Tampa Bay Chosen as Host City for Connect Marketplace 2021

Nationally renowned trade show connects meeting planners to key suppliers with A-list keynote speakers and premium programming

TAMPA, FL (Dec. 8, 2020) – Connect Marketplace, Connect’s largest event of the year, will make its Tampa Bay debut from August 30 to September 1 at the Tampa Convention Center and surrounding area hotels. In recent years, Connect has quickly become one of the largest and most respected travel trade shows offering destinations, hotels, convention centers and other suppliers a unique opportunity to meet with more than 1,500 planners representing over 20,000 meetings. 

The show has increased in popularity with its robust programming coupled with noteworthy A-list keynote speakers, which most recently included President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Nicole Kidman, Peyton Manning and Robin Roberts. 

"Tampa Bay is a coastal gem with all the assets we look for when we choose a host city for Connect Marketplace. Its convention center and hotel offerings are second to none and the arts, culture, culinary scene and entertainment options for our attendees is what put them over the top as our choice," says Chris Collinson, president of Connect. 

Connect Marketplace 2021 is expected to facilitate 65,000 face-to-face meetings during the show with an anticipated attendance of more than 3,000 attendees. 

“We are so excited to be hosting such a prestigious event like Connect Marketplace, especially at a time that is traditionally our low season,” says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Not only does hosting this event set us ahead of other destinations, but it also gives our County and our hospitality industry a major boost. I couldn’t be prouder of how hard our team worked to land this highly coveted event.”

Connect Marketplace will come at a pivotal time in Tampa Bay’s growth with new developments debuting just in time for its arrival, including the brand-new J.W. Marriott Tampa Downtown, Water Street Tampa’s bustling downtown core, and the newly renovated and expanded Tampa Convention Center.

ABOUT VISIT TAMPA BAY

The heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast beats in Tampa Bay. Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventurous travelers to unlock sun, fun and culture in Florida’s most diverse travel destination. As a not-for-profit corporation certified by Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), we work with hundreds of partners to tell the world the story of Tampa Bay. Treasure awaits.

ABOUT CONNECT 

Connect is a leader in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meetings business magazines, trade shows and consumer events. Connect produces national shows for meeting planners in the Corporate, Luxury, Association, Expo, Sports, Diversity, Incentive and Faith sectors as well as other state- and region-specific meetings- and hospitality-focused events. More information about the company's brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com.