Tampa Bay&Company is looking forward to hosting the American Composites Manufacturers Association's 2009 Convention & Trade Show this weekend. The annual tradeshow will take place at the Tampa Convention Center and meeting delegates will be staying in Tampa's downtown hotels. We are expecting up to 5,000 attendees from Saturday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 16. The estimated economic impact which is mostly from attendee spending, is expected to be around $1.8 million.





The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) represents 850 of approximately 3000 composites manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. ACMA provides a forum for the composites industry to develop and enhance shared opportunities and address common challenges. To learn more about ACMA, visit their Web site at www.ACMAnet.org. 

Thanks for reading my little Tampa Bay Meetings tid bit. I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year, and make sure to keep coming back for more info on Tampa Bay!

The 2008 United Soccer Leagues SoccerFest, which featured the Super Y-League North American Finals and the organization’s Annual General Meeting enjoyed another successful year in Tampa Bay.

The tournament came to Tampa Bay from Nov. 19-25 with more than 7,500 fans and participants.  This year’s SoccerFest produced more than 7,700 hotel room nights, which created $4 Million in Estimated Delegate Spending.  More than 130 teams, including four local teams, competed at locations across the Tampa Bay area, including Ed Radice Field and the Land O Lakes Recreation Complex. 

The United Soccer Leagues is the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America.  To learn more, visit www.uslsoccer.com.

Don't know about you guys, but this weekend I will be on hand to watch the USF Bulls take care of business this weekend against the Memphis Tigers in the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl.

I was severely hurtin last week without there being any college football played, so this will be a welcome addition to my weekend! The Bulls coming off of hard fought a 7-5 season, will look to end their season on a high note versus conference USA opposition in front of a its home fans at Tropicana Field.

If you are reading this post right now and don't already have your tickets then I am not sure what you are waiting for exactly, as tickets are a steal starting at $30 a pop.

So go out and get your tickets as it should be a great atmosphere at the Trop, and oh yeah...GO BULLS!!!

Here at Tampa Bay&Company, we always provide visitors with the best way to plan their vacations.  From things to do in Tampa Bay, where to eat, shopping in Tampa Bay,  and Tampa Bay entertainment, the Travel Planner has you covered.  

From Tampa Bay area beaches to Ybor City and the Westshore District, visitors can begin creating their own original Tampa Bay experience before their vacation starts with Tampa Bay & Company’s 2009 Travel Planner.

The newest edition of the Travel Planner is packed with information about Tampa Bay, such as how to get around, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and various area services that are available.

Whether looking for information like the best places to shop, where to experience Tampa Bay’s arts & culture or where the best golf courses are hidden, visitors can plan out their perfect itinerary before ever setting foot in Tampa Bay.

Order your copy of the 2009 Travel Planner by visiting http://brochures.visittampabay.com or by stopping by one of Tampa Bay & Company’s Visitor Information Centers located in Channelside Bay Plaza and the Tampa Convention Center.

Have fun planning your trip to Tampa and we'll see you when you get here. 

Meeting planners looking for a unique offsite activity now have one more option to choose from thanks to Magic Carpet Glide Tours. This brand new company offers tours in the downtown area that allow guests to view Tampa Bay's most breathtaking sites aboard their very own Segway.

In case you don't already know...a Segway is a single-person, self-balancing personal transporter that can cruise up to 12 miles per hour. The 90-minute tour costs a mere $50 per person and travels through some of the best site-seeing spots in Tampa Bay, including downtown, Davis and Harbour islands, along scenic Bayshore Boulevard and the Channelside District.

Visit the Web site for more details and to book your next tour. This is one activity you just don't want to miss!

Hi all. Just returned from Film Florida meetings in Jacksonville. I have to give a shout out to my friends at the Jacksonville Film and Television Commission and Liz Morgan PR for hosting a great meeting in a fine city (maybe I'm a bit biased since I grew up in that neck of the woods?).

The meetings were highly productive, focused namely on Florida's film and entertainment industry incentive. As many of you are aware, funding for the film incentive was cut by $20 million last year, leaving Florida scrambling to compete with states that offer greater incentives. It's important that we all reach out to our legislators with a unified message that explains why our incentive is so important.

Our message is simple -

OUR INDUSTRY IS A PROVEN REVENUE-ATTRACTOR; ONE THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE A PART OF ANY STIMULUS PLAN TO BRING FLORIDA OUT OF ITS ECONOMIC DECLINE.

Take action - together we can make a difference.

Log onto Film Florida now to learn more.

The newest addition to the Tampa Bay hotel package is the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, located on Kennedy Avenue, just minutes from downtown. The 221-room hotel has been completely renovated and rebranded and offers event planners over 9,000 square feet of meeting space. 
The reconstruction project includes a new ballroom and eight breakout rooms, an executive suite level and a redesigned swimming pool and whirlpool surrounded by 50 cabana suites. The full-service hotel also offers guests complimentary parking, valet parking, airport shuttle and business center, just to name a few. 

You will also have the convenience of being able to dine inside the hotel at Pergia Bistro, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Or maybe you'd like to enjoy a cocktail in the hotel's cocktail lounge. The choice is yours. 

The hotel is expected to open in spring 2009. Make sure to keep checking back for updates on the status of this hotel, plus more of the latest news on hotels and restaurants in the area.

Since December is a special month, I knew that I had to choose a very special place for my monthly feature venue. And Teatro on Seventh is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in Tampa (and I've lived here all my life!). 
Teatro on Seventh is an upscale dining facility set in the historic Centro Espanol building which was built in 1912, and is located in the heart of Ybor City. Upon entering the old brick building, you climb a magnificent marble staircase up to the second floor, through grandiose double doors and into the grand ballroom that is now Teatro on Seventh. The 7,000-square-foot ballroom is absolutely stunning, boasting original engraved tin ceilings, parquet wood floors and dramatic views of Ybor City through the floor-to-ceiling windows. 


The restaurant can be used to accommodate up to 275 guests for a seated dinner and up to 800 guests for a cocktail reception. Complete with a dance floor, this space is absolutely perfect for a dance party, wedding reception or opening night reception for your next convention. The restaurant is also open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner is served daily. 

Make sure to stop by Teatro on Seventh the next time you're in Ybor City. It's truly a dazzling sight to see, and I've heard the food is scrumptious too! 

Well its always good to see cool and interesting web site. Recently our friends over at Gameworks in Ybor City, re-did the look and feel of their website to reflect a more user friendly experience.

After browsing around a bit, it just seems to flow allot better with a more concise delivery of the content and good incorporation of flash to give you that sleek gun metal look and feel. Whether you are looking to log on and plan that Tampa Bay Meeting at Gameworks, or you just want to plan your kids birthday party, you can set it all up on the new site.

Those guys didnt stop at the actual re-design either, as  they decided to upgrade the menu! That is pretty amazing when you consider that the food was already slammin, so I am looking forward to getting over there and testing out that menu personally!

The coolest feature is the holiday section. Here you can create a holiday card, get a gameworks coupon, or enter to win great prizes. So Kudos to the Gameworks crew for putting it together and be sure to check it out online and be sure to stop by and let the games begin!

Tampa Bay is continuing to grow as a prime destination for meetings and conventions, and it shows in how many diverse meetings we have booked over the past year. Let's take a look back and see some of the successes of the year:
BICSI, a Telecommunications Association awarded Tampa with their January 2013 Winter Conference, which will be attended by over 1,700 delegates. This meeting is expected to create $1.5 million in delegate spending.

The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AEAONMS) will hold its National Convention in Tampa in August 2010. The convention is expected to see 15,000 attendees and create more than $11 million in delegate spending.

The U.S. Soccer Federation's CONCACAF Men's U-23 Championships was held in Tampa in March of this year, bringing more than 10,000 attendees to the Bay area and bringing in more than $700,000 in economic impact.

As you can see, Tampa Bay is becoming one of the top choices for meeting destinations. From the corporate world, to religious groups, to sporting events, Tampa Bay is the place to pick!

As always, thanks for stopping by and make sure to keep checking back for more hot news and tid bits about this fantastic city I call home.

Ok, I am about to provide a list of things to do in Tampa Bay that is unlike anything you have seen. 

First, let me tell you that tickets are still available to the 2008 ACC Football Championship, which takes place this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.  And, let me tell you that you won’t find a better deal for a weekend full of entertainment and excitement! 

With the 48-hour celebration of ACC football this weekend, it’s time to start planning out your Championship itinerary.  Here are just some of the highlights of the weekend’s festivities  and Tampa Bay area events for the Tampa Bay community to participate in:

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008
7 p.m. to 12 a.m. – Channelside’s Toast to the Atlantic Coast, presented by EA Sports. It all takes place at the Channelside Bay Plaza Courtyard.  The Toast to the Atlantic Coast is the biggest downtown party happening during Championship Weekend. Splitsville is a concept host for the fan-filled event that will include school bands and cheerleaders, and much more. 

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. –  ACC FanFest: It all happens at Raymond James Stadium - Lot 6D.  ACC FanFest is the biggest party during the 48-hour celebration of ACC football. There will be over 200,000 square feet of interactive games, team mascots, pep rallies, food and beverage, autograph signings, game merchandise, jumbotrons and general family fun. All of the excitement is presented by ACC Corporate Partners.

10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Atlantic Division Pep Rally at the ACC FanFest.  Atlantic Coast Conference football fans can come out and help root their team on to victory during the Atlantic Division Pep Rally. 

10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Coastal Division Pep Rally at the ACC FanFest.  Immediately following the Atlantic Division Pep Rally, fans can come out and help root the Coastal Division team on to victory during the Coastal Division Pep Rally. 
11:30 a.m. – ACC Mascots Game at the ACC FanFest.  Following the Pep Rallies for the Atlantic Division and Coastal Division teams, attendees will witness one of the marquee events during the 48-hour ACC celebration.  The ACC Mascots Game brings mascots from all 12 schools together for hard- (or soft-) hitting fun. 

The game starts at 1pm, so make sure you come out and see Boston College and Virginia Tech go head-to-head to see who will wear the ACC crown!  And like I said, you can still purchase tickets to the game!!!! 

If all of that isn't the best Tampa Bay entertainment you've ever seen, then I challenge you to come out and participate and I bet you'll change your mind.  With all of this going on, you’ll definitely want to come out and get involved.  For what to do and to learn more about the ACC Football Championship weekend AND for tickets, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com. 

See you out there!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was spent in my hometown of Saint Augustine with family and friends. So much to be thankful for!

Lots going on this time of year...

The next Tampa Film Review is happening on Friday, December 12th at 8pm at Romeo's Studio at 1515 7th Ave in Ybor City. The Film Review happens on the 2nd Friday of every month.

Got used production equipment you've been meaning to toss out? At the next Media Professionals of Florida Meeting on Wednesday, December 3, 2008  at 6pm you can do just that. This is the place to bring used equipment that you no longer need and it is the ideal place to find that right piece of equipment to complete your suite!  Join MPFI at the Jan K Platt Regional Library 3910 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa. For further details click here.

The Florida Motion Picture and Teleivsion Assocation Tampa Chapter will hold it's annual Christmas party on December 16th. For more information on FMPTA please visit www.fmptatampa.org.

I'm headed to Jacksonville next week for the quarterly Film Florida meeting. As we beef up our legislative efforts, your involvement in this organization is vital to the future sucess of Florida's production industry. If you're interested in learning more about Film Florida please click here.

Only a two and half weeks until our next big holiday break. Where does the time go?

Ok, just so you know I’m not crazy, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum&Bailey® circus just arrived in Tampa for its Winter Quarters (the time where they start practicing for their world debut at Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum in January). 

And to celebrate the holidays, the Ringling Bros. world-famous elephants will partake in their own pachyderm Thanksgiving brunch at the Florida State Fairgrounds on Thanksgiving Day!  At 10 a.m. the elephants will feast on bread cornucopias and other Thanksgiving Day provisions. 

Now, if you have never been to a Ringling Bros. elephant brunch before, I highly recommend making your way out to the Fairgrounds on Thursday morning.  This is a sight that you’ll want to see.  As for as Tampa Bay dining goes, this is a meeting of the pachydermy minds that you can't miss!  I have been every year for the past 5 years…and I’ll be out there Thursday too! 

And don’t forget, from Jan. 7-11, 2009, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will present ZING ZANG ZOOMSM, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.  For show times and ticket information visit www.ringling.com. 

As always, keep checking back here for more things to do in Tampa Bay, and other awesome Tampa Bay area events. 

I recently had the pleasure of dining at one of Tampa's top restaurants, a hidden treasure that is well known by food and wine connoisseurs and fine diners in the Bay area. Mise en Place, a true Tampa Bay jewel, started as a modest, six-table catering shop run by Mary Ann Ferenc and Marty Blitz. It then grew into what it is today, a renowned fine dining establishment with full event planning services for both in-house and off-premise events.

My personal experience at Mise en Place was amazing. I ordered the roasted duck with lemongrass cashew jasmine rice (amazing by the way, best rice I've ever had), ginger chili sauteed baby bokchoy, pineapple daikon kimchee with red curry coconut sauce.

The description alone is what caught my eye, but the taste of this dish was better than I could have imagined. I also got the chance to try something that I've always wanted to try... fried green tomatoes. The fried green tomato salad featured jumpo lump crab, arugula salad, buttermilk chive vinaigrette and piquillo pepper oil. It was absolutely marvelous.

The food was outstanding, but on top of that, the atmosphere was exquisite and charming. The decor was beautiful and classy, with dim, intimate lighting that would play well for a reception, cocktail party or even board meeting. The Lafayatte Room seats 80 people in rounds and 150 people for a cocktail reception. And there is also the Minaret Room that seats up to 30 people for a smaller, more intimate event.

With full event planning services and catering combined with a lavish and contemporary decor, Mise en Place is definitely a unique venue choice, and very much deserves to be on my list of feature Tampa Bay venues.

Thanks again for stopping by and make sure to keep checking back for more hot topics on Tampa Bay Meetings!

That’s right!  After months of effort and planning, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee has chosen to host the 2015 Women’s Final Four Championship in Tampa Bay!  The Women’s Final Four rolled through Tampa Bay this past April, and to say it was a success wouldn’t do it justice. 

No matter who you are, or where you worked, this past April you absolutely KNEW that the NCAA Women’s Final Four was here.  This one single tournament has an estimated Direct Economic Impact of more than $19 MILLION. 

That means, whether it’s an attraction, a restaurant, or a hotel…or even if you were just having your meeting or convention in the area, then this event had an impact on you. 

From the Westshore District to Ybor City and throughout Tampa Bay, there were Women’s Final Four activities going on everywhere.  As far as things to do in Tampa Bay were concerned, this topped the list.  And now we can look forward to its return in 2015. 

The NCAA also chose host cities for 2012-16, which were: 2012 – Denver, Colo.; 2013 – New Orleans, La.; 2014 – Nashville, Tenn.; 2015 – Tampa Bay, Fla.; 2016 – Indianapolis, Ind. 

Check out some more information here – Women’s Final Four in Tampa Bay.

Were you here for the last Women’s Final Four, or have you attended the event elsewhere?  Drop a line and tell us about it.  

Until next time, keep checking back here for the latest on Tampa Bay area events.  From attractions to hotel updates and even Tampa Bay emergency information, we’ll have it ready for you. 

Are you ready for some USL SoccerFest!  November 20-25^th marks this year’s third annual USL Soccer Fest in Tampa.  This annual event is hosted together by USL and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.  This year’s annual event consists of a five day Super Y-League North American Finals, a five-a-side frenzy, a three day USL Annual General Meeting and various festivities throughout. 

Soccer matches will be played at Ed Radice Sports Complex along with the Land O’Lakes Recreation Center.  Watch as over 130 youth soccer teams from North America battle it out for their chance at a league championship. 

The USL Annual General Meeting is a three day meeting which will be held at the host hotel in the Grand Hyatt.  This meeting consists of over 300 plus soccer coaches, franchises, and team owners discussing important issues facing the USL community.  During the AGM, there will also be numerous seminars and expos on how to improve and build up individual USL organizations.

Another great example of a  great sports event here in the bay area!  Be sure to check out all the games and  enjoy Tampa Bay in your downtime!

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! :)

Let's go OutBack tonight! Hola internet peoples, Jerm here with a partner website update for ya! As we draw ever so near to the end of the college football season, and the numerous New year's day bowl games, fans of the SEC and Big Ten, should pay close attention to www.OutBackBowl.com to see if their respective hometown teams will be making plane trips to Tampa Bay. 
The Outback Bowl is Tampa Bay's New Year's Day college football game matching teams from the SEC and Big Ten Conference (3rd pick from each).  If the season were to end today, it looks like we would see an Ohio State vs Georgia matchup which would be an awesome matchup and sure to draw a sellout crowd. You never know though, as this college football season has provided one surprise upset after another so you can never be to sure!

If you are wondering if your team will make it to Tampa for the game then I suggest bookmarking this site, as the team announcement is most likely to break at this website first!

In addition to team announcements as far as who will be playing in the game, you can expect to find information on fan housing, tailgate parties, hotels, things to do, and schedules of game week events!

Be sure to log on and check it out!

So, lets say for instance you came to Tampa on vacation or for a meeting and wanted to stop by our retail center in Channelside to pick up a few souvenir items. Ya know, so you can take something back to the family as a memento. Somehow, though you had a brainfart (as I often do) and realize that your plane is leaving in an hour and you have to hightail it to the airport!

Well have no fear... the online retail store is here! Today is the official launch of our retail store in an online format just for that occasion when you lose track of time, or just can't make it here and want some "Tampa Gear". Log on to our site at www.VisitTampaBay.com/Store, and browse around our selection of apparel, merchandise, gift packages, and spa products and have a little piece of our great destination delivered to your door.

This selection of merchandise is hand picked from our physical retail center and is ready to supply you with Tampa Bay themed: playing cards, golf balls, plush toys, baby-wear, and other collectible items. We ship anywhere in the continental US, but at present will not be able to ship internationally.

We are all crazy excited to have gotten this one off the ground so thanks to the team around here for helping me put it together, and be sure to check it out and feel free to order away.

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!