Super Bowl in Tampa Bay

Score A Touchdown With the InterContinental Tampa!

Monday, August 23, 2010 by jeremy fairley

Hello everyone! I know you guys are as excited about the upcoming football season as I am here, and apparently so are our friends over at the InterContinental Tampa!

Football Frenzy in the Westshore District!

Football fans are in a frenzy over InterContinental Tampa’s “Touchdown in Tampa” package. Starting at just $144*, fans can get in on the action with one-night accommodations just minutes from Raymond James Stadium.

To sweeten the deal up a bit more, a Shula’s Steak House mug will also be included that can be taken down to the lobby’s “No Name Lounge” for one free domestic beer during the stay.

The package also includes a game-ready “snack pack,” including a take-home cooler, soda, water, chips, popcorn, pretzels and M&M’s, sunscreen and a disposable camera to capture the memories. Now folk's this is a deal if I have ever seen one!

To view a complete Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule, please visit www.buccaneers.com. For the University of South Florida Bulls football schedule, please visit www.gousfbulls.com.

“Touchdown in Tampa” is available weekends-only (Thur.-Sun.) from Aug.20-Dec.30, 2010. Stay tuned for more Tampa Bay hotel updates and things to do in Tampa Bay!

Deion Sanders Poker Tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hey Tampa Bay, Alex here to tell all of you poker players about the Deion Sanders Poker Tournament coming to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino this Thursday, August 5, 2010.

Deion Sanders, a former NFL cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, Florida State University athletic legend and NFL Network sports commentator is hosting a NO Limit Texas Hold ‘em single table tournament, with a prize package totaling $2,000 on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 9p.m. – Limited media red carpet interviews from 8:30-9p.m.

All participants will receive a football autographed by Sanders. Seats are now on sale for $250 buy in, at Seminole Hard Rock Casino Poker Room. You must be 18 years or older with proper ID to play.

Prizes include: $1,000 for first place winner, $600 for second place, and $400 for third place.

Check back often for more information on Tampa Bay area events events and Tampa Bay entertainment hotspots!

Things to do this weekend July 30 - August 1...

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hello Tampa Bay, It’s Jodi with a list of fun things to do in Tampa Bay related activities for you this weekend!

For all my Harry Potter fans, The John F. Germany Public Library is hosting Harry Potter Friday Movie Madness. They will be showing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at 1pm. This is the perfect way to get your kids out of the heat and maybe interested in books. The movie is free and while you’re there make sure you get or renew your library card. Not only are library cards free but they open up a whole new world of literature to you and your family and sharing books is the eco-friendly thing to do. The John F. Germany Public Library is located at 900 N. Ashley Drive in Downtown Tampa.

Looking for an evening of Art and culture while giving back? You’re in luck because Art in the PARC returns on Friday to Downtown St. Pete with its annual benefit. Starting at 5:30pm, Art in the PARC offers hors d’oeurves, drinks and music along with an art show and sale created by the PARC artists, all of whom have developmental disabilities. All the proceeds of the event go to help local artists with developmental disabilities like the ones featured in the show. Art in the PARC is hosted by Synovus Bank and is located at 333 Third Ave. N, St. Petersburg FL 33701.

Soccer fans can meet Rowdy and World Cup Player, Jeremy Christie at SideBern’s. Christie will sign autographs and be available for photos at this Meet & Greet. Starting at 5:30 pm on Friday, Light Appetizers and New Zealand Wines will be served as you mix and mingle with Jeremy Christie and other Tampa Bay Soccer Fans. $25 gets you in to meet Jeremy Christie along with the wine tasting and food samples. SideBern’s is located at 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa FL 33606

Surreal Fridays at the Dali Museum, are a great way to take in great art, culture, and cuisine. The Dali Jazz Nights offer complimentary tapas, along with a cash bar, cigar bar and great music. Scheduled for this Friday is The Treble Clefs with Big Band swing. The event starts at 5:30pm and is free with museum admission ($8.50, half off regular admission after 5pm). The Dali Museum is located at 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg, 33707.

On Saturday, bring your family and friends down to the St. Pete Times Forum for a wild, wacky and weird benefit for the families of the two slain Tampa Police officers, David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab. Up to 64 teams of six players will go head to head in a Dodgeball Tournament. Team registration is $120 and spectators are free. Donation collections and raffles will be held on the concourse of the Forum during the benefit. Get some of your friends together to form a team or bring the whole gang to the Forum to watch what will surely be a fun event. The Benefit starts at 11am at the St Pete Times Forum (401 Channelside Drive, Tampa FL 33602).

Another fun event that benefits the families of the two slain Tampa Police officers will be held at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. The main event will be America’s Finest v. America’s Bravest Hockey match that will pit Tampa Bay Area firefighters against Tampa Bay Area police in what will surely be a rough and tumble, family-friendly face-off. There will also be a firefighter v. police football match, a board breaking competition by Six “R” Martial Arts, along with a car wash, dunk tank, face painting, firetruck display, and special appearances by Olympic Figure skaters Mark Ladwig, Amanda Evora, Jeremy Barrett and possibly Caydee Denney. This is definitely an event to bring the whole family to. Puck drops at 2pm for the hockey match. A $5 donation for the hockey is requested (any amount is appreciated); donations may be requested for other activities as well. So make it down to the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex at 5309 29th St. E, Ellenton, 34222.

At Tropicana Field, your Tampa Bay Rays take on their division rivals, the New York Yankees. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:10pm on Friday. The Rays are two games behind the Yanks, and with home field advantage, we might see the Rays get back to the top of the AL East. Arrive early for a Los Rays limited edition T-shirt giveaway (first 10,000 fans), and stay after what is sure to be a great game for a Summer Concert Series performance by Los Lobos. Ticket prices vary depending on seat and section and special concert packages give you field access when the band comes out. The Trop is located at 1 Stadium Drive, St. Petersburg FL 33705.

Tampa Taiko will host a Taiko Workshop and Demonstration at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center on Saturday starting at 2pm. Taiko is a traditional musical style of Japan, known for its dramatic, rhythmic drumming. The interactive program will feature a performance along with a history of Taiko, a drum-making class, and Taiko drumming class. The workshop is open to all ages and all levels of musical experience, but class size is limited to 30. The workshop will be $10 per person and you can call to get more information or register at (727) 942-5605. The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center is located at 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs FL 34689.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County is hosting an Open House on Saturday to showcase their latest efforts in Green Housing. From 10am to 3pm, Pinellas’s first Green subdivision will welcome visitors to tour one of the LEED certified townhomes and learn about Habitat for Humanity and how to make their homes more energy-efficient. Volunteers and homeowners are always needed at Habitat. The Free Open House is located at 501 Howell Street, Dunedin, FL 34698 and more information on Habitat for Humanity can be found at www.habitat.org.

On Sunday, bring your furry best friend to Dunedin Brewery for a Doggie Spa Day. Every month, Dunedin Doggie Rescue holds a dog wash fundraiser where you can get Rover bathed, his ears washed, and his nails trimmed. Volunteer dog groomers will make sure Fido is clean and happy. Meanwhile, you can enjoy live music, check out Doggie Depot, meet other dog lovers, and learn about Dunedin Doggie Rescue. Washes are $6-$12 depending on dog size, nail trims are $7, Ear Cleanings run at $3 and for every dog wash, the owner receives a free Dunedin Brew. So bring your leashed dog out for a fun Sunday at Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin FL 34698.

That's it for now, but be sure to check back often for updates on Tampa Bay area events!

Tampa Bay Storm Regular Season Finale Giveaway Tomorrow!!!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hello there football fans! I am back with yet another Tampa Bay Storm Football update, and this time, I got something cool to give away!

Next Saturday night marks the end of the regular season for your Tampa Bay Storm, as they look to take don our in-state/I4 corridor rival the Orlando Predators! As always, your boy Jerm is going to hook someone up for what I am sure will be a hard fought victory for the Storm Crew!

I have two pairs of tickets to giveaway tomorrow so I suggest you had better be paying attention tomorrow around 1pm as I will have some Storm related trivia questions for you if you want to win those tickets!

The trivia format will be the same as always with the first ten people being entered into the drawing, and I will pick two winners!

That's all i got for now, but stay tuned for tomorrow and in the mean time enjoy the video below with some highlights from the most recent game!

Check back soon for Tampa Bay Sports updates and more fun things to do in Tampa Bay!

Tampa Bay Storm Football and Miller Coors Beer Tasting This Weekend...

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hello there football fans! Jerm here with an update on your Tampa Bay Storm and a cool Tampa Bay Sports pre-game event going on this Saturday!

If you didn't already know, our Tampa Bay Storm are kicking some serious tail this year! With a 10-4 record going into this weekends match with the Alabama Vipers, with an opportunity to go atop the American Conference South standings with a win!

The last time the Storm faced the Vipers, it was a hard fought 61-55 victory last month on he Vipers home turf, so it should be another hard fought match-up!

I don't know about you guys but just the football aspect of it alone has me excited, and when you throw in some beer tasting, I know that has to get the rest of you up in arms as well! Yeah you heard it right folks, Beer Tasting at the St Pete Times Forum!

Your Tampa Bay Storm and 97X invite you to a special Miller Coors Beer Tasting on the West Plaza of the St. Pete Times Forum prior to the game on Saturday, July 24 from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Here are some quick details and what you can expect:

Sample craft and specialty beers from our friends at MillerCoors!
$15 gets you a general admission ticket to the game, plus admission to the 2-hour pregame beer tasting.
$25 gets you a lower level end-zone ticket to the game, plus admission to the 2-hour pregame beer tasting.
If you’ve already got a ticket to the game – don’t miss out on the fun! Get your admission to the beer tasting for only $10!

To purchase your tickets, fill out at http://www.tampabaystorm.com/beer-tasting/! That's it for now folks, be be sure to check back in a little while as I will have more info on a Storm ticket giveaway going on tomorrow! Keep checking back for info on great Tampa Bay area events and things to do in Tampa Bay!

Shula’s Steak House Hosts “Ladies Chalk Talk II” for Charity!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hello there again folks.. Julian here with more great stuff to do for you guys: Shula’s Steak House and InterContinental Tampa are inviting women to huddle up for an evening of great food, drinks and some Football 101 fun – all for a wonderful cause. Derrick Brooks – former linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – and Ian Beckles – former Buccaneer and current host of the “Ron & Ian” show on 620 WDAE The Sports Animal – will spend the evening “coaching” guests through the ins and outs of the game. This year, they will be joined by Darek Sharp, also of 620 WDAE The Sports Animal, to break down the game of Fantasy Football.

The evening’s culinary line-up includes lobster bisque, tomato mozzarella salad, beef tips and Shula’s famous BBQ shrimp, as well as specialty cocktails. Shula’s will heat up the game with an exciting raffle offering prizes ranging from vacation getaways to spa treatments.

All profits from the ladies-only event will benefit Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc., whose mission is to provide educational opportunities for socio-economically challenged youth that will instill, inspire, broaden, and develop cultural and social vision outside of the walls in which they live to ensure that they have every chance to develop into the strong and productive leaders of tomorrow.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 4, 6-8:30 p.m.

COST: $50 per person in advance, $60 at the door – all profits from the event and all proceeds from the raffle with benefit Derrick Brooks Charities.

WHERE: Shula’s Steak House at the InterContinental Tampa, 4860 West Kennedy Drive, Tampa, FL 33609, (813) 286-4366

RESERVATIONS: To join the team, please contact Diane Neri at (813) 639-4125 or via email at dneri@intercontampa.com. For additional information, please call (813) 318-9611 or contact via email at kelly@hayworthcreative.com.

Always check back here soon, and I'll keep you up-to-date with Tampa Bay area events and fun things to do in Tampa Bay!

Ladies.. head over to Shula's on August 4, for some food, drinks and football 101!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hey Tampa Bay.. Alex here to inform all of the ladies in the area about Ladies Chalk Talk 2. Ladies, are you interested in learning a little about the game of football? Well if so, who better to learn from then a couple former NFL players and sports broadcasters.

Shula’s Steak House and InterContinental Tampa are inviting women to huddle up for an
evening of great food, drinks and some Football 101 fun – all for a wonderful cause. Derrick
Brooks and Ian Beckles – former Buccaneers and the current host of the “Ron & Ian” show on 620 WDAE The Sports Animal – will spend the evening “coaching” guests through the ins and outs of the game. This year, they will be joined by Darek Sharp, also of 620 WDAE The Sports Animal, to break down the game of Fantasy Football.

The dinner menu will include lobster bisque, tomato mozzarella salad, beef tips and
Shula’s famous BBQ shrimp, as well as specialty cocktails.

Throughout the night Shula's will host an exciting raffle offering prizes ranging from vacation
getaways to spa treatments.

The event will cost $50 per person in advance, $60 at the door – all profits from the event and all proceeds from the raffle with benefit Derrick Brooks Charities- whose mission is to provide educational opportunities for socio-economically challenged youth that will instill, inspire, broaden, and develop cultural and social vision outside of the walls in which they live to ensure that they have every chance to develop into the strong and productive leaders of tomorrow.

So ladies grab your friends and head over to Shula’s Steak House and InterContinental Tampa on Wednesday, August 4th from 6- 8:30 p.m. for a girls night out.

Check back often for more events happening at local Tampa Bay dining spots and Tampa Bay Hotels.

Martinis for Moffitt!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey Tampa Bay... Julian back here with a great event that you should consider to attend: As you probably know, Moffitt Cancer Center has been running a fund raising event called Martinis for Moffitt for the past few years. It is once again right around the corner, and I hope you will be able to attend and/or help spread the word a bit. The event is: July 16th from 7-11pm, at Raymond James Stadium - East Club Level.

The money raised at this year's event will benefit The Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration. Partnering with this cause within Moffitt is extremely exciting, as our funds will directly impact the hiring of a researcher who's sole purpose is to find alternative treatments for late stage prostate cancer. Tickets are on sale now and as usual selling quickly. They can be purchased online here: www.martinisformoffitt.com/tickets.html

You ticket includes the following: Free Tito's Vodka Martini’s, Miller & Yuengling Beer, and Barefoot Wine; Free Food (Passed Appetizers, Carving Station & Desserts); and Live Entertainment (DJ Fresh and A Jazz Trio)! Special Guests include Jack Harris (970 WFLA), Heather Van Nest (10 Connects), and Reginald Roundtree (10 Connects). There will also be a Silent Auction & Networking at Raymond James Stadium with over 600 Bay Area Professionals.

When you purchase your ticket, it will be sent right to your email for you to print out and bring to the event. Go online and purchase your tickets today before we sell out: www.martinisformoffitt.com/tickets.html

I hope to see you there! Check back soon for more info on Tampa Bay Events, Tampa Bay Resorts & Tampa Bay Evacuations.

Our GRAND Partners..

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by Partner Pulse

Tampa Bay & Company is really fortunate to have such amazing partners involved with our organization. We are constantly receiving emails and letters regarding our partners and their accomplishments, etc. We are all so proud of all of our partners and continue to wish them all much success in the future! With that said, I should probably mention a few of those outstanding partners I just mentioned, right? Okay...

So I recently attended the MPI [Meeting Professionals International] Tampa Bay

Area Chapter's Annual Awards Gala at Busch Gardens, which was an incredible evening. First of all, we were able to park right next to the entrance...how often does that happen at a theme park? That's right...hardly ever! So that put me in a good mood right away then we received a nice, cold beer with a koozie, jumped on the back of a truck and took a ride through their Serengeti safari and saw zebras, ostriches, giraffes, elephants, etc. Thinking the night couldn't get any better, we went into the Crown Colony room for some entertainment from the Men of Note and excellent food! The end of MPI's fiscal year = awards!

Grand Events of Florida, AVI-SPL, A La Carte Event Pavilion, The Lake Center, Hyatt Regency Tampa, Dorene Collier's Event Show Productions, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Panache Party Rentals & Visit Florida (all partners of ours, of course) were nominated as Sponsor of the Year (Large Category with $4500+ in donations). The chosen sponsor was Grand Events of Florida - one of first members! Congrats to you all and thanks for your continued support of the meetings & hospitality industry.

Christie's Photography, The Melting Pot, Tampa Bay History Center, Levy Restaurants at Raymond James Stadium, Panache Party Rentals, Exhibit Services & conceptBAIT were all nominated for the Sponsor of the Year in the small category of $1,000-$4,500 for the year. And the winner was...Christie's Photography! Way to go!

On an individual level, one of our favorite partners and just a truly genuine, determined person won the Meeting Professional of the Year award. This award is quite an accomplishment and we were so glad Lovelynn Jensen with Grand Events of Florida received this well-deserved award. Carol Eaves (Destination Tampa Bay), Felicia Bettini (el-j Productions), Devon Murray (A La Carte Event Pavilion), and Gina Thiemann (Florida Destinations & Incentives), also Tampa Bay & Company favorites, were all nomited for the Volunteer of the Year award for their hard work and dedication to MPI.

We are so proud of all of our partners and look forward to growing all of these wonderful relationships! Thanks and stay tuned in for more updates from your partnership Tampa Bay team!

A New Piece of the Puzzle at the New Wyndham Hotel in Tampa …

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 by Convention Sales

If you are in Tampa for business, leisure or both, discover the stunning new transition that’s both Wonderfully Wyndham and Quintessentially Quorom .

What was formerly known as the Quorum Hotel is now the Wyndham Tampa Westshore!

This premiere hotel offers 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 272 spacious guest rooms, four junior suites and two executive suites and an executive club level, is just two miles from Tampa International Airport and Raymond James Stadium and positioned directly between two of Tampa’s largest shopping malls, many fabulous restaurants & entertainment venues all within walking distance.

For your added convenience, the Wyndham provides complimentary shuttle service to the airport and to all Tampa attractions within a three-mile radius of the hotel and is easily accessible to other major venues such as the Tampa Convention Center, Old Hyde Park, Busch Gardens, Ybor City via Interstate 275.

At the Wyndham Tampa Westshore there’s daily innovative evenings; with interactive entertainment & exhibits

Take advantage of the Wyndham Tampa Bay Meetings Incentive Specials

20% Discount on Government meetings
25 % off when you plan your meeting
Book your meeting today and receive a $250 gift card
Wyndham Reward Points

So don’t delay booking your next meeting in Tampa at the Wyndham
Visit the website at www.wyndhamhoteltampa.com

Jerm's Favorite IPhone Apps for 2010 FIFA World Cup Matches... #GoUSABid #Tampa #WorldCup

Monday, June 7, 2010 by jeremy fairley

Oh boy! The moment we soccer fans have all been waiting for is almost upon us! Yup you guessed it, as I am referring to the kickoff of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa!

Jerm here as I wanted to do a quick little blog post to talk about 3 of the coolest Iphone apps to help keep you up to date on all of the scores and news with regards to your host country or whichever teams you are following. Now there are plenty of apps out there you can check out, but I have tried these three out and they are the best to me:

AP 2010 World Cup Coverage - News and the Associated Press go hand in hand, so this one was a given. With personalize able skins, up to the minute updates from 100+ journalists from around the world, and language controls, you can't go wrong with this.

ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup - My favorite app of these three. There is a free version as well as a paid, and I opted for the extra $5 to have all of the bells and whistles, and believe me there are plenty of those!

FOX Soccer - Another app filled with news, roster updates, and plenty of things to keep you in the loop as you try to stay up to date with the tournament

Now myself personally, I try and go into every tournament with at least three teams that I am supporting:

United States of America - Okay, like you didn't see this one coming! Of course I gotta root for the home team baby! Feeling really good with this years tournament and the guys we have on the roster.
Netherlands - How can you not root for "Total Football" and the dutch attack! Any team with Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder potentially all on the field at once is going to have a great chance to lift the trophy!
Spain - Defending 2008 European Champions Spain are easily the deepest team in the tournament in Jerm's opinion. Anytime you have Cesc Fabregas and Jose "Pepe" Reina coming off of the bench for you, that might be an indicator of how powerful your team is.

Well there you have it folks, Jerm's favorite apps along with his pick of teams he'll be following during the tournament. Who are you picking to go far in this years tourney?

Also be sure to support the United States 2018 World Cup Bid as well as our 2022 World Cup Bid by visiting the USA Bid Committee website at www.GoUSABid.com/TampaBay!

The Great Getaway at The Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport...

Thursday, May 20, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Hey guys! Jerm here with a great deal for you over in the Westshore District at one of our awesome hotels!

Summer is a season to escape and Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport just made your getaway 30% more likely. Enjoy 30% off our Bed and Breakfast rates when you book before July 15, 2010 and stay between May 28 and September 6, 2010.

Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport is close to everything that you’re looking for in Tampa Bay! This newly renovated hotel is just minutes from all Tampa Florida attractions, including Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Port of Tampa, Raymond James Stadium and award-winning Gulf Beaches.

Special Offer Dates:

May. 10, 2010 - Jul. 15, 2010

Book a room this summer and get 30% off and a mouthwatering Doubletree breakfast.

Enjoy the same Doubletree standard of service:
• Sweet Dreams® bed
• Famous chocolate chip cookies at check-in
• If you are a Hilton HHonors® member you'll earn points for your stay. Not a member? Join today.

Book your Great Getaway at Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport today.

Subject to availability at participating hotels worldwide. Book between May 10, 2010 and July 15, 2010 and stay between May 28, 2010 and September 6, 2010. Full non-refundable payment required at time of booking. Must book at least seven (7) days in advance of arrival. Discount relates to the Best Available Bed and Breakfast Rate. Other restrictions apply.

National Tourism Week A Success!

Monday, May 17, 2010 by Partner Pulse

Tampa Bay & Company celebrated National Tourism Week last week with several events in the area. May 8-16 was annually recognized as National Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984 by US Travel Association. Cities, states and travel businesses nationwide host localized events to champion the power and economic impact of travel on local communities. AAA Travel sponsors Tampa Bay's National Tourism Week events each year - thanks AAA!

Tampa Bay & Company hosted our National Tourism Week Luncheon on May 11th, at A La Carte Event Pavilion. With nearly 500 guests in attendance, we had a great time watching entertainment from Dorene Collier's Event Show Productions, including Belinda Womack singing the National Anthem! We even had guests from the audience storm the stage and dance with some of the performers - very fun to watch! We also recognized staff from the Tampa Police Department for their hard work during our Republican National Convention Site Visit.

Bryan Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was there to present Bob Basham, with OSI, with our Gonzmart Family Ambassador of the Year Award. Bob along with Chris Sullivan started Outback Steakhouse and is dedicated to giving back the community.

Six front-line, hospitality employees were recognized and awarded the Bern Laxer Award of Excellence for their exemplary service to visitors and guests. Mayor Pam Iorio and Commissioner Ken Hagan were able to join us and speak at the luncheon. Bill Ratliff was our emcee who recognized other elected officials who were in attendance.

It was truly a great event and the positive feedback we've received is wonderful to hear. The entire luncheon would not have been possible without our absolutely AMAZING partners - Bay Stage Lighting Co., conceptBAIT, inc., Audio Visual Support Service, Inc., Event Show Productions, & A La Carte. I can't say enough about what a great team we had working on this event. THANK YOU!

Immediately following the luncheon, we had a group head to Tampa International Airport for our Tourism Rally in conjunction with Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. Tourism officials spoke about the impact of tourism on our local economy. Busch Gardens' Shieks were there to entertain the crowd...they always get me dancing.

On Thursday, May 20th, we hosted our 7th Annual Hospitality Olympics on the field at Raymond James Stadium. The olympics allows industry personnel the chance to network and meet others in their respective fields during this quirky, fun-filled event.

Teams from throughout Tampa Bay will competed in games such as the Water Waiter Relay, Toilet Paper Toss, Tacky Tourist Trot and Touchdown Tampa Championship Challenge. Splitsville employees took the gold. Way to go teams!

If you missed the events this year, be sure to join in the fun in 2011, and stay tuned in for more Tampa tourism and Tampa Bay area events!

Hospitality Olympics Today at Raymond James Stadium #travel #tourism #NTW2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

Tampa Bay & Company will host the 7th Annual Hospitality Olympics today as just part of National Tourism Week (NTW), a week-long event, which highlights the beneficial effects of tourism on Hillsborough County. Not only is the Hospitality Olympics one of many colorful activities to celebrate NTW, it also allows industry personnel the chance to network and meet others in their respective fields during this quirky, fun-filled event.

It takes place today from 3:30pm to 5pm on the field at Raymond James Stadium. Parking and entrance to the field will be accessible through Gate D (off of Tampa Bay Boulevard). Teams from throughout Tampa Bay will compete in games such as the Water Waiter Relay, Toilet Paper Toss, Tacky Tourist Trot and Touchdown Tampa Championship Challenge.

Participating teams include:

Tampa Bay & Company
A La Carte Event Pavilion
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
City Bike Tampa
conceptBAIT
White House Lodging
Courtyard by Marriott - Tampa Westshore
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
Hampton Inn Tampa - Brandon
DoubleTree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport
Howard Johnson Plaza
InterContinental Tampa
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor
Quorum Hotel Tampa
Jefferson High School
Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Splitsville
Hyatt Regency Tampa
Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
The Florida Aquarium
Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
Tampa Marriott Westshore
MOSI
ARAMARK.

Should be fun Tampa Bay sports times for all so be sure to root your team on!

Mexico Endorses the US FIFA World Cup Bid!!! #GoUSABid

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by Bay Bloggers

The news just keeps-a-comin about FIFA World Cup stuff folks! Big announcement today is that our neighbors to the south and fellow CONCACAF member Mexico have officially endorsed the US Bid Committee as they travel to Switzerland this week to officially hand over the bid.

I normally don't put quotes in my blogs, but I thought this one was pretty significant, from Mexican Football Federation President Justino Compean... "The U.S. has the best stadiums in CONCACAF. There are no comparisons," said Mexican Football Federation President Justino Compean. "The infrastructure throughout [CONCACAF] stadiums is not comparable to the U.S. So we decided we need one bid to come from CONCACAF and we are supporting the only bidder from our region."

I think those are very kind words from one of our fierce rivals in the region on the field, and it goes to show that even though we compete against each other on the field, their is great respect that exists between the teams and the federations!

Be sure to keep checking back in with us as we will be announcing more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay and other fun stuff throughout the week! Check back with your Tampa Bay team for more!

The best way to show your support for the bid, if you haven't already done so, is to head over to www.VisitTampaBay.com/WorldCup, or www.GoUSABid.com/TampaBay, and sign the petition to show your support for Tampa Bay and the USA for the year 2018 or 2022!

It's The Biggest Giveaway We've Ever Done... Coming This Friday!!! #GoUSABid

Monday, May 10, 2010 by jeremy fairley

I think the title says it all on this particular post, but I wanted to make sure I got everybodys attention! Now, before I tell you what we're giving away, I figure I would give you some insight as to why we're doing it!

Now as you remember from my post last week, Friday is the big day the USA Bid Committee, will officially hand over the bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup to FIFA (soccer's governing body), which they will review over the course of the next few months. They will then announce the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup in early December.

My previous post indicated that we would be doing a physical City Wide Tweet-Up at various locations across the city, but we decided to change it up a bit. This is basically going to be a virtual Tweet-Up of sorts. We want you to stand up and show the folks over in Zurich Switzerland that we are excited and fully support the bid to bring the FIFA World Cup to the USA!!! I can't emphasize what an event of this magnitude would mean to our city (think three Super Bowls over the course of a month). So come Friday we need to you be Tweeting your little fingers off to show them what we are made of, not only here in Tampa, but in the United States!

Now, just to make sure that you are properly motivated about this, (in addition to just wanting to give away some free stuff) we'll be giving away some pretty unbelievable prizes all day long on Friday from 10am-4pm for those of you who mention #GoUSABid in any tweets on Friday.

Now there are a few different ways that you can enter yourself in to win those prizes this Friday:

Tweet one of our suggested Tweets. (We'll provide those on Wednesday)
Re-Tweet any post where we mention "#GoUSABid" hashtag.
Come up with your own enthusiastic Tweets and use the "#GoUSABid" hashtag.

On Wednesday I'll let you guys know exactly what all prizes you'll be playing for, and believe me, it will be worth the wait, as these are some serious prizes we will have available! In the meantime though, here is a list of the some of the places where these prizes will be coming from:

In the mean time though, if you haven't already done so, head over to www.VisitTampaBay.com/WorldCup, or www.GoUSABid.com/TampaBay, and sign the petition to show your support for Tampa Bay and the USA as we try and bring this amazing event here for the year 2018 or 2022!

Well that's it for now folks, but stay tuned in for more on FIFA World Cup related Tampa Bay Sports updates and Tampa Bay area events!

Showing at the IMAX® Dome Theatre in April

Friday, March 12, 2010 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone! Travis here with an update about the IMAX Dome at MOSI. In case you've never been before, April may be your month. Here you can experience movies like never before on MOSI’s 5-story Dome Theatre! Here's a quick list of what's playing out there:

The Ultimate Wave – Tahiti
Hubble (opening April 22)
Avatar
Alice In Wonderland

I don't know about you, but I'm excited to see some of these on the IMAX dome, so I hope to see you out there. If you need more information, or to find showtimes, visit www.mosi.org.

And keep checking back here for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, other Tampa Bay area events, and even Buccaneers Football updates!

MacDinton's Official March 2010 Bar of the Month for US Soccer...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by jeremy fairley

As a South Tampa resident, soccer fan, and avid MacDinton's customer this is one post that I am super proud to write! Recently Tampa's own MacDinton's Irish Pub was named US Soccer Official US Soccer Bar of the Month!

MacDinton’s Irish Pub, embraces the local soccer community and is a loyal supporter of the U.S. National Teams. Last week during the U.S. Men’s National Team 2-1 victory over El Salvador, our friends over at MacDinton’s offered local fans a chance to attend their official viewing party at the establishment and also, if they so chose, take part in their group ticket sales game at nearby Raymond James Stadium.

As Jerm can attest to, in addition to the U.S. Soccer related matches, MacDinton’s also features the English Premier League, Champions League and La Liga matches. Being a huge Manchester United fan, I am frequently out at MacDintons on weekend morning's to watch the games on Santa Sports that I can't get on regular cable.

An assortment of live bands and special events also decorate MacDinton’s calendar. Did I mention the food is awesome also? And I don't mean just awesome bar food, I am talking about awesome food in general. I have yet to sample anything on that menu that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

If you’re a Tampa-based soccer aficionado searching for some live music and need a place to sport your green for St. Patty’s Day, MacDinton’s is the place for you. Be sure to check out MacDinton's today for the USA vs Netherlands match at 2:30pm, as our boys look to take on the powerful Dutch team as they continue preparations for this summers World Cup!

Congratulations to the crew at MacDinton’s on being the U.S. Soccer Bar of the Month for March! Stay tuned in for more updates on Tampa Bay dining and Tampa Bay nightlife as well!

The Florida Four Tournament Hits George Steinbrenner Field This Spring!!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Josh Jones

For the first time in history, four Florida universities will meet at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to compete in “The Florida Four” on March 2, 2010. For this inaugural event, the University of South Florida (USF) and #13 University of Miami (UM) will face each other at 4 p.m., immediately followed by #9 University of Florida (UF) and #5 Florida State University (FSU) going head-to-head in the nightcap.

The Florida Four event is the latest in a long list of premier sporting events brought to Tampa by us here at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Past events include:

2007 ACC tournament
2008 NCAA first- and second-rounds in men's basketball
2008 Women's Final Four.
2009 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
2008 & 2009 ACC Football Championship

Individual tickets just went on sale at the Steinbrenner Field Box Office or at Ticketmaster. For more information call the Steinbrenner Field Box Office at (813) 875-7753.

That's it for now folks, but be sure to check back soon for more info on youth and amateur sports related Tampa Bay area events!

"Koncert 4 Kiddz" to Benefit Pediatric Cancer Research

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey gang...Travis back with some Tampa Bay entertainment for a great cause. This is one of my alltime favorite Tampa Bay area nonprofits, so here's the scoop on the event:

On Saturday, February 20, the Famunda All-Stars, a group of talented karaoke-singing stars, will host the Fourth Annual “Koncert 4 Kiddz”. The event features talented local celebrities in a night of singing, all benefiting the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

"Koncert 4 Kiddz" begins at 6pm with a silent auction, followed by the concert at 6:30pm, all at the Ritz-Ybor in Tampa.

Joining Tedd Webb and the Famunda All-Stars will be the following celebrities and media personalities: the krewe Les Belle Femmes; Henry "Killer" Lawrence, retired star of the NFL's Oakland Raiders; Joe Lala, a founding member of Blues Image and former collaborator of Stephen Stills'; "Watchdog on Wall Street" Chris Markowski; Marvelous Marvin; Arena Brothers (Sammy and Andrew); Sharon Taylor; Belinda Womack; Dennis Lee; Austin Idol; Lanny Poffo; Mike Deeson; Brendan McLaughlin; Jennifer Epstein; Paul Wilson; Steve Persall; Ernest Hooper; Brian Blair and Bill Murphy.

Now that's a great lineup!!!!!

The extravaganza will be co-hosted, as it was in 2009, by Tampa television personality Charley Belcher (FOX 13 News) and Jen Holloway of Bright House Networks. Again, some great names!

Three pediatric cancer survivors will also take the stage for performances that are sure to get the audience on their feet.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $50 for VIP which includes food. Tickets are available by phone at (813) 839-9393 or at http://www.ticketweb.com.

For more information about Koncert 4 Kiddz, visit www.koncert4kiddz.com. For more information about the Famunda All-Stars, visit the group's website at www.famundaallstars.com. And for more information about the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, please visit www.fastercure.org.

There you go...all the info you need to have a great time and support a great cause...so go get your tickets now. And keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay and other Tampa Bay area events.