Westshore District

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!

A Tampa Bay Dining Experience Fit For A King...

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Hello gang, Jerm here! I recently had the chance to have dinner over at Shula's Steakhouse over at the famed InterContinental Hotel. For those of you who didn't know, Shula's is located in the beautiful Westshore District of our fair city and themed after the 1972 Miami Dolphins' "Perfect Season and NFL Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula. With a reputation liek that to uphold, you can only imagine that a dining experience here is absolute perfection.

Having said that though, for as long as I have lived in the Tampa Bay area, I have never eaten there, so I was pretty pumped to have the chance to go and see what all the fuss was about. I did however need to find a date, asI didn't want to go and have this great dining experience all by myself, so I called up to one of the prettiest gals I know and asked her if she would care to join me.

Shula's is a very popular restaurant here in Tampa, so in order to make sure we could get seated, I made a reservation using Open Table, which is a very convenient feature that Shula's also has. Once we got to the restaurant we were shown straight to our seat and that is when the royal treatment began!

Our servers Mario and Chris, that evening were awesome. I have been to plenty of places before and dined, but I have never received the level of attention and detail as I did at Shula's. I am very much a stickler about always needing my glass always full with whatever it is that I may be drinking that night (yes I know I am picky), but thanks to Chris, I can't remember a time during the evening when my glass wasn't full and our every need wasn't attended to. My unnamed Plant City beauty was well taken care as well as they kept her wine glass the entire evening.

I wasn't sure what to expect as far as appetizers go so I asked Mario to make a recommendation and he suggested the BBQ Shrimp. Believe me when I tell you that you have never tasted anything so delicious. Shrimp wrapped in apple wood bacon with a tangy BBQ sauce, that was so good it makes you wanna slap someone! They could have just brought me an entire plate of that and I would have been good to go!

As far as diner was concerned, you can probably guess that Jerm is a steak man, so it was just a matter of which one I was going to choose. Being the gentleman I am though I let my companion order first, and she was in the mood for a little surf and turf in the form of the lobster tails and the fabulous 8 oz filet mignon with creamed spinach as her side. I was almost tempted to be adventurous and try the 48 oz porterhouse, but even I am not man enough to take that task on, although I was tempted! In the end though I decided to go with the 20 oz "Kansas City Strip" as I was thinking I could handle that. As for my side item, I was in a potato mood, so I went with the double baked potato.

A few minutes and some good conversation later, I had a feast in front of me, as the portions at Shula's are rather large. At this point, considering we hadn't even had dessert yet, I was fairly confident that the Shula's staff would have to roll us out of there in on a gurney as we were going to be too full to walk! Everything was made to perfection and I was so full afterwards that I could barely move, but I couldn’t stop just yet, not with dessert on the horizon.

Since it takes a bit to bake, we actually ordered dessert before we got our meal and decided to go with the Molten Lava Chocolate cake. Yes it was just as good as it sounds. So much chocolate, so little time, and they even give you a bit of ice cream and whip cream on the side.

At the end of the day gang, dinner at Shula's isn’t just dinner; it’s an experience on so many levels. From teh moment you are seated, to the moment when you have to unbuckle your belt to make room, you are treated like royalty.

Chef Jonathon Luft and his crew will always be in Jerm's good graces, and they can rest assured that I will be back one day to try out that 40+oz porterhouse!

Great atmosphere, great service, and great food are hard to find all in one, but from Jerm's point of view this place is top choice. Thats all for now folks, keep checking back for more things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay nightlife tidbits from Jerm and Christina!

Simply Put...Wazoo Was Amazing...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 by Bay Bloggers

Yeah I guess the title kind of gives this blog away. For those of you who were unable to attend, let me just say that you 100% need to put Wazoo on your calendars for next year!

This past Saturday was the 14th annual Wazoo Beer and Wine Festival at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo! The sunny Tampa Bay weather set the stage for a great event as there were sooooooooooooo many people there. One recommendation that I will make for anyone going next year, is to get there early! The event started at 7:30 pm, and I got there right on time and still had to park across the street in overflow parking. Just gives you an idea of how popular this event is in the Tampa Bay area.

If you are a beer drinker, then upon entering the gates, you are in what can only be termed as "Beertopia." The moment you walk in, there are samplings of your favorite beers, and then a bunch that you haven't even heard of. Since Jerm is not much of a beer drinker (prior to Wazoo, I have only had one beer in my life), I hadn't really planned on sampling any, but then i thought to myself...hey loser, you are at a Beer Festival... enjoy it!

And enjoy it I did! Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo will be happy to know that I tasted my 2nd ever beer at their festival, as well as my 3rd, 4th, and 5th! I will be sending them a plaque for this honor later this week. My favorite of the evening would have to be the Lemon flavored beer I had. Can't quite remember where I was when I had it or who makes it, but it was darn tasty. I do recall that it was over near bundaleer at Wallaroo Station though. For the second place beer award, all I have to say is HOORAY BEER! You guessed, good ol Red Stripe.

In addition to all of the alcohol on premises, there was plenty of food as well. I myself spent the evening dining on Pizza from Papa Johns, and Westshore Pizza, but there was was plenty of hamburgers, pasta, chicken wings and much more for patrons to dine on. If you were lucky enough to make it into the Safari Lodge, you were introduced to even more beer vendors, and some pretty tasty food, and the DJ of all DJ's!
At one point while I was there, I heard C&C Music Factory, Rick James, as well a little Cotton Eye Joe...lol. Now that is what I call a selection of music, as it was very festive.

Staff and volunteers at the Zoo do a great job making sure this event is top notch, so many kudos to those guys for making my weekend! Thats all for now guys, but be sure to check back for information on Tampa Florida attractions, and all of our great things to do in Tampa Bay!

2009 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Tickets On Sale Now!

Monday, August 3, 2009 by Josh Jones

The road through the college football season to the 2009 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship will once again culminate in Tampa on December 5 at Raymond James Stadium. Will you again be there as the two division champions battle it out for the right to represent the ACC in the Bowl Championship Series?

Be the first to purchase your tickets to this year's Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, one of the best values in all of college football. TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM
Get your tickets now!

For more information about the 2009 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship log on to www.TheRoadToTampaBay.com

Stay tuned for more updates and Tampa Bay area events from your Tampa Bay Sports team!

Exclusive Ticket Pre-Sale Offer For the 2009 ACC Football Championship!

Friday, July 31, 2009 by Josh Jones

Josh Jones here with an exclusive offer for you, courtesy of the ACC and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

The road through the college football season to the 2009 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship will once again culminate in Tampa on December 5 at Raymond James Stadium. Will you be there as the two division champions battle it out for the right to represent the ACC in the Bowl Championship Series?

Be the first to purchase your tickets to this year's championship game, one of the best values in all of college football. Take advantage of the exclusive Ticketmaster pre-sale and get your seats at the lowest price before tickets go on sale to the general public on August 3!!!

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

Click here for the pre-sale and get your tickets now!

Tampa's Hidden Jewel: The Tahitian Inn

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 by Convention Sales

If you are coming to Tampa Bay and you are not sure of where to stay, I suggest looking into the Tahitian Inn Hotel, Cafe & Spa. Located off of Dale Mabry in Tampa's WestShore District, the Inn is a hidden jewel that even some residents do not know about. The historical boutique hotel is nestled in a tropical garden oasis, set back from the road just enough for you to forget you are in the middle of the Dale Mabry Business District.

The Inn has a variety of guest rooms to choose from, from spacious cabana rooms, executive suites and even the completely furnished Bella Villa town homes that can be rented for families, multiple occupancies or extended stays. All guest rooms are equipped with microwaves, refrigerators and coffee makers, and are decorated in Tommy Bahama-style furnishings, adding to the tropical oasis atmosphere.

If you are staying at the Tahitian Inn, you don't have to worry about where to eat. The Tahitian Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with breakfast served until 3 p.m. I unfortunately have not had the chance to have brunch at the Tahitian, but I've heard that many famous athletes go there on a regular basis, so that certainly says something!

The Tahitian Inn is in the perfect location, only 4 miles from Tampa International Airport, with tons of Tampa bars close by, prime shopping and sports arenas, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football stadium, Raymond James Stadium. The hotel offers guests complimentary airport shuttle (and transportation within a 5 mile radius), free high-speed wireless Internet access and 24-hour Health Club.

The hotel's Serenity Spa offers facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and more. The Torch is the Inn's poolside Tiki bar, which makes it easy to order your favorite cocktail without having to leave your lounge chair. And for people who hate traveling without their special friends, pets are welcome at the Inn!

For more information on the Inn or to book your reservation, visit the hotel's Web site. As always, thanks for reading and keep checking back for more information on Tampa Bay meetings and hotels!