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

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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.

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PHOTOS BY ROBERT LA FOLLETTE