Convene On Location Tampa
This charming waterfront city faces strong competition from its neighboring destinations
— and is upping its game. Last year, Tampa hosted the Republican National Convention, and with a rebranded CVB and $177 million in new development dramatically reshaping downtown, the city has a whole new story to tell.
By Jennifer N. Dienst B
ehind Orlando, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C., Tampa is the fifth-largest metropolitan
area in the Southeast. But unlike these larger destinations, Tampa has lagged in name recognition until recently, when the destination scored a huge win: the 2012 Republican National Conven- tion. It was Tampa’s shining moment, and a chance for the city to show off its new wares — as I experienced during a recent two-and-a-half-day visit hosted by Visit Tampa Bay. Since 2010, $177 million has been
poured into revamping the city’s downtown and numerous waterfront neighborhoods. The result is four new museums, several new mixed-use devel- opments, new hotels, a massive reno- vation of the 20,500-seat Tampa Bay Times Forum, and the near completion of the 2.4-mile-long Tampa Riverwalk. On arrival at Tampa International
Airport, I immediately knew where I was. The sunny, airy terminal recently added pared-down versions of the city’s most popular local restaurants, includ- ing Cigar City Brewing, the Columbia Restaurant Café, and First Flight Wine
PCMA.ORG
Bar, a spin-off of the deca- dent downtown staple Mise en Place. It’s a small example of how the city stays loyal to its locals and pays homage to its diverse and rich heritage.
Treasure Awaits After grabbing my luggage at the airport, I met up with my hosts from Visit Tampa Bay, who took me to lunch at Boca Kitchen in Hyde Park, a cozy neighborhood joint that in the 1920s was a gas station and garage. Boca serves an upscale, comfort-food-inspired menu of mostly local fare, and its Hyde Park neighborhood is filled with turn- of-the-century bungalows and gleaming new mixed-use developments. While we ate, I learned more about
Visit Tampa Bay, which has undergone some big changes recently. Apart from debuting a new logo, name, and brand identity earlier this year, the bureau named a new president and CEO, San- tiago Corrada, a Tampa resident who formerly served as chief of staff for the City of Tampa. The brand’s sleek, new, pirate-inspired logo and tagline,
After Dark The historic Ybor City neighbor- hood is famous for its nightlife.
Ranked
among Forbes’ ‘Top Spots in the Country for Business.’
› The 137-room Epicurean Hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Col- lection, opens next month with the Bern Laxer School of Food and Wine.
In the Pipeline
› In early 2014, the 130-room Aloft Tampa Downtown — over- looking the Hillsborough River — will debut with a pool deck terrace.
› Le Méridien Tampa opens next year with 130 rooms inside a century-old federal courthouse.
OCTOBER 2013 PCMA CONVENE
83
PHOTOS BY ROBERT LA FOLLETTE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124