Destination: Tampa Bay Area Meeting & Event Planning City Guide
Destination Articles
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The Call of The Wild
By Jessie Fetterling
November 20, 2012
Florida is full of excitement, from Miami’s Latin-inspired festivities to Orlando’s never-ending theme-park rides. But it also offers a bounty of natural wonders to FdMisicaomvier : The tvheirrgdl aldaregse isn't cthorea sl orueethf . Tharrieern asytisotenm’s lianr gtehset wurobraldn opffar tkh sey cstoeamst of Jacksonville. And several national and state parks in between.
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3 Days in Greater Tampa Bay
By Karen Misuraca
June 26, 2012
Opening to the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay is surrounded by the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. On the Gulf side, Clearwater is 23 miles to the west, and Sarasota lies 60 miles south of Tampa on its own bay. White-sand beaches ring the Gulf and near-constant sunshine make the region a year-round meetings destination.
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Southwest Florida, Naturally
By Heather Larson
May 31, 2012
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Albert Einstein wasn’t talking about meeting-goers in particular, but how better to foster creativity and recharge attendees than to take them where nature inspires and provides a respite from the frenetic pace of the business world? Southwest Florida—Sarasota, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Naples and Marco Island—is just such a place. The communities are distinct, yet each features possibilities for immersion in nature that can help a group reboot and reconnect, and ultimately be more productive.
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A New Day on Tampa Bay
By Karen Misuraca
July 27, 2011
Florida’s largest open-water estuary, fed by river tributaries and the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay is a massive, warm body of water. Four bridges and a causeway span the bay, connecting metropolitan Tampa with St. Petersburg on the west shore, and Clearwater and Sarasota on the Gulf shore. The four cities are part of greater Tampa Bay, a major meetings destination with irresistible attractions: a balmy, subtropical year-round climate; close proximity to international airports and miles of world-famous sugar-white beaches.
Add to that countless meetings-oriented hotels and resorts, a dazzling convention center and now, brand-new bayfront and gulf-side urban developments incorporating stunning meeting, party and event venues.
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Florida Centered
By Maxine Cass
August 02, 2010
Greater Central Florida may not be as familiar as its famous heart, the Orlando theme parks, but in destinations from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, your meeting attendees will find affordability, abundant accommodations, several of the best airports in the country and entertainment. “You can typically count on the weather,” adds Susan Katz, director of corporate events and travel for True Value Company, who has planned multiple meetings in Orlando.
Learn about Tampa Bay Area for Event Venues, Services & Meeting Destinations
Destination Description
Smart Stats:
Number of Meetings Hotels: 190
Total Hotel Rooms: 20,000
Number of Special Events Venues: 119
Local Convention Centers: Tampa Convention Center
Local Airports: Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Local CVB: Visit Tampa Bay, Bradenton Area CVB, Sarasota County CVB
Smart Snapshot:
Florida’s largest open-water estuary, fed by river tributaries and the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay is a massive warm body of water. Four bridges and a causeway span the bay, connecting metropolitan Tampa with St. Petersburg on the west shore and Clearwater and Sarasota on the Gulf shore. The four cities are part of greater Tampa Bay, a major meetings destination with irresistible attractions: a balmy subtropical year-round climate; proximity to international airports and miles of world-famous white-sand beaches.
On a peninsula nearly surrounded by the bay, the city of Tampa sees a lively influx of conventioneers, along with with sun-seeking tourists and sports fans who flock here to watch the NFL Buccaneers football, MLB Tampa Bay Rays baseball, NHL Lightning hockey and Major League Baseball spring training.
It helps that the city’s sparkling waterfront and attractions are connected by historic electric streetcars, water taxis and the new 2.2-mile Tampa Riverwalk, which follows the Hillsborough River as it meanders through downtown. A focal point of activity with alfresco cafes and leafy parks, the promenade provides pedestrian access to the Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Museum of Art, the aquarium, performing arts venues and the Channelside shopping and entertainment district.
