Westshore District

# 7 GEORGIA TECH TO PLAY IN ACC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Josh Jones

The # 7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-1) have won the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and will contest against the Atlantic Division Champion at the 2009 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship taking place December 5 in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fla.

Shaping up for a race to the finish in the Atlantic Division are the Clemson Tigers and the Boston College Eagles! Clemson can clinch a spot in the title game with a win this weekend or a Boston College loss. Boston College can clinch with a Clemson loss and two more wins in their season.

Will you be there? Tickets are on sale now for this year’s game, which returns to prime time national television, with an 8 p.m. (ET) kickoff on ESPN.

Georgia Tech's last ACC title was a share in 1998. The Jackets won it outright in 1990, the same year they won the national title. Their last trip to the ACC title game was in 2006. This 2009 Georgia Tech team, though, is viewed by many as the best it's been in a long time.

Clemson’s last ACC title was in 1991 and has never been to the ACC Championship since its existence.

Purchase your tickets to this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, one of the best values in all of college football by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com or clicking here!

For all other information about the 2009 ACC Football Championship, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com!

Stay tuned for more updates on Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports Commission updates!

Check out Mainsail's New Digs...

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Convention Sales

Hi everyone! I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Heather Helton. This is my first blog post and I look forward to sharing more blogs with you in the near future.

I'm excited to help spread the word about what's new and what's to come in Tampa. First, I would like to tell you about the BRAND NEW Mainsail Suites Conference Center.

This state-of-the-art facility is a total of 17,000 sq ft of meeting space--which includes a 6,500 sq ft ballroom and 7,000 sq ft terrace. This new conference center can accommodate
groups up to 500 people, so it's perfect for Tampa Bay meetings, banquets, cocktail receptions and weddings.

Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center is the first extended stay hotel in Florida that offers "true conference facilities”. Mainsail is an all-suite, full-service hotel that is conveniently located in the Westshore District which is only minutes away from Tampa International Airport.

While most extended stay brands are limited in their services, Mainsail provides comfort and convenience for all of their guests. Mainsail has one and two-bedroom suites with separate bedrooms and bathrooms, and they are all equipped with full-size kitchens.

Guests can relax and unwind while surfing the net, for free! That's right, complimentary high-speed Internet access for your convenience! Mainsail also offers free airport shuttle, free parking, room service, an on-site restaurant and lounge, recreational activities and much more.

Mainsail guests will have all of the benefits of an enhanced learning environment, all of the conveniences of a full-service hotel, and all of the comforts of a suite! To learn more about this property, please visit their web site at www.mainsailtampa.com.

It's Super BULL XIII Time!

Monday, November 9, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey gang! Travis here with some cool Tampa Bay entertainment. The University of South Florida Alumni Association announces its Super Bull XIII 2009 Homecoming events to be held next week. Here are the details you need to know:

Monday, November 16
What: Homecoming Kick-off
Where: Marshall Center Ballroom, USF Tampa campus
When: Noon
Info: The USF Alumni Association continues its tradition of presenting the USF students with the opposing team’s (University of Louisville) mascot at the official Homecoming kick-off to burn at the November 20 Parade After-Party.

Friday, November 20
What: Parade Watch Party
Where: Gibbons Alumni Center front lawn, USF Tampa campus
When: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Info: FREE event with music, games and food samplings from the Bulls Country vendors. The Alumni Association will participate in the Homecoming parade, which begins at 7:00 p.m., with a decorated float.

What: Serengeti Night Safari at Busch Gardens: In collaboration with the USF Alumni Association
Where: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
When: 9:00-11:30 p.m.
Info: Explore the sights, sounds and tastes of Africa during this one-of-a-kind experience to be held after the USF Homecoming parade. Call 1-888-800-5447 for more information and to make reservations. Tickets are $45.00 for adults plus tax, and $25.00 for youth 5 to 16 years of age plus tax.

Saturday, November 21
What: Bulls Roast Tailgate
Where: Fenced lot outside Gates A & B at Raymond James Stadium
When: 3 hours prior to kickoff of the USF vs. Louisville game (9 a.m. tailgate for noon game)
Info: Barbeque, music, Budweiser® beer and sangria, face painters, games, FREE USF spirit supplies and scheduled appearances by Herd of Thunder, Rocky, USF Sun Dolls and Cheerleaders. Tickets are $35 for USF Alumni Association members and $45 for non-members and can be purchased at www.USFalumni.org/bullsroast or by calling 813-974-0338.

Kickoff for the Homecoming football game against the Louisville Cardinals is at noon Saturday, November 21. The game has been selected as the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week and will air locally on WFTS-TV ABC 28.

so, get out there and support the USF Bulls! And we'll see you back here for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, and other awesome Tampa Bay area events!

Tis the Season at the Seminole Hard Rock

Monday, November 9, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone! Travis here again. I have some cool information straight from one of the best Tampa Bay hotels in the area - the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

This Thanksgiving season, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino lives up to Hard Rock International’s famous “Love All, Serve All” tagline by donating $5,000 dollars worth of Thanksgiving dinner items to help Metropolitan Ministries achieve their enormous need.

The Seminole Hard Rock Girls are dropping by the Clear Channel Helping Hands Food Drive being held at Westshore Plaza on November 20 at 7am with a truckload of meat, cereal, mixed vegetables and other highly requested items.

The Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Food Drive (being held at 2010 N. Florida Drive Ave.) is open from November 2 through December 24th. If you want to get involved, call 813.209.1000 or log onto www.metromin.org.

Then, join the 2009 Seminole Hard Rock Girls to take photos from noon until 5 pm on Friday, November 27th as Seminole Hard Rock’s elaborate holiday tree is lighted in Seminole Hard Rock’s Hotel Lobby.

Player’s club members are encouraged to bring a new toy for the Toys for Tots Gift Exchange Lottery which will also take place in the Lobby from 10am until 4pm also on November 27th in exchange for a myriad of prizes from free play to on property food credit.

Also, guests are encouraged to take an angel from the Salvation Army Angel Tree in the Lobby to donate a gift to a child in need.

So, take a page out of the Seminole Hard Rock book, and get involved this holiday season! And as always, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay...and we'll even give you some cool idea for shopping in Tampa Bay!

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.

2009 ACC Football Championship Update!

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Josh Jones

Josh Jones here, proud to say we are 1 month out from gameday of the 2009 ACC Football Championship!

With the Road To Tampa Bay countdown clock ticking away, we’re beginning to see the front-runners emerge!

Will you be there? Tickets are on sale for this year’s game, which returns to prime time national television, with an 8 p.m. (ET) kickoff on ESPN.

The 2009 Championship Game will be played on December 5 in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fla.

#10 Georgia Tech seems to be running away with the Coastal Division title as they have emerged past #17 Miami. Meanwhile Boston College, Clemson, and Florida State are keeping things interesting in the Atlantic Division. With four weeks left, it’s still any team’s game!

But time is running out! Purchase your tickets to this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, one of the best values in all of college football by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com or clicking here!

For all other information about the 2009 ACC Football Championship, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com!

Stay tuned for more updates on Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports Commission updates!

GO BULLS!!! Kick some Cincy Tail!!!

Thursday, October 15, 2009 by jeremy fairley

Alright gang, I guess the title will once again speak for itself as most of my posts have lately. Tonight, your #21 ranked USF Bulls will take on the #8 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats tonight at Raymond James Stadium.

Folks I don't really have to tell you how big of a game this is so come out to the stadium tonight and show your support for what is quite possibly the biggest game in the history of the program! Ray J is approaching 58,000 rabid fans for tonight's game so you gotta make sure its so loud that Tony Pike (Cincy quarterback) can't even hear himself think!

George Selvie of the USF Bulls Defensive Unit...

Rumor has it, well its not quite a rumor, that the stadium will be going green tonight! No I don't mean environmental green, but rather USF green! The Bulls are 5-0 against their last 5 top 25 ranked opponents to include victories over West Virginia, Kansas, and Auburn to name a few.

Coach Leavitt and the gang are gonna be looking to make it 6-0 tonight in front of a record sellout student section!

If you can't make it out to the game, be sure to gather at your local watering whole and root the Bulls on!

As far as Tampa Bay area events go, guys it won't get much better than this tonight in the bay area. You can also bet that once the Bulls upset the Kitty Cats, that the Tampa Bay nightlife scene will be bumpin, so you got plenty of reasons to be at the game and then hitting up the celebrations after wards!

That's all for now, but root for the Bulls and and be sure to check back for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!

U2 Tomorrow Night at Raymond James Stadium... Are You Ready!

Thursday, October 8, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Well if you are not ready, then I suggest you get there really fast! Jerm here from your favorite Tampa Bay team of in the know bloggers with an important update that I am sure you all have been waiting for! A little less than 36 hours from now, Bono and the U2 crew will be rocking out Raymond James Stadium tomorrow night to an expected crowd of well over 60,000 fans!

Tickets for this bad boy sold out a long time ago from what I hear, so if you don't have tickets by now, then you are gonna have to wait for the next one. Me and Bono are tight like sardines and when I rang him on his mobile and asked him to get me tickets, even he couldn't help me out!

Okay, so I made up that last part, as I have never met Bono, but you get the point people, its sold out! Word on the street is that this monstrous circular stage, nicknamed "The Claw," costs $40 million.

Typically when I write a check the bank could bounce, as I have some deep pockets, but even for me that is a large amount of coin!

There are actually three stages that tour the country. It takes about thirty-seven trucks and a crew of more than 100 workers arrive several days in advance to set up, and the crews were working their tails off yesterday to get setup before the concert! For more info on this stage and the U2 360 Tour, be sure to check out their website.

As you can imagine, an event of this magnitude is going to have people coming from near and far, so be sure you get there early to try and beat the crowd. The stadium website is the best place to go in order to get all the show info with regards to stadium parking, FAQ's, etc so here is a link for that!

While I was at the stadium yesterday for the Press conference regarding Tampa Bay's World Cup Bid, I did happen to see the stage setup for the concert, and believe me when I tell you that there are truly few words to describe it! I can only describe it as "out of this world, and quite possibly the most amazing thing I have ever laid eyes on, with the exception of of a certain bartender friend of mine who will be working at the stadium tomorrow in the club section.

If you happen to be in either the east or west club area, be sure to go and say hi to Alexis aka "Lexie" for me, and be sure to buy your drinks from her! You will recognize her as the the girl whose smile will be sure to outshine the stadium lights!

Well folks, that's all I got for now but be sure to check back with me for my future updates about all of the great Tampa Bay area events so you can be in the know about what to do in our fine city this October!

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.

What's Goin On This Weekend in Tampa Bay This Weekend...

Friday, September 25, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Boy the final weekend in month of September is going to be a busy one I tell ya. I will try my hardest to pry myself from the comfy confines of my own bed and get out and experience some of the great things going on this weekend. Here is my proposed time line thus far:

Saturday
10:00 - 1130 a.m.: MacDinton's Irish Pub & Restaurant in Hyde Park, to watch the Manchester United vs Stoke City game on television.

12:00 - 1 p.m.: Lunch at Daily Eats in Hyde Park.

1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Take the dog to the dog park

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Go to see the Weeki Wachee Mermaids at the Florida Aquarium (will tweet live from this and take pictures)

3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Catch up on all of my college football updates and scores.

7:00 - 10 p.m. Check out Shriek Peek at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's Zoo Boo

Sunday

All Day Watching Football! In particular watching your Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team take on Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The Bucs have gotten off to a slow start this season but will look to bounce back against this NFC East powerhouse at Raymond James Stadium.

Be sure to get there early and get your tailgate on before kick-off as well!

All in all this weekend will be a good one and should kick-off a busy month of October here in the bay area!

Well that's all for now as Jerm is signing off for now and stay tuned for more things to do in Tampa Bay!

Tailgating Tips for this Sunday from Chef Fabrizio & Chef Daniel...

Friday, September 25, 2009 by Partner Pulse

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team prepare for battle against the New York Giants, Pelagia Trattoria’s top culinary draft picks debated which palate-pleasing dishes they’d be most likely to create for a game day tailgate party.

In one corner stands 41-year-old Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi, a native of Rivoli, Italy who is 6’ 4” and has 23 years of culinary experience. Facing off with him is Daniel Goldich, a 30-year-old native of Atlantic City who has worked in the culinary arts field for 12 years, stands 5’ 10” and is the Senior Banquet Chef at the Renaissance Tampa Hotel, where Pelagia Trattoria is housed.

One the older, more experienced chef whose interests favor World Cup Soccer matches over American football games. The other a native of New Jersey who knows football fans are as serious about their food as they are their favorite sport.

Together they came up with a winning game day strategy for a feast that features hot foods, fresh veggies, delicious desserts and a lot of fun!

Daniel: We would have to have paninis, an Italian-version of a hot, grilled sandwich. Those are usually filled with cured meats like capicola, mortadella, salami and provolone and served with an Italian-style bread that has been scooped out and filled with meats, cheese and a muffuletta olive spread. You want to have finger food. Instead of spending most of the time cooking, it’s best to bring some items to a tailgate that require minimal cooking or heating so you can have fun and enjoy everyone’s company without fussing over a lot of food.

Fabrizio: What I would do for a tailgate is pizza. But I would pre-make some of it before the game and then put it on the grill once I am there. You can bring along pizza dough that is partly baked. I would cook both sides on the grill to raise the dough a little bit and then put on the tomatoes, the mozzarella cheese, some onions and sausage and then roll it. People like it and it is fun to make. You should use good Italian sausage or even chicken sausage and make it like a calzone.

Then I would serve fresh vegetables that I’ve grilled instead of serving chips. The night before, get together with friends and make basil oil, gazpacho dipping sauce or some sort of reduction sauce with beer or wine in it. Put those into different squirt bottles and use them to coat the top of the veggies. We do something similar at Pelagia for our Caesar fondue. By brushing the romaine lettuce with just a light coat of olive oil before lightly grilling the entire leaf you give it a slightly smoky flavor that lets the flavor of the vegetable come through and keeps it just a little bit crisp, not soggy. You can use eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, fennel….

Daniel: No don’t put fennel on the grill. Maybe something like butter squash. And I think you need to have steak. The Pelagia ribeye uses a signature rub made with garlic, porcini powder, red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar and sugar. That particular cut of steak has enough fat content to keep it juicy and flavorful so it holds up well on a grill. But you should marinate the steak the day before so all you have to do is put in on the grill, cook and enjoy.

Fabrizio: For people who don’t like steak, or just want to enjoy some seafood, take some shrimp that are still in the shell. Place the shrimp shell side down on the grill with a bit of foil underneath. Brush the top of the shrimp with some spicy butter made with paprika, lemon juice, garlic, chopped parsley and cayenne pepper. Just leave the shrimp on the grill for two to three minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp, and enjoy!

Daniel: In the tradition of tailgating, how about some Italian S’mores for dessert? Take some biscotti, top it with some Verona chocolate, add marshmallows and then lightly grill it just enough to soften the chocolate and melt the marshmallows.

Fabrizio: Tailgating is a time to enjoy a lot of great foods in a casual manner. And to use some ingredients that are seasonal. You could bring along a pound cake and slice into individual pieces. Use some Honey Crisp apple slices, that are in season now, pine nuts and raisins, place the piece of pound cake on grill quickly just to toast it very lightly. Spread a little Nutella on top, add the fruits and nuts and serve.

Daniel: Now all we need is the perfect drink to enjoy with all of this great food. How about a little twist on the traditional recipe for sangria? It’s fall so why not add apples and cranberries instead of the usual citrus fruits? And substitute grappa for brandy?
Fabrizio: Sounds good. Now we just have to get tickets to the game, pack up the grill, pick up the ingredients and head out to Raymond James Stadium Sunday.

Daniel: As great as that sounds, that is my day off. I think I should celebrate the day by not cooking and just relaxing and enjoying the game.

Pre-game, post-game or anytime, enjoy the fresh, seasonal flavors that are the signature of Tampa’s Pelagia Trattoria. Chefs Schenardi and Goldich have helped make Pelagia one of “America’s Top Restaurants 2009,” according to Zagat. Pelagia is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and located in the lobby level of the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza.

The Four Diamond property was named “2008 Renaissance Hotel of the Year” by Marriott International. www.pelagiatrattoria.com or www.renaissancetampa.com.

For information, or reservations, call 813-313-3235 and stay tuned in for additional info on Tampa Bay dining and Tampa Bay hotel updates.

Time to "Link Up" at the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by jeremy fairley

Hell all, Jerm here with a cool update on some progress one of our partners has made at their property. Normally I would leave this post to my departing friend Megan Marra, but since it has an interactive swing to it, I figure what the hay!

Guests at the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore have a new spot to help them stay connected while traveling. The just-opened “Link@Sheraton” will act as the hotel’s communications lounge, offering an open-style, bar-side, social networking hub for guest use.

Located in the lobby and atrium areas of the eight-story, all-suites hotel, the Link has been added as part of the multi-million dollar renovation that is refreshing all parts of the property. Davidson Hotel Company, who holds ownership in the hotel through a joint venture partnership, is overseeing the renovation and also manages the hotel.

While business centers come standard in most hotels, the Link aims to combine the functionality of computer work stations with the ambiance and social scene people associate with places like Starbucks or Panera.

Guests at the Sheraton can use the open area to relax, work, socialize with others, connect electronically, or simply get out of their suites. The Link offers free wireless connection to guests, multiple computer stations, and daily newspapers, all among over-sized chairs and collective worktables. It opens into the eight-story tropical atrium, the largest in the Westshore District, which contains some of the most unique indoor landscaping around. I took a tour not too long ago guys and believe me when I say this place is super nice!

Stay tuned for more interactive and Tampa Bay hotel updates as they come!

Event Guide for this Weekend in Tampa Bay!

Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone. Travis back with some great things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend. Let's just get to it shall we??!!

Tommy Davidson hits the Tampa Improv in Historic Ybor City (Centro Ybor) on Friday at 8pm! This Actor, stand-up comedian, musician, and singer will be a blast to listen to and experience, so head out there and get ready to laugh!!!

Next, head out to the World's Largest Garage Sale at the Florida State Fairgrounds! It's Saturday from 9am to 10pm. This two-day, huge garage sale event showcases more than 400 booths of merchandise inside the Expo Hall and outdoor displays with assortment of vehicles and water crafts.

There will be a business trade show area, a health and wellness section with free screenings and exhibitors, a music stage with live celebrity karaoke, and free giveaways every hour. Children 17 and younger are free (accompanied by adult), and adults are $5!

Don't miss the football action at the hometown USF Bulls take on Charleston Southern at Raymond James Stadium! Kickoff is 7pm and there's sure to be some hard-hitting action...so tune in or get out there and cheer them on in person!

What would a weekend be without Free Line Dance Lessons??!! It's Saturday at 8pm at Slingshots here in Tampa! So, if you love to Dance, come hang out at Slingshots on Saturday (and Saturdays) and learn from the best. Every Saturday from 8-10 they offer the best in line dance lessons.... from the oldies but goodies... to the newest in country. Remember there is no cover before 10 so the lessons are completely FREE!

We'll leave you with "Upstairs/Downstairs" at the Tampa Bay Hotel on Sunday at 2pm! this is the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa campus, so make sure you check this one out, because this place is really cool. They will present single-character vignettes that bring the turn-of-the-century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life with live theater. Trust me, this will be one to see.

Now, this is just a taste of what's happening this weekend, so if you know of more events, please chime in and let us know!!!!!!

Until then, keep checking back for more great things to do in Tampa Bay, and other Tampa Bay area events!

Foul Weather Fix: Host the perfect ‘outdoor’ wedding indoors at Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Partner Pulse

The heat. The rain. The humidity. We’re all feeling it and so are the countless Florida brides hosting outdoor weddings this month. We know all too well that while brides in the Sunshine State can plan nearly every detail of their day, they can’t control the elements.

With some creativity, you can have the gorgeous, tropical ceremony of your dreams with an outdoor feel without putting down money for a backup venue, forking over extra cash for outdoor tents or crossing your freshly manicured fingers and toes hoping that it doesn’t rain. Where? The revamped and lushly landscaped eight-story tropical atrium at the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore is one of a few select Bay-area venues that can pull this off effortlessly.

The tropical atrium, the only one of its kind in the Westshore District area, features the largest indoor screw pine in Florida and Canary Island Date Palms, among other tropical plants and water streams. The atrium is being refurbished as part of the hotel’s multimillion-dollar renovations scheduled to be complete in November.

Wedding planners and brides will enjoy the many opportunities to turn the atrium into an outdoor wonderland. Features brides and event planners will enjoy:

The climate-controlled tropical atrium available for ceremonies and corporate events (networking mixer, anyone?)
The convenience of a 6,000-square-foot ball room to fluidly transition event festivities from the atrium to the reception hall
Out-of-town guests can stay at one of the all-suite hotel’s revamped guest quarters featuring custom Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, hardwood floors, 32-inch HD flat panel televisions and more.
Complimentary transportation to the airport and attractions within three miles of the hotel Happy planning!

Feel free to stop in and see the inside of the new Sheraton anytime, or check out our Web site at http://www.sheraton.com/tampaairport. Stay in the loop with Tampa Bay hotel updates by continuing to monitor this blog.

2009 ACC LEGENDS CLASS ANNOUNCED, HIGHLIGHTED BY HEISMAN TROPHY WINNERS!

Friday, September 4, 2009 by Josh Jones

Recently announced was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2009 Legends class. This year’s group is highlighted by two state standouts and former Heisman trophy winners in Chris Weinke (Florida State) and Vinny Testaverde (Miami), and one of the ACC’s winningest coach in Danny Ford (Clemson).

The Legends will be honored at this year's Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game weekend. They will appear at the ACC Coaches and Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, Dec. 4, and will be honored at the "ACC Night of Legends" held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay on Friday evening. They will also be recognized during pre-game ceremonies at Raymond James Stadium for the 5th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, which has an 8 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 5 and will be nationally televised by ESPN.

This year’s class is well known for the individual accolades it has accomplished both at the collegiate the pro level. Combined are two Heisman trophy winners, three ACC Players of the Year and seven All-Americans that went on to accrue 79 years of professional football experience. Also to highlight are the combined two national championships, one NFL World Championship, and 15 ACC team titles held by this group.

You can catch the legends signing autographs, FREE at ACC FanFest before the 2009 Dr Pepper ACC Championship game! For more information about the ACC Championship game and its surrounding events, log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com.

For more information on the ACC Legends click here!

Stay tuned for more things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay Sports Commission updates!

Get Lunch and Dinner for the Price of One at Maggiano's...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Hello all, Jerm here with some important Tampa Bay dining news for you guys. So yesterday I had a working lunch over at Maggiano's, which is located over at Westshore Mall, in the Westshore District of Tampa Bay.

It had been a while since I had been there, at least 4 years and had no clue what was good on the menu anymore, or what I was going to eat.

Plus, seeing as how i am on a strict lunch budget, it was going to be difficult not to order everything on the menu so I had to be careful with the old wallet you know!

Luckily our waitress pointed out to me a new special for lunch that Maggiano's was doing that at the time, seemed a little bit too good to be true. Just to call her bluff, I tried it out though. What's the deal you ask...well let me tell you!

Maggiano's has taken the two-for-one special and added a little twist to it. With the purchase of one $12.95 entree, the casual-dining units will package another of seven offerings to go as a meal for later. So for me, I had the Four Cheese Ravioli (picture above), and for my second item, which would more than likely be dinner that evening, or lunch the next. These are good portions as well guys, because Jerm couldn't even finish his Ravioli at one sitting yesterday, so that ended up being my dinner, along with a PB&J sandwich.

As I speak, "Mom's Lasagna," which was my second order is sitting mighty fine in the fridge right now waiting for me to devour it around noon today. If I can remember, I will be sure to take a pic or two and post it on Twitter for you guys to druel over. All kidding aside, in addition to the food being deeeeeeeeeeeelicious, this is a great deal guys, so be sure and take advantage of it as often as you can!

And when you get there, be sure to tell'em Jerm sent you! In the meantime gang, check back for more things to do in Tampa Bay!

What I Learned Today...Terri P. from Prague

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

So we had to buy a pop up tent today for our pre-promote booth. We are in the sun so we needed some shade. We went to buy a tent, but where? Well we found out this place Baumax and let me tell you how awesome it was.

It was better than a Home Depot and Lowes combined. Like a Home Expo but maybe a little better. They are not messing around with cool home stuff. Their ‘burbs are like ours. All cool stores and yes, I live in the city in our standards.

We needed to get some water for the tent too so we went to the grocery store. In the city where we are staying, it is a market the size of your closet but in the ‘burbs, it is a grocery store in the MALL. That is right, the mall.

The Echo shoe store is across the mall walk. They have a food court like we do too. Can you imagine going to Publix at the Westshore Mall? Well, it is just like it. Like a Super Target I would say. Their big bottles are funny too. A big coke is a bottle coke style but really big. Our 2 litre is fat. This thing is the size of a cool glass bottle but large!

So I learned today that Praha, that is Prague, in Czeck language, has lots of cool American stuff but with a 1,600 year old buildings. You know they were spared the bombings of the last World War so their buildings are still standing. And beautiful at that.

In the next blog, I will chat about other stuff but it will not be about us getting lost which we have done frequently OR the venue in the middle of NOWHERE. With it's proximity, Tampa Bay entertainment, and all the things to do in Tampa Bay, it rocks as a venue!

If you haven't had the chance, log on to http://idbfworldchamps.com to check the results of today's races, as well as the races throughout the week.

More to come soon...of to bed. It's almost midnight here and I'm exhausted.

Tonight in Tampa!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by Tampa Bay & Company

Hey everyone! Travis here with some great Tampa Bay entertainment options for tonight! I mean, it's almost the weekend, so I say let's start the weekend early and enjoy some of these Tampa Bay area events while we can.

Here's a quick overview:

How could we start with anything else by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers??!! The Bucs are taking on the Miami Dolphins tonight at 8pm at the famed Raymond James Stadium...the crown jewel of teh NFL! I'll be there, so I'll have photos for you tomorrow!

Also at 8pm tonight, Jobsite Theater Presents Pericles: A New Rock Musical. It's at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Joe Popp (Maxwell, Jy2K) is bringing his power-punk music and oddball sense of humor back to Tampa and teaming up with perennial Jobsite contributors Neil Gobioff & Shawn Paonessa (The Curse of Milhaven, The March of the Kitefliers) in this 10th year of celebrating bringing new work to the stage. It's a great deal too...tickets are $24.50...just remember that it dontains some adult language, situations and subject matter.

Next, it's time to laugh!!!! Catch Helen Keaney at the Tampa Improv in Historic Ybor City, or you can see Flip Schultz at Side Splitters Comedy Club in North Tampa. Both are playing at 8pm and both will have you rolling on the floor laughing...so be sure to get up and get ready to get down!

At Center Place, only there for 3 days, catch: Sweene Todd Musical. How about this for a deal...General admission is $12 and Seniors & Students are $10! So, take advantage of this awesome Tampa Bay entertainment, and get ready to enjoy some performing arts!!!

We'll cap this off with the Grateful Dead Night at Skipper's Smokehouse in North Tampa. It's tonight at 8pm at one of the staples of Tampa's entertainment and dining venues...SKIPPER'S!!!!! Bringing the music & spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday, Uncle John's Band has been together since the early 90s and raising the Dead at Skipper's since 1998. Hippies please use side door. All bottled beer will be on special.

But, there's plenty more to do than that...so let us know what else is out there, and we'll try to bring you more great things to do in Tampa Bay!

Until then...get ready to have some fun!

Sheraton Suites Invests Millions in Renovation Project

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 by Convention Sales

The Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore is undergoing an extensive $13-million renovation project. The 261-room all-suite hotel is located in Tampa's Westshore District, within minutes of Tampa International Airport and the upscale dining and shopping of the area. The hotel's "face-lift" includes a full renovation of all guest rooms, meeting space, restaurant, fitness facilities, indoor pool and lobby.

The plan is to turn the hotel into a state-of-the-art facility with features such as hardwood flooring on select floors (yes, that means IN the guestrooms!), an improved luxury lounge area, more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space, flat panel HD televisions, modern hotel furniture and the addition of the "Link@Sheraton," an open business cafe.

Not only will the renovation project make the Sheraton Suites one of the most upscale hotels in the area, it will also create more than 140 jobs, which we all know is very important in today's economy.

The renovations are expected to be complete in November, and I will keep you all posted on the progress. Make sure to look out for the "finished-product" blog post sometime in November. Check out the hotel's Web site for more hotel information.

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

Top Five Features of the Renovations at Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore

Friday, August 14, 2009 by Partner Pulse

If you didn’t already hear, the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore (the big pink hotel on Cypress Ave) is currently undergoing a $13+ million renovation. These renovations, set to be complete by this November, are refurbishing and modernizing the entire interior of the Westshore District all-suites hotel.

While there are countless positives the project is bringing, we’d like to highlight our top five favorite features of the Sheraton Renovations:

5. Meeting Space. Meeting space will increase to more than 12,000 square feet. That means more area to hold state-of-the-art meetings in a modern and inviting environment in the heart of the Westshore District.

4. Tropical Atrium. The refurbished eight-story tropical atrium is the ideal place to hold an ‘outdoor’ wedding ceremony, indoors. The largest atrium in the area, it contains some of the most unique indoor landscaping around.

3. HD TVs. Two 32” HD flat panel televisions in EVERY suite. Sweet!

2. The Link. Stay connected with the addition of the “Link@Sheraton” in the lobby and atrium area. With this modernized, bar-side, open-style Internet café and business lounge, you won’t ever work alone in your hotel room again.

1. New Jobs. The construction created more than 140 jobs in the area. In the economic times we face, you just can’t beat that kind of job creation. And there are many more.

Some say the updated fitness room and pool are already their favorite addition. Others are awaiting the opening of the brand new St. James Restaurant. You will have to decide your favorite features for yourself. Feel free to stop in and see the inside of the new Sheraton anytime, or check out the website at http://www.sheraton.com/tampaairport.

Stay in the loop with Tampa Bay hotel updates by continuing to monitor this blog!