United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Tampa Bay gets ready for GOP
The Tampa Bay area has had four Super Bowls and a World Series held there. But another major event is coming up this year when the Republican National Convention is held Aug. 27-30.
Many eyes are now on politics with the state’s holding their various primaries but the August convention will bring in up to 50,000 attendees with an economic impact of up to $200 million, according to CVB estimates.
So what is the area doing to prepare for it?
“The town is really sprucing up,” said Travis Claytor, communications manager for Tampa Bay & Company. “There are beautification projects throughout the area to make sure we put our best foot forward.”
—The main facility where the convention itself will be hosted, the Tampa Bay Times Forum recently completed a $40 million renovation that replaced all 19,000-plus seats, added a 10,000-square-foot outdoor party deck, boosted the indoor lighting and upgraded the luxury suites.
—There will be new shopping and dining venues in remodeled downtown promenades along the river.
—Popular attractions will include the Florida Aquarium and the Challenside Bay Plaza shopping center.
—Latin-flavored Ybor City, a stop on Tampa’s streetcar once known for its local cigar-maker, should be a popular spot. Today, it features art shops and a variety of restaurants.
The Tampa area has about 24,000 hotel rooms with 2500 of them in the downtown convention area.
By David Wilkening
David
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel