at the stylish and contemporary Tampa Museum of Art? Or maybe a themed reception or banquet at the History Center? And all of them have waterfront views of the bay and the Garrison Channel, what more could you ask for?

Am I writing about things that you want to learn about? Tell me if there is something that I am missing. I love to write about new things going on in Tampa Bay!

Thanks for reading and make sure to keep checking back for more information on Tampa Florida attractions and Tampa Bay conventions facts!

Things have been buzzing in the office lately, with the biggest ball game in the nation just around the corner, and it's all taking place right here in sunny Tampa Bay!

The 43rd annual Super Bowl, to be held at the state-of-the-art Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2009, will draw more than 150,000 visitors to the Bay area. This will be the third time that the Super Bowl will be held in our city, and we couldn't be more excited about it.

More than 19,000 hotel rooms are booked for the week of Super Bowl and over 100 major events are expected to take place in the area. Wow, that's a lot of hotel rooms! It just proves that Tampa Bay is capable of hosting any large convention.

We've also gotten an amazing volunteer response, with more than 6,400 people already signed up for the January game. With the combined efforts of the NFL staff, international media and the many volunteers, Tampa Bay will be prepared to play host to the thousands of football fans and visitors that will descend upon the city.

Are you interested in finding out more information on events that will surround the Super Bowl? Are you traveling to Tampa for the Super Bowl and are unsure of what hotel to stay in? These are just examples of questions that I would be more than happy to help you with.

Thanks for reading and make sure to check back soon for more exciting Tampa Bay conventions and event news!

I have some spectacular news about something very special that's been going on near downtown Tampa... Tampa Bay is going to have its very own riverwalk!

The Tampa Riverwalk will be a 2.4-mile, waterside walkway comprised of shops, restaurants and various attractions. The Riverwalk will give residents and visitors a front-row seat to enjoy stunning waterfront views while allowing them to experience the history, entertainment and culture of the city.

Some segments of the linear park are already open to the public and the remaining sections will be completed throughout the next 18 months. As the Riverwalk incorporates the Tampa Convention Center, The Florida Aquarium, the Channelside Bay Plaza and downtown hotels, it will be sure to offer convention delegates a variety of things to do between meetings. 

Are you interested in finding out more about other exciting projects in downtown Tampa? There is plenty more to tell!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check back soon for more awesome Tampa Bay facts!

I decided to start a new monthly blog topic, the Special Event Feature, where I will choose one Tampa Bay special event venue to highlight and I will tell you all there is to know about the venue, meeting space, amenities and more.

This month's choice is Tampa Bay's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). This non-profit, educational facility is a museum, an event venue, a thrilling attraction for locals and visitors and so much more. MOSI is 318,000 square feet of fun, learning, excitement and thrills, with an IMAX dome theatre, numerous permanent and traveling exhibits, meeting space, gifts shops, a planetarium, cafe and more.

MOSI is the perfect choice for any special event, from weddings to welcome receptions, and any other type of event you can imagine. The building encompasses three levels of interactive exhibits and fits up to 3,500 guests receptions to special off-site meetings. The IMAX theatre seats 340 people and would be perfect for a lecture or general session. There is also an outdoor, covered observatory that could be used for receptions, banquets and presentations, and can fit 350-450 people, depending on the setup. A full-capacity rental of the entire for a reception. Click here for a full list of rental options and capacities.

With ample meeting space, on-site catering and a cool twist to your normal, everyday ballroom, MOSI can make your meeting spectacular and unforgettable.

Do you have a specific venue in mind that you would like to learn more about? Let me know and I would be happy to feature it in one of my monthly event venue posts. Thank you for reading and I hope you keep coming back for more!

Not only do I spend my time writing blog entries and trying to keep all of you informed on Tampa Bay conventions and hotel news… but I also get to write and distribute an electronic quarterly newsletter via email for the Convention Sales department, with the help of my best work bud, Heather Helton.


Since our second quarter this year (Jan-March), we have been producing one cohesive, all-inclusive sales newsletter that represents every market. Before this, each market had its own quarterly newsletter that was market-specific, and not very cohesive, if you ask me. So I decided that we should make a change. I then brought the idea of creating one solid newsletter for the entire department to the desks of the “big-wigs” in our department, and they loved it!

So here we are, with a beautifully-designed newsletter format, and a very consistent and organized message that goes out every quarter to more than 11,000 of our sales contacts, including nationwide meeting planners, executives and more.

Each newsletter includes the most pertinent and important information pertaining to Tampa Bay’s convention and meetings package. Our clients get the most up-to-date facts on hotel renovations and expansions, new attractions and restaurants, special events and much more.

The next newsletter is set to go out sometime within the next two weeks. Be on the lookout, and if you are not already on our mailing list and want to receive the newsletter, just let me know. I’d be happy to add you to the list so you can keep track of all of the amazing things going on in Tampa Bay’s convention world.

While we’re on this subject, are there any topics that you’d be interested in reading about in an upcoming newsletter or on my blog page? I am always open to suggestions.

As always, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more posts with exciting Tampa Bay news!

Seeing as how I haven’t given an update on the success of the Convention Sales Team since May, I decided to give you a little peak at our numbers to date. Since October 1, 2007, here are some of the totals that show just how hard the sales team has been working:

• Generated more than 438,800 definite room nights (a 7.2% increase from 2007).

• Secured 470 definite bookings for the Bay area (a 5.1% increase from 2007).

• Produced 2.3 million lead room nights (a 38.5% increase from 2007).

• Conducted 183 sites and familiarization trips.

Wow, these numbers are CRAZY! It just goes to show that the Convention Sales Team is working hard to bring business to Tampa Bay. They are always there for their clients’ needs, and will work long hours and weekends in order to make your meeting a hit! What else could you ask for in a CVB?

What other statistics are you interested in learning about? If I don’t have the answer already, I’d be glad to do research to answer any question you may have. Thanks again for reading and keep coming back for more awesome information about Tampa Bay and its dedicated CVB!

A brand new Tampa hotel opened its doors to tourists and business travelers on August 15th. The 90-room Comfort Suites hotel is located near the Veteran’s Expressway, which provides easy access to Tampa International Airport, the West Shore district shopping malls and restaurants and downtown Tampa. The hotel is also just a few minutes from Raymond James Stadium, making it the perfect hotel choice for Super Bowl attendees.

Hotel guests will enjoy 32-inch plasma televisions in each room, a full complimentary breakfast, free wireless high-speed internet, a full-service business center, fitness center, and a heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. What more could you want in a hotel? Oh yeah, really affordable rates… the icing on the cake in my opinion!! This hotel is definitely worth checking out.

Are you interested in learning more about a certain Tampa Bay hotel? Let me know, I would love to hear your requests and I would be glad to fill you in. As always, thanks for reading and keep coming back for more information on Tampa Bay hotels and conventions.

Just a little tid-bit for all of you out there in the traveling world…

The National Business Travel Association ranked Tampa Bay in 8th place out of the top 50 U.S. destinations for the lowest hotel occupancy tax (12% in Tampa Bay). Our beautiful waterfront city beat out Orlando, Miami, Boston, Phoenix, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego and Atlanta, just to name a few.

So if your company's budget is an issue, as it is to almost everyone these days, choose Tampa Bay as your next meeting destination for its LOW hotel occupancy tax!

Are you interested in learning about other Tampa Bay tid-bits? I would be happy to share more information upon your request, and I would love to hear from you! Thanks for reading and don’t forget to post any questions or comments that you may have for me.

The 408-room Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center set a plan in motion to add 17,500 square feet of meeting space to their already spacious and luxurious condo-style hotel. This addition will allow much larger groups to hold their meetings, conferences and events at this property, located in Tampa's West Shore district.

The brand new $10 million meeting complex will feature 16-foot ceilings, new audio-visual projection equipment, a 4,500-square-foot patio around it and a gazebo. With all of this new space, hotel management plans to be able to host conferences, meetings, weddings and parties, all under one roof. The expansion project is set to be complete by September 2009.

Mainsail Suites was designed as an extended stay hotel. All of its rooms are condominium-style and include full kitchens, living areas and separate bedrooms, but it still operates as a full-service hotel. So in my opinion, you have the best of both worlds!

Mainsail Suites is also in the perfect location for out-of-town business travelers and meeting attendees. It's within minutes from Tampa International Airport, with easy access via the Veteran's Expressway, and just as close to the West Shore district's stunning malls, massive movie theaters and excellent eateries. Meeting attendees will have plenty of activities to choose from and all of it is within minutes from their hotel room.

Do you know of any other hotels who are undergoing renovations or expansions? I would love to hear about them if you do. Thanks for reading, and keep the comments and questions coming!

Tampa Bay is growing at a faster rate than ever, with hotels popping up everywhere. Hoteliers are pushing for a January 2009 finish date in order to have their new rooms available for the 2009 Super Bowl, held at Tampa’s own Raymond James Stadium. Here are a few of the new properties that will be open in time for the Big Game:

The 122-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott Tampa Westshore was the first of the three hotels to open its doors in June of this year. This funky, fun and brightly-colored hotel has excellent rates and is centrally located, close to our International Airport, International Plaza and Bay Street and Westshore Plaza. Not to mention a full-service business center, heated outdoor pool, bar-b-que and picnic area and a 24-hour, friendly staff to assist you with all of your travel needs. This one is definitely worth checking out.
 
A 171-room Hilton Garden Inn opened its doors to the public on August 1. This modern and accommodating new hotel features a full-service, on-site restaurant, heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, state-of-the-art fitness center, complimentary wi-fi in every guest room and Garden Sleep System adjustable beds… pretty nice amenities for an affordable hotel, located right in the heart of Tampa Bay. This hotel is the perfect addition to Tampa’s hotel package.

The Homewood Suites by Hilton is the third Avion Park property that is due for completion in December, just in time for the Super Bowl. I’ll have more information on this property as we get closer to its grand opening. For more information about these three properties, visit www.mckibbon.com.


With so many new rooms popping up in town, Tampa Bay is becoming a very dynamic city with many different accommodation options for tourists and business travelers, and even residents looking for a local getaway.

Do you have any updates on new hotels, restaurants or attractions in Tampa Bay? Tell me about it, I’m always open for new topics. As always, thanks for reading and keep coming back for more Tampa Bay news.