Tampa, Florida
Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida on Tampa Bay, along the Gulf of Mexico. It is most often referred to as the Tampa Bay area and is the fourth largest metropolitan statistical area in the Southeastern United States. It ranks as the fifth most popular American city where people want to live (2009 Pew Research).
Corporate and association meeting and event attendees can fly into the Tampa International Airport or the St Petersburg-Clearwater Airport across the bay, and be met by professional, uniformed drivers provided by Event Transportation Systems who will safely transport them to their hotels in comfort. Getting around is easy when there’s an expert at the wheel.
Tampa Conventions and Meetings
The waterfront location of the Tampa Convention Center is an ideal location for any meeting or convention. It offers a 600,000-square-foot facility with a 36,000-square-foot ballroom, 36 meeting rooms, unique architectural designs and the latest in technology. Its moderate size means meeting attendees won’t have to walk long distances between exhibits and meeting rooms, and it is well-appointed with comfortable spaces, Wi-Fi, and of course, an on-site business center, audio/visual services, and in-house shipping and receiving. Other meeting venues include the Mainsail Conference & Event Center near the airport and the Lakeland Center.
Tampa also offers meeting planners a wide range of high quality hotel options with a wide range of rates. Many hotels capitalize on their waterfront locations with great views and balconies, and many offer free shuttles to area attractions.
Tampa Event Venues
Whether on water or land, Tampa offers many unique event venues including the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Lowry Park Zoo, the Tampa Bay History Center, The Getaway, the Yacht StarShip, American Victory Ship Mariners Museum, Italian Club of Tampa, Tampa Bay Grand Prix, Tampa Bay Downs, Florida Aquarium, American Victory WWII Ship, The Museum of Science & Industry, the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, and The Tampa Museum of Art. Meeting planners are sure to find one of these venues perfect for an evening event during a convention.
Dining and Entertainment
Tampa Bay’s culinary scene is as diverse and rich as its culture, covering Cuban, Spanish, Columbian, Floribbean and Italian cuisines. It is most famous for its Cuban sandwiches and deviled crab. Attendees can enjoy high-rise, waterfront or cruise dining among its many options.
During the early 20th century, cigar-making was the backbone of Tampa’s economy, giving the city its nickname of “Cigar City.” The historic Ybor City and the Ybor City Museum State Park reflect the Cuban heritage for which Tampa is known. Popular nightlife districts include Channelside, Ybor City, SoHo, and International Plaza and Bay Street.
Sports-related activities include football (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), baseball (The Tampa Bay Rays), hockey (Tampa Bay Lightning), professional wrestling, the George M. Steinbrenner Field Yankee spring training facility, the historic register’s Babe Zaharias Golf Course and the Golfer’s Grail Indoor Golf & Tap offering top-of-the-line simulators that take visitors to over 60 golf courses from around the world.
ETS Transportation Around Tampa
Event Transportation Systems is very familiar with Tampa and the best routes to avoid daily traffic from both commuters and tourists. You can rely on ETS to deliver attendees safely and on-time, whether by shuttle bus, VIP or executive transportation options.
We also offer sponsorship support services, including bus banner advertising and sponsored video content that can be used in multiple channels to reach attendees with advertiser messaging. Contact us for more information.
