Tampa Bay Conventions

And The Winner Is....Alexis Gray!!!

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Convention Sales

Congratulations are in order for Alexis Gray of the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay, who recently received top national honors for being recognized as a national winner of the Catch Me At My Best Program!

For this contest, all of the DoubleTree team members participated in a customer focused service program initiated by the Doubletree Brand called Catch Me At My Best.

Each team member had the opportunity to have special comment cards filled out from guests who “catch” them going above and beyond. Alexis was the top winner in the high customer contact category.

Additionally, the names of those with the highest number of cards from each hotel were submitted to the corporate office for a chance to win a national award. Alexis was among those national winners and was received a cash prize, special recognition, and some other token prizes.

Hey Lexie, since you are rolling in the dough these days, can I borrow $20? Just kidding... I only need $10...lol! Additionally with your new found welath, I will be expecting a great Christmas gift from you! Please pay me no mind, as I am being silly...

All joking aside though, congratulations to Alexis and the staff over at The Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay as they continue to be a shining examples of the hospitality industry here in Tampa Bay!

To see Alexis and the great staff in action, or to plan your next meeting or convention, please visit the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay website!

That's all for now folks, but keep checking back for more on the Tampa Bay hospitality industry and Tampa Bay Meetings!

This is Jerm signing off from your Tampa Bay Team!

Attending BBB at the Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Partner Pulse

Hey everyone...Julie here with a BBB update! I went to Business by the Bay last night at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (soon to be known as the The David A. Straz, Jr.
Center for the Performing Arts in the Carol Morsani Hall and had an ahhhhhmmmmazing time. Waiters delivered appetizers as people sauntered around and mingled. The setting was beautiful.

The energy of so many performers and dancers and technicians all devoted to your entertainment swirls around the room and you feel as though you play a distinct part in bringing all of the effort together and landing in that one spot.

This space has an unmistakable wondrous atmosphere about it that takes your breath away. Which is why this is the perfect setting for the premier of Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure, produced by our very own Tampa Bay PAC!

It was nice to see Lovelynn from Grand Events of Florida: Creating Grand Environments for 20+ years in the for Tampa Bay Resorts, Tampa Bay Meetings and Tampa Bay Conventions. Professional event design and production, decor, lighting, A/V, entertainment, custom fabrication and sewing, stage design, live foliage.

And Louis from Nola Cafe and News Stand: Featuring a full list of signature coffees, beignets and only the most authentic New Orleans fare. Relax in the French Quarter atmosphere, listen to New Orleans jazz and blues and enjoy a cup of café au lait and beignets. And of course no event would be complete without Dianne striking a pose! This picture just HAD to be included! I'm sure it is of no surprise to you that Paul had his hand in goading her on!

With the appetizers and free drink ticket and Tampa Bay & Company's very own Jeremy Fairley on hand to help you get started with social media in your own organization I think people felt the time was certainly well spent.

If you want to come with me and have a great time the next Business by the Bay is at The Lime 915 S Howard Ave Tampa, FL 33606; Tuesday December 8th from 5 p.m. to 7p.m.

Until the next time, stay tuned for more of my updates on fun filled things to do in Tampa Bay!

HART wins the State's Best "Outstanding System" Award

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Convention Sales

Well here I am again, Linda Mummert giving you the low down on Tampa Bay's very own Hillsborough Area Regional Transit has won the title of "Outstanding Transit System" by the Florida Public Transportation Association.

HART was awarded with this prestigious honor at its recent annual conference in Jacksonville. The Outstanding Transit System award emphasizes achievement in efficiency and effectiveness, as measured by both quantitative and qualitative factors.

As part of the award process, HART submitted ridership and productivity numbers for the past three years, showing consistent growth.

Fiscal management is another important measurement, and HART demonstrated effective financial control by monitoring all related financial activities to ensure revenues, costs and cash flow are in compliance with stated objectives. In the last year, the implementation of efficiencies in various services and processes led to a savings of more than $1 million, which HART has been able to direct back into its Tampa Bay transit service.

In addition, HART's achievements in safety, operations, customer service, staff development, policy administration and marketing and community relations were considered.

The award recipients are chosen by the distinguished FPTA Organizational Awards Committee, which is comprised of the FPTA Executive Director, a representative from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and a representative from the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida.

On another note, HART also provides door-to-door paratransit service, Travel Training. and manages the TECO Streetcar system which provides transportation to shopping in Tampa Bay, our entertainment districts in Channelside, Hyde Park and Ybor City. The streetcar is a wonderful alternative for our visitors and convention attendees to get around Tampa Bay and our local attractions.

They have won my HART and I am sure yours. Let's give our HART team a high five for winning the Best in the State Award! Over and out for now. Stay tuned for more Tampa Florida news.

What's Happening Downtown Tampa

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 by Partner Pulse

Tampa Downtown Happenings

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!

We Need Your Support for the Tampa Bay FIFA World Cup™ Bid...

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by jeremy fairley

Whatup Gang! Jerm here and I am super excited to see the lists keep growing with people who want to see the FIFA World Cup ™ 2018/2022 Bid come to Tampa! We do however still have a long way to go, so we need you all to show us your support by going to www.VisitTampaBay.com/WorldCup or www.GoUSABid.com/TampaBay!

So if you are a local and want to show your support, you can do so, or if you are researching your vacation and/or conventions in Tampa Bay then feel free to sign the petition on our site without even having to leave. Wow I really love technology, so remind me to thank the person who invented the widget!

Tell your friends, family, significant other, pets, and anyone else who will listen to sign up! An estimated 36 billion people worldwide watch the FIFA World Cup™, making it the most-viewed sporting event in the world so there is the opportunity for there to be allot of eyes on Tampa Bay in 2018/2022!

With the global economic impact, the FIFA World Cup™ bring a ton of new jobs and provide hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development to Tampa Bay. World Cup sponsorship is estimated to be over 16 billion dollars, with much of that going directly into local economies that host the event. I don't know about you but that sounds like a winner to me!

So what are you waiting for! Stop reading me rant and rave and go sign up!

Stay tuned for more updates on our FIFA World Cup™ Bid and other things to do in Tampa Bay!

AOPA Is Coming to Tampa Bay!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Convention Sales

Hello all! Jerm here with an important update for you guys! I know you are now thinking...Jerm what are you doing on the Convention Sales blog? Well I guess you just never know when or where I am gonna pop up on these blogs!

The AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) will be descending on Tampa Bay next month as they host the first AOPA Aviation Summit!

I was just looking at the programming on the website, and boy does it look pack full of goodies for attendees!

With daily summit sessions, expo hall & center stage, airport fest, and and all of the great forums that you would expect, I am thinking that you will be a pretty busy camper.

Now that is assuming that you have already registered for the event and taken care of your lodging. If you haven't then I must ask, what the heck are you waiting for! Once you arrive here in our great city, be sure to take full advantage of our Tampa Bay nightlife scene, as well as enjoying the Tampa Bay weather!

during the conference, be sure to check out the AOPA Twitter site as well for real time updates and such!

Time to Get into the Holiday Spirit with the InterContinental Tampa!

Thursday, October 8, 2009 by Convention Sales

About the guest blogger: Patricia Fernandez is the director of catering for InterContinental Tampa – centrally located in the heart of the city offering guests world-famous dining at Shula’s Steak House, a scenic rooftop pool and “In the Know” personalized concierge service. Patricia as Director is responsible for overseeing the catering and conference services department which handles all of the hotel events including corporate meetings, conventions, social and high profile events, weddings and more.

It’s still pretty warm outside, but it’s about that time to get into the holiday spirit and plan your company holiday party or gathering. Now is the ideal time to start researching venues, as the most desired ones fill up quickly. Here are a few additional tips when selecting the best venue for your company or group:

Make sure you are dealing with a seasoned sales or catering person. It will make it easier to guide you through the process, especially if this is the first time you have planned a party for your group.

Always ask to meet the chef as his unique and creative ideas can also assist you in your site selection process. This insight truly helps in forming a vision of what the party will look - and taste - like!

Ask to visit venue during the day of another similar event to experience the uniqueness of that event and observe how the staff interacts.

Ask to see the hotel amenities that are offered.

Make sure the event location is flexible and able to work within your needs. This might be helpful to determine before the site inspection before the process gets too far along.

Ask the venue to forward a sample contract so that once you receive the contract from that specific venue, you will understand the language and clauses and there will be no surprises.

Ask for referrals on past experiences or read testimonials off the hotel website.

Happy Holidays!

Nestled in the trendy Westshore District, The InterContinental Tampa offers 17,000 square feet of function space, including space in Shula’s Steak House. To book a site inspection or holiday party at the InterContinental Tampa, please feel free to email me at pfernandez@destinationhotels.com.

TAMPA'S DOWNTOWN OPEN HOUSE

Friday, September 25, 2009 by Convention Sales

Greetings …

Allow me to introduce myself … its Maria Watson here with my inaugural blog and I wish to extend a special thank-you and give kudos to former Tampa Bay & Company staff member Megan Marra for keeping us all abreast of the exciting happenings in Tampa Bay with her blogs. I wish her well in her endeavors as she passed along the torch to us newbie’s who will carry the torch with pride as we strive to continue bringing you the most up-to-date meetings and conventions news. :)

Now with that being said -- If you're a meeting planner and you are looking for new and interesting venues to hold board meetings and receptions, we've got GREAT news for you.

It’s no secret that The Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel, located in downtown, is offering a deal that literally no other hotel can beat and now they are having an open- house.

But this is not your standard “open house” – because the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk has been hand selected by Sheraton Corporate office to showcase its recent renovation.

Sheraton will host a two-day open house for hundreds of meeting planners, corporate travel buyers and social event planners, September 30th -October 1st.

This event will spotlight a selection of Sheraton’s “best in class” hotels including the Le Centre Sheraton in Montreal, Sheraton Boston, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Sheraton Denver Hotel, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and of course our very own Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel!!

So if you out and about Downtown Tampa between the hours of 11:00 am – 6:00 pm on September 30th - October 1st stop by for personal tours, free food, free drinks, and a chance to win gift certificates redeemable for a complimentary one night stay at any of the 900 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide!

Remember you can always check out the hotel's Web site or contact a Tampa Bay & Company sales staff member to book your next meeting at this and other Tampa Bay properties.

Thanks for stopping by and keep checking back with me for more exciting Tampa Bay Meetings news.

Peace!

Mega-Meetings Last Blog Entry

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by Convention Sales

I am sad to say that this will be my last blog post on the Tampa Bay & Company Meetings & Conventions blog page. Tomorrow is my last day here, as I have decided to try out an opportunity at an interactive marketing company here in Tampa. Although I am extremely excited about this new adventure, I am also very sad to go...

One of my most favorite parts of this job has been writing blog posts for the Sales Department. I have experienced a lot of great events and through my researching and writing, I've learned so much about this amazing city that I call home. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

So now I am passing the torch on to my four TB&C Sales buds: Cristina, Heather, Maria and Linda. They will be working hard to continue to bring you the most up-to-date Tampa Bay meetings and conventions news. So keep checking back just as you have been, and once again.... Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Megan :)

Our Sales Staff ROCKS

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by Convention Sales

It's the end of the fiscal year and time to do some NUMBER CRUNCHING! Thankfully for Tampa Bay & Company, our sales staff has been working hard to make their numbers this year, and it shows! In the past two weeks, TB&C has received signed contracts from multiple organizations to bring meetings and conventions to Tampa Bay. Combined, these meetings will produce more than 11,750 hotel room nights for an estimated delegate spending of $5.9 Million!!

One of these conventions is the American Trucking Association's Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Expo in February 2012. Approximately 3,000 delegates will attend this meeting, which will produce more than 7,400 hotel room nights and create $2.2 Million in delegate spending!

This convention is just one of the many meetings that Tampa Bay plans to host in the future. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our sales staff, we are on our way to meeting our goals for this year. Keep up the great work!!

Thanks for stopping by and keep checking back for more Tampa Bay meetings news!

Roy's - Hawaiian Fusion at its Best...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 by Convention Sales

The next time you're in Tampa and you're trying to figure out where to eat or hold a small meeting, I highly recommend trying Roy's Restaurant. This Hawaiian-Fusion eatery is located in the heart of Tampa's Westhore District, close to Tampa International Airport, many full-service, brand-name hotels and the upscale International Plaza shopping center. I had the chance to visit Roy's a few weeks ago and I was extremely impressed!

Not only was I not aware of how delicious their cuisine is (you have to try the roasted macadamia nut mahi mahi with lobster cognac butter sauce - O M G), but I also didn't realize that they have two private, soundproof dining rooms that can be used for board meetings or private receptions for up to 45 guests. Both rooms are equipped with audio/visual capabilities and can be set in any style to accommodate your event.

If your party or event has more than 45 guests, you can rent out different sections of the restaurant to hold up to 80 guests, OR you can buy out the entire restaurant for even larger events. When planning a private event at Roy's, guests are able to create a customized menu to meet their specific budget and food needs.

Roy's also offers full service, off-site catering, in case your event is being held at a different location. This restaurant has exactly what it takes to be the perfect event and off-site meeting venue for any convention. Take a look at the Web site for more information about space capacities and menu items or to book your next meeting at this fantastic dining facility.

Thanks for stopping by and keep checking back for more Tampa Bay Meetings news!

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!

City Bike Announces New Tampa Tour

Friday, August 14, 2009 by Convention Sales

If you are wondering what to do in Tampa while you're here for a meeting or convention, I've got a great idea for you. City Bike Tampa is a brand new company that operates in downtown, offering visitors and residents the chance to see Tampa in a whole new way.

CBT has been running successfully for a few months now and are getting ready to launch the Downtown Tampa History Tour this weekend. Whether you're a visitor or a Tampa native, you will definitely enjoy this guided bike tour. You just can't beat having fun and burning calories at the same time!

CBT's trained guides will show you around downtown and surrounding areas and fill you in on all of the historic details, giving you an insider's look into one of the greatest cities on the East Coast. And word on the street is, the guides are quite the comedians, so this is sure to be a fun-filled activity for you or your meeting delegates!

The Downtown Tampa History tour will run Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. If you're in Tampa during the week, you can call and set up an appointment with them and they will gladly work with your schedule.

Check out my first CBT blog to find out more background info on this great new company. Or visit the City Bike Tampa Web site for more information. Thanks for stopping by and keep checking back for more Tampa Bay Tours and meeting information!