The Westin Tampa Bay was recently named the #1 Hotel in Tampa Bay by  U.S. News, as they just released their 2013 Best Hotels listing.

For the second year in a row The Westin Tampa Bay has been the recipient of this honor and it proves the theory that excellence is a habit!

The doors opened back January of 2009, and this amazing new 244-room, AAA 4 Diamond award winning property hasn't looked back since, with a variety of updates to enhance its already amazing location located located on Rocky Point Island.

With close proximity to Tampa International Airport, nearby shopping & entertainment and easy access to downtown Tampa, you can see why the Westin Tampa Bay is ranked consistently amongst Tampa Bay's accommodation elite.

The Westin Tampa Bay is also home to one of the area's most picturesque waterfront dining locations. At Aqua Restaurant Bar & Lounge, experience an environment designed to entertain your every sense, highlighted by a water encased walk-in wine cellar and a state of the art open kitchen.

Whether you are looking to host a meeting/event, enjoy a weekend getaway with a loved one, or sample fine culinary delights, be sure to check out the Westin Tampa Bay!

Tampa Welcomes IBEX here for a Site Visit!
 

Amy Trautman, our own National Sales Manager conducted a very successful site tour of our city with 2 of their company's key personnel. 

We are bidding on a three year contract for 2014, 2016 and 2018 with an estimated 18,000 room nights total.  The economic impact to Tampa is estimated to be $4,564,000 each year.  The two site participants were very impressed with our warm Tampa send off at the finale of their tour at the Tampa Convention.  

Their board plans on coming in February for their site tour.  We will keep you updated.

Looking for somewhere to enjoy the “Big Game” this weekend in Tampa Bay?

Gaspar’s Grotto, located in Ybor City, Tampa’s Historic Latin Quarter is hosting their 2^nd Annual Super Bowl Party.  For only $30 enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet and  all-you-can-drink domestic drafts, house wines and well cocktails.  If you didn’t go last year, make sure you go this year… you don’t want to miss this party and at only $30 it may be one of the hottest Super Bowl party deals in Tampa!

Enjoy the new outside Galley Patio with the big screen TV or the Lounge area.  Buy your tickets soon before they are sold out!

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Gaspar’s Grotto website: http://www.gasparsgrotto.com/

If you are not a fan of the hustle and bustle of crowds and would rather stay home to enjoy the “Big Game” we have a great deal for you! 

DoorstopDelivery.com offers a fantastic solution and discounted deals to insure your in-home Super Bowl party is a blast!  Place your order online in advance and save BIG!

Here are the discount codes for you to use when ordering online:

• Take $5 off when you spend $50 using code: TPAB5
• FREE delivery on orders over $35 ($3.99 Value) using code: TPABFR
• ½ off delivery when you spend $25 ($2 Value) using code: TPABHALF
• *Important: Coupon Codes are CASE SENSTITIVE and all coupons expire on Sunday at 4 p.m.

If you are not familiar with DoorstepDelivery.com and their professional team of “mobile waiters” you are missing out my friend!  This delivery company is revolutionizing the way people eat, allowing the convenience of having your favorite restaurants delivered directly to your home, office or event! Cheaper than catering and YOU select what you want from YOUR favorite restaurants, where YOU want it (at your home, office, hotel, event, pool…) when YOU want it (order now and place for future delivery) and how YOU want it (delivered, picked up or dine-in).

Enjoy football, friends, food ALL in the comfort of your home and delivered to your doorstep!

Participating restaurants:  TooJay’s , The Rack, Green Iguana, Red Elephant Café, Wimauma, The Bungalow, Datz

Join us in congratulating one of our Tampa Bay & Company Partners, The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel which continues to rank among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels in the U.S.

The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel continues to rate among the top luxury hotels nationwide, based on the 2013 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the “Best Hotels in the USA.”
Select hotels were evaluated based on an analysis of awards, expert recommendations by professional travel industry representatives and guest reviews. An estimated 2,000 hotels from throughout the U.S. and Caribbean qualified for the 2013 annual rankings report.
Location, proximity to top shops and beaches, the comfort and quality of its 293 guest rooms and the hotel’s acclaimed, on-site restaurant, Pelagia Trattoria, (http://www.pelagiatrattoria.com/new/) were among the reasons cited for the AAA Four Diamond-rated Tampa hotel’s inclusion on the exclusive list, according to the U.S. News web site.

“This Renaissance web site boasts, and recent guests uphold, that the hotel will place you near the best restaurants, shops and beaches. You'll find that you're enviably close to the Tampa International Airport (TPA) as well. Room features are typical of a Marriott — plush bedding, marble showers — and they're accented with blue and green "Mediterranean-style" furnishings.
Recent guests report the rooms are spacious, well-appointed, and clean. Visitors also praise the on-site, Italian restaurant, Pelagia Trattoria. You'll find this four-star hotel on Jim Walter Boulevard. And if you're a Marriott Rewards member you can use or earn points by choosing to bed down here,” U.S. News noted.
“It is always a pleasure to be praised by our guests and recognized within our industry for creating a quality experience for everyone who stays at the hotel, dines at Pelagia Trattoria or has any reason to visit this property,” said Jim Bartholomay, general manager of the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel.

Renaissance Hotels is a lifestyle brand within the Marriott International, Inc. global portfolio of brands. 

“Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel ranks #2 out of 80 Tampa hotels based on an evaluation of expert ratings and awards, as well as user reviews. The hotel scored high enough to make the U.S. News list of the Best Hotels in Tampa,” according to U.S. News. For more information about the report go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/USA/.

For information about Florida hotels and resorts included on the list go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Florida-r59/. For information about hotel properties located in Tampa go to: http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Tampa_FL/.

The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza hotel is located at 4200 Jim Walter Blvd. in Tampa. The full service hotel features the award-winning Pelagia Trattoria restaurant, a renovated fitness center, an outdoor pool and 12,500 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 813-877-9200 or 1-800-644-2685 or go to http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpaim-renaissance-tampa-international-plaza-hotel/. To reach Pelagia, call 813-313-3235.

ABOUT RENAISSANCE
Renaissance Hotels represents a diverse collection of more than 150 hotels in 35 countries worldwide. Each property is unique, offering passionate travelers a one-of-kind experience and memories they will be sure to take with them long after they depart. Within every hotel, guests are greeted by an exceptional array of amenities and an inspiring world of local discoveries. For travelers looking to experience something new, innovative and locally driven programs including the industry leading entertainment platform RLife LIVE as well R Navigator, ensure that every trip is transformed into an eye-opening, unforgettable journey. Renaissance Hotels. Live Life To Discover. To discover more visit www.renhotels.com.

Friend them on Facebook www.facebook.com/RenHotels

Follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/RenHotels

 

The Tampa Bay & Company Convention Sales team is hard at work these days traveling across the country at tradeshows and conferences. Here's just some of the events where you can expect to see our team at:

• HCEA Healthcare Convention Marketing Summit- January 24, 2013: Baltimore, MD - Jennifer Friday
• MPI MACE – February 5-6, 2013:  Washington, DC - Tammy Lamm
• Destinations Showcase- March 14, 2013: Washington, DC - Dori Laack
• Experient’s Envision- March 13-15: Houston, TX - Jeff Gassaway
• MPI Cascadia Educational Conference– March 3-5, 2013: Portland, OR - Amy Trautman
• XCITE Show -February 19, 2013: Tallahassee, FL - Lisa Chamberlain
• Plan your Meeting- February 2013: Jacksonville, FL - Holly Coger Laverentz
• Religious Convention Management Association -January 28-31, 2013: Minneapolis, MN - Sherri Brown

Will you be at any of these shows? If so let us know in the comments below, and be sure to stop by and say hi if you see some of our team members, as they would love to see you! As always stay tuned in for more updates on Tampa Bay meetings & conventions and check out our website to learn more about hosting your next meeting in Tampa Bay!

Celebrate African Heritage Heritage this week in Tampa Bay as the 2013 Tampa Bay Black Heritage officially kicks off tomorrow with events all over the Tampa Bay area!

This ten-day cultural event that features speakers, musicians, artists, poets and crafts people locally and nationally January 17, 2013 and will run through to January 26, 2013 with events at various locations throughout the Tampa Bay area!

Each day of this ten-day experience provides all attendees with an opportunity to increase their awareness of African and African-American culture and history. Here are some of this weeks events that will be going on:

• Wednesday January 16, 2013 - USF MLK Lecture Series
• Thursday January 17, 2013 - Financial Seminar
• Thursday January 17, 2013 - Farming Family & Folk Art Exhibition Reception
• Friday January 18, 2013 - Heritage Gala
• Saturday January 19, 2013 - 5K Walk for Health
• Saturday January 19, 2013 - Old School Saturday
• Saturday January 19, 2013 - Let's Gooooo Skate Party
• Saturday January 20, 2013 - Gospel Jazz Sunday
• Saturday January 20, 2013 - Black Girls Rock Party
• Saturday January 20, 2013 - Plant City Leadership Breakfast

As you can see, plenty going on this week, so be sure to soak it up and enjoy the festivities. For more updates on the Tampa Bay Black Heritage festival be sure to check out our website!

The food & wine scene is alive and well in Tampa Bay this month! In addition to all of the great dining options you have on a nightly basis, many local restaurants will be offering great wine dinner options!

The only thing better than delicious food, is having a number of wines to sample and have while enjoying some of the local flavors! Here are some of this month's wine dinner experiences going on in Tampa Bay this month:

• Cinebistro at Hyde Park - Join CinéBistro at Hyde Park as they host winemaker Gary Hartley of Hitching Post Wines for a “Meet the Winemaker” dinner on Thursday, January 17. The Oscar-winning surprise hit, “Sideways,” features Hitching Post Wines as Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) embark on a week-long road trip through California’s wine-country before one of them ties the knot.
  
  Guests of CinéBistro will enjoy a presentation by Hartley on the winery and making of the movie as well as a three-course meal paired with Hitching Post wines and a screening of “Sideways.” The evening begins with a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. and costs $60 per person, including tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 813.514.8300 or visiting the concierge’s desk in person.
• Jackson's Bistro Bar& Sushi - Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi proudly presents a 5-course Winemaker Dinner to remember. Executive Chef Rachid El Yamani will craft a delicious array of tantalizing foods sure to please.  
  
  The Winemaker dinner is being held on Tuesday,February 5th-just in time to wine & dine your Valentine!  The event will take place in Jackson’s breathtaking Waterfront Room. You will be taken on a sensory trip the Stag’s Leap District of Napa Valley with Chimney Rocks’ fantastic varietals. The event begins at 630pm. Commentary will be provided by Chimney Rock Winemaker, Elizabeth Vianna whom along with Executive Chef Rachid El Yamani have carefully selected the perfect wines for each of the 5 courses. Combining their talents will make this a certain culinary success.

Know of any more food & wine events in Tampa Bay? Lets us know in the comments below!

For more info on these great wine dinner events, be sure to contact the restaurants directly to make reservations or otherwise. We'll keep checking back with great restaurant news often, but in the meantime visit our website to learn more about the Tampa Bay dining scene!

Good afternoon arts and culture cravers and lovers of the arts!

Presented by Opera Tampa and serving as the company’s 18th season, the Florida Opera Festival will have an international flair and will be an exciting, vibrant time filled with grand opera, beautiful music and fun-filled events to delight both opera aficionados and opera newcomers.

Newly appointed Artistic Director and Conductor Daniel Lipton will bring his international sensibility and years of worldwide experience to the Florida Opera Festival.

Lipton has gathered singers, directors and others, whose resumes boast acclaimed performances on the world’s leading operatic stages.

The Florida Opera Festival continues through March 10, 2013. Remaining festival events include:

• Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 9 and 10, at 2 p.m. – Giuseppe Verdi’s A Masked Ball
• Feb. 9 – Opera Tampa Gala
• Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 and 17, at 2 p.m. – POPera!
• Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m. – Meet the cast of POPera!
• Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. – Meet the cast of La Bohème
• Feb. 21 and 27 and March 4, 7-9 p.m. – Open Rehearsals for La Bohème
• Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. – Bon Appétit
• March 1, at 8 p.m. – Katherine Jenkins with special guest Nathan Pacheco
• March 3, at 2 p.m. – Sunday Afternoon at the Movies: Moonstruck
• March 7, at 6 p.m. – La Bohème Pre-performance Reception
• March. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and March 9 and 10, at 2 p.m. – Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème
• March 10, at noon – La Bohème Sunday Pass Pre-performance Brunch

The performances of A Masked Ball, La Bohème and POPera! are presented by the Helen Torres Foundation.

Single tickets and season ticket packages are available in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office, by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) or outside the Tampa Bay area at 800.955.1045, or by visiting www.strazcenter.org or www.operatampa.org.

Thats all for now, but for more updates on Tampa Bay area events, check out the calendar of events at our website!

Antiques Evaluations Saturdays

Many of us have followed the “Antiques Road Show” on television hoping to spot a familiar family heirloom worth enough money to change our lives. At the Henry B. Plant Museum we have our own “Antiques Road Show” called Antiques Evaluations Saturdays.  Seven Saturdays a year skilled appraisers donate their time to evaluate the community’s possessions.

Bring your favorite treasures to the Music Room in Plant Hall at The University of Tampa for a verbal evaluation. At 10 am on Saturday, January 5, local appraisers will be available to answer your questions.  Evaluation cost is $5.00 per item, which goes to the restoration and renovation of the museum.  There is a limit of four items per family. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis, and will be sold between 10 am and Noon.  If furniture is too large, bring a good photograph and a drawer or door from the piece, if possible. 

Afterwards you may visit the Museum for FREE.

Here is a video link to a short video describing what takes place at the Antiques Evaluations Saturdays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_9UkkNTom4

Some or all of the following appraisers will be present.

Nancy Hilbert–Collectibles

Jay Hunter Loiselle–American paintings, furniture and Americana

Ashby Moody–Maps, silver and documents

Frances Redell-White–Paintings, prints and art

Barbara Smith–Jewelry

Vicki Sopher-Decorative Arts

All proceeds benefit the Henry B. Plant Museum. Parking is available in the Faculty and Staff parking lot on the west side of Plant Hall.

The Henry Plant Museum interprets the turn-of-the-century Tampa Bay Hotel and the lifestyles of America’s Gilded Age.  Critical to the success of this mission is the restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark, an opulent 1891 railroad resort, and the artifacts significant to its history, and the life and work of Henry Bradley Plant.  The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday, noon to 5 pm.  Closed Monday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Admission is $10 per adult, $7 for seniors (65 yrs.), $7 for students and $5 for children 4 – 12 yrs.

Well it seems like only yesterday we were embarking on the year 2012, and now here we are getting to welcome the year 2013!

As always we want to make sure we help you ring in the new year, so with the help of our friends over at 813 Area, here are some of the top New Year's Eve bashes going on this evening:

• Rooftop Eve 2013
• Aqua Eve 2013
• New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens
• New Years Eve Bash at Dallas Bull
• Return to Prohibition NYE 2013 at Mangroves SoHo
• Diamond Soiree NYE 2013 at Club PranaPrana
• New Years Eve at Aqua
• 2013 New Year's Eve Channelside
• Pied Piper Production's NEW YEARS EVE 2013 Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi
• New Years Eve 2013 Toast
• New Year's Eve Sightseeing Cruise aboard Yacht StarShip

Also here are some of the awesome food and wine dinner celebrations going on at Tampa Bay area restaurants:

• Donatello Restaurant New Year's Eve
• Roy's Hawaiian Fusion New Year's Eve
• Carmel Cafe
• 2013 New Year's Eve Dinner at Grillsmith Restaurants

Of course these are just a few of the awesome New Year's Eve Celebrations going on this year in the Tampa Bay area, so be sure to check out www.813area.com for more, and be sure to check back with us often in the new year for things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay nightlife updates!

Linda Mummert here reporting on another successful tradeshow attended by Tampa Bay & Company associates and partners which included Alex Kaptzan, VP of Convention Sales & Services, Amy Trautman, National Sales Manager and Jeff Gassaway, Regional Account Executive along with Denise Allegra, Sales Manager with Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina and Tampa Convention Center's National Sales Manager Stacy McGlinnen.  

Holiday Showcase is annual event sponsored by the Association Forum of Chicagoland.  This event took place on December 13, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.  It was attended with over 1,000 meeting planners.  Educational Workshops were offered in the morning with the trade show in the afternoon.

Tampa Bay & Company and Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater held a client luncheon at the Filini Restaurant & Bar located at the new Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel from 11am - 1pm.  A good time was had by all. Well that is it for now until next time.  Happy New Year!

Linda Mummert reporting on another exciting convention sales event.  Sherri Brown, National Sales Manager had an important site visit with the National Baptist Convention USA group on December 20th.  In attendance were Marsha DuPont, Director of Conventions, Meetings & Planning, Dr. George W. Waddles, Sr., President of Congress of Christian Education and William Foster, Treasurer of Congress of Christian Education.  They toured our downtown hotel properties and the Tampa Convention Center. 

Sherri gave them a driving tour of  Tampa’s downtown highlights including the Channelside District and local restaurants.  Tampa Bay & Company, hotel partners and Tampa Convention Center associates “wowed” them with our Tampa Bay Welcome at the Tampa Convention Center

They are considering Tampa for their June 2015 Congress of Christian Education meeting with an economic impact of over $3,000,000.00 for our city.  Total room nights over 14,000 with an attendance of 20,000 delegates.  We truly want this convention in Tampa!  Well it is over and out for now until next time.

Happy Thursday every one and Happy Holidays as well!

Jerm here to let you know about one of the most exciting holiday events in the Tampa Bay area this season that is going on at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit this season then look no further than Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

For the past few weeks, Christmas Town has transformed Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay into a winter wonderland of surprises and all things Christmas.

What can you look forward to when there:

• special entertainment,
• live music
• festive treats
• holiday shopping
• snow
• and much more

Christmas town is however winding down so your last chance to make it out to see all of this holiday awesomeness is this Sunday! As always the crew here at Visit Tampa Bay has some tickets we are going to give away to two lucky followers on Twitter!

Now if you've played along with us before for trivia you know how this game goes, just reply and answer the question we pose on the Visit Tampa Bay Twitter account and that enters you into a chance to be one of two names that we will draw!

So lets re-cap, in order to win, just answer the trivia questions below by replying to us on Twitter with the correct answers.

We will draw names tomorrow mornin gand notify the winners! Also it does increase your chances of winning by re-tweeting our original giveaway tweet!

Enough of me babbling, here are the trivia questions:

• What are the hours for Christmas town this weekend Dec. 21-23?
• True or False: Christmas Town boasts over 200 miles of Christmas Lights
• Name the Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian artists who will provide an uplifting finale each evening with an exclusive concert in Christmas Town™ Village.

Well that's it for now folks, but get to answering the trivia question! Weather you win or not, Christmas Town tickets are going fast, so be sure to purchase tickets before this event is over! For more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay, visit our website!

Located right off of I-4 in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, is an experience for a variety of reasons.

First off, how about 100% U.S.D.A. prime? All dry aged 21 to 28 days, cut right in front of your very eyes at the butcher shop as you wait to be seated. I you don't believe me check out the photo to your right.

If seafood is what you are in the mood for, you can sample any of the fresh fish, caught right here in Florida. The Alaskan King Crab legs are just one of many seafood delights that will have your mouth watering!

I had the chance to stop by Council Oak for dinner for the first time recently, and I think I may actually still be full from this feast of plenty. Since it was my first time here, the server was kind enough to tell me the unique sorry behind the "Council Oak" in Council Oak steakhouse. All of this along with one of the more upscale atmospheres in Tampa Bay as, trust me when I say the service here is second to none.

In terms of the entire foodie experience, a friend and I went all out and did the full experience, which I would highly recommend with a group of friends, as the portions are a plenty so don't hesitate to order and appetizer or even entree and pass it around the table.

To kick off the evening we decided to go with a cheese tray assortment, which for me was good considering the smorgasbord of food I was about to order. Have a glass of wine, (for me it was Catena, Mendoza, Argentina, 2010) which I would highly recommend.

After the cheese tray assortment was no longer in existence we headed towards the main course of the evening which consisted of:

• Porterhouse smothered in aged Maytag blue cheese
• 8 oz Filet
• Council Oak Corn
• Lobster Mac & Cheese

Don't ask me to rate these meals, as they were all super amazing, and a little tidbit about the Council Oak Corn... they make it with bacon... yes folks bacon, which we all know makes everything better.

If you haven't been to Council Oak, then definitely put it on your list for upscale Tampa Bay dining options in the area, as the menu, service, and atmosphere are second to none. I'll definitely be making return trips to give the seafood portion of the menu a try!

If a full meal is not on your agenda, and you just wish to wind down in a relaxed atmosphere,  visit to the COUNCIL OAK LOUNGE where you can listen to live entertainment nightly, enjoy the lounge menu and our superb specialty drink list or a fine cigar, Sunday-Thursday.

That's it for now, but stay up to date for the latest foodie happenings and for more info on Tampa Bay restaurants, be sure to visit our website!

It's Christmas time at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and boy did the gang go all out this year!

Busch Gardens set out to create the newest tradition for Tampa families by way of the first annual Christmas Town event!

Start a new family tradition and check out Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as Christmas Town transforms the park into a nighttime holiday wonderland of wintery surprises and all things Christmas, filling guests’ senses with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors, and creating a beautiful new tradition for Tampa’s families.
 
For the first time in the park’s 53-year history, visitors to Christmas Town will experience all-new evening attractions, shows and shopping from 6 to 11 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night,  through Dec. 23. Here just a few of the awesome things you can expect to see while there:

• Mrs. Claus’ Family Feast
• Ice Wonder Way
• Candy Cane Lane
• SnowWorld® Presented by Coca-Cola®
• Penguin Point
• Sesame Street Season of Fun
• and much more

And while Christmas Town will introduce guests to all new experiences, guests will also have the opportunity to ride some of Busch Gardens’ most popular roller coasters, including Cheetah Hunt, SheiKra and Gwazi.  The special event includes attractions exclusive to the nighttime experience
 
Christmas Town is a separate-ticketed night event, and regular daytime admission is not required or included. General admission for Christmas Town is $39.99 plus tax.

Busch Gardens annual pass members will receive the deepest discounts with advance online priced at $24.99 for adults and $9.99 for children, and special offers are available for guests wishing to upgrade their paid daily admission to Busch Gardens.

As you can see, there are so many ways to purchase tickets so be sure to do so! For more updates on holiday related things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay area events be sure to follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tampa Bay & Company partners with St. Petersburg/Clearwater CVB for a Client Event in Denver!

Linda Mummert here with some exciting convention sales news!  Our own Amy Trautman, National Sales Manager with Tampa Bay & Company and Jill Brown, Meetings & Convention Sales Manager with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB hosted a Bucs vs Broncos client event at the Sports Authority Field in Denver on December 2, 2012. 

Clients from both organizations attended the event along with Denise Allegra, Senior Sales Manager with the Tampa Marriott Hotel & Marina and D.T. Minich, Executive Director with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater CVB.

Days following the event, Amy Trautman had several sales calls and appointments with clients to deliver current information about what the City of Tampa had to offer for potential convention business. The Denver client event and sales visits were a huge success!  Over and out for now, until next time for more updates on Tampa Bay meetings!

Linda Mummert here reporting on great convention news!  Our own Sherri Brown, National Sales Manager with Tampa Bay & Company and Susan Williams, Director of Convention Services along with a number of key Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity alumni travelled to Norfolk, VA to present the City of Tampa’s bid for their 2017 Grand Chapter Meeting.  In attendance, Les Miller, Hillsborough County Commissioner, Kappa Alpha Psi member, his wife Gwen, President of the Silouettes (Kappa Alpha Psi women’s division), Eric Blanc, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Tampa Convention Center, Cedric McCray, Polemarch of Tampa Alumni Chapter and Allen Thompson, Vice Polemarch of Tampa Alumni Chapter.

Tampa was one of four cities selected to make a presentation.  Orlando, Baltimore, and Philadelphia were the other three.  The Grand Chapter Meeting is scheduled for July 26 through August 7, 2017 with total room nights of over 8,000 and attendance between 2500-3000 is expected.  
 
We should be notified of the Board’s decision sometime this week.  We look forward to welcoming the Kappas to Tampa in 2017! That's all for now, but stay tuned in for more updates on Tampa Bay meetings!

College football fans once again have a chance to voice their opinion on what teams they want to play in the Outback Bowl.  Each year the bowl asks fans to vote for the SEC-Big Ten match-up they'd like to see play in Tampa's New Year’s Day game by participating in the bowl's Online Fan Poll at www.outbackbowl.com. 

"We like to get input from the fans and see who they are really excited about seeing in the game, provided they are available to us," explains Mike Schulze, Outback Bowl Director of Communications & Sponsorships. 

The Outback Bowl gets the third choice of teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences.  There are currently eight teams from those two leagues ranked in the BCS Top 25. 

Last year’s game featured a triple-overtime thriller between Michigan State and Georgia.

Teams are expected to be announced on Sunday, December 2.  This year’s game will be played on January 1st in Raymond James Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00PM ET. 

Tickets to the bowl are available online through www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida.  Fans can get information on bowl events, area hotels and attractions, etc. at www.outbackbowl.com or on our website at www.visittampabay.com/OutbackBowl .

As the winter is slowly starting to settle in it what’s better than a backyard BBQ to remind you of all the sweet summer days that have come and gone. That’s right ladies and gentlemen the 2nd Annual Tampa Pig Jig is upon us!

Pig Jig was created last year when a group of extraordinary men joined together to raise money when they found out a close friend of theirs had been diagnosed with FSGS, Focal Segmental     Glomerulosclersis, a debilitating kidney disease.

All the proceeds of this delicious and entertaining event will go to the NephCure Foundation, which is the only organization that is exclusively committed to seeking research for the cause of this disease and Nephrotic Syndrome.

For those of you brave enough to put your secret sauce on the line there will be a BBQ competition, live music, and fun games! The benefit will be held at The Heights on December 8 and will run from 12- to dark. Tickets are available to purchase at http://tampapigjig.eventbrite.com/#. General Admission is $10 if purchased in advance and $20 the day of the event. VIP Admission tickets are also available for $100 and include food and drinks provided by Pappas Ranch.

Come out and support this great event and don’t be afraid to get jiggy with it! Stay tuned in for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!
Tata for now!
The Intern
 

The dust has settled and the models are in place, the time is finally here! Legoland Florida has finished their newest expansion, Star Wars Miniland. This exciting new area of LEGOLAND is scheduled to open this weekend, November 9.

The new expansion consists of over 1.5 million LEGO bricks and has a total of 2,000 models! Parts of the exhibit were created in LEGO Model Shops in California and Germany and had to be shipped to Florida specifically for this exciting new expansion.

Star wars Miniland will consist of one scene from each of the six Star Wars movies to create the ultimate Star Wars experience for its viewers. Some of these great new models will reach over 6-feet tall and have interactive buttons that will allow its visitors to interact with the exhibit!

If you are looking for the best way to enjoy this great new expansion and see all the other wonders of LEGOLAND then the Florida Resident Pass is for you.

This pass will give you unlimited access to LEGOLAND Florida and LEGOLAND Water Park (that’s right they have a water park as well!).

Along with this 12 month pass you will also be granted access to other Merlin attractions including California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madame Tussauds and many more benefits included. If a yearlong commitment isn’t right for you, tickets are also available online at www.legoland.com. Also be sure to check out our LEGOLAND Florida Family Vacation Package

Have a great time checking out this new expansion at LEGOLAND Florida and may the force be with you! That's it for now, but be sure to check back for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!