Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

Tampa Bay

Learn why you should host your next meeting, event or conference in Tampa. 

Why Tampa for Your Next Meeting or Event? 

With its sparkling waterfront, urban cool and year-round balmy climate, it’s easy to see why Tampa Bay is a hit with groups. 

Only in Tampa Bay

A wealth of accommodations, venues, and a vibrant new entertainment and dining area add to Tampa Bay's array of group offerings.

Transportation in & Around the Area

Tampa International Airport, about six miles to downtown Tampa Bay. Transfer cost by taxi, $27; the airport is also served by Uber and Lyft.

Travel Essentials

Convention Center: Tampa Convention Center; exhibit space, 200,00 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 36

CVB: Visit Tampa Bay

2022 Stella Award Winners

2020 Stella Award Winners

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Meeting and Event Venues

New & Coming Soon to Tampa

• The Tampa Convention Center is in the process of expanding its waterfront meeting space with a $38 million capital improvement plan. The project, scheduled to wrap in 2023, will renovate existing meeting rooms, including new carpet, paint and lighting, as well as construct a new two-level addition spanning 16,000 square feet, with 18 new meeting rooms overlooking the Hillsborough River.

• Visit Tampa Bay has partnered with AirEssentials to launch Tampa Bay Sunrise, a new signature scent selected for its sweet blend of afternoon tea, rose petals and sweet vanilla, combined with subtle notes of golden sandalwood supported by creamy amber and a musk base note. This new scent will create a multisensory experience at conventions and events.

• Coming this fall is Palihouse, a chic boutique hotel in the heart of Tampa’s historic Hyde Park Village, an exclusive shopping enclave founded over a century ago. The property will offer 36 oversized guest rooms and a European-style lobby bar. 

• In the heart of the Water Street district, the new five-star, 173-room Tampa Edition offers boutique amenities, a high-end restaurant and 11,287 square feet of meeting space among 11 rooms, the largest of which spans 3,257 square feet. Outdoor event space totals 7,000 square feet.

• At Sparkman Wharf, an outdoor food hall, beer garden and creative space, several new restaurants in the shipping container dining area include the Lunch Lady sandwich shop and JoDog craft hot dogs, along with the Hampton Chocolate Factory. The wharf is part of the mixed-use riverfront Water Street Tampa district, which has continued its new development with the openings of Boulon Brasserie, Wine on Water, The Pearl, Small Giant and Predalina.

• At Busch Gardens Tampa, an exciting new attraction is being readied for a 2023 debut. Dubbed the Serengeti Flyer, this roller coaster will let visitors experience “multiple negative-G moments” as they soar to 135 feet over the theme park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain in twin gondolas, reaching speeds of 68 mph before plunging back toward Earth.

• The Michelin Guide Florida has announced that this year three Tampa Bay restaurants — Lilac, Rocca and Koya — received their first Michelin star. In addition, Psomi and Gorkhali Kitchen received Bib Gourmand designations, joining Rooster and the Till, while Noble Rice and Ponte have made the list of Michelin-recommended restaurants.

• Mast Capital recently bought the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. With 500 rooms, 45 tennis courts, two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses and 100,000 square feet of meeting space, Saddlebrook will become an oasis for those visiting the Tampa Bay Area. The resort also comes equipped with several cafes, restaurant, a pool, shops and a driving range.

The Floridan Palace Hotel has joined the Hilton brand’s Tapestry Collection and announced a $25 million renovation plan. As part of a program to curate boutique-style retailers and restaurants to breathe new life into the historic property, a new restaurant, The Dan, has opened, inspired by the Roaring Twenties and the hotel’s original Sapphire Lounge. Visitors can feast on Gulf Coast cuisine accompanied by jazz music to enjoy a sophisticated ambience.

• The new Lona restaurant has opened at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. The renowned Fort Lauderdale-based eatery, a collaboration between esteemed chefs Richard Sandoval and Pablo Salas, brings authentic Mexican fare with a twist to the city's booming culinary scene. 

• Utilizing cutting-edge game technology, Visit Tampa Bay offers an interactive map featuring custom stylized 3-D models of the city’s downtown. The platform, designed by the Tampa Bay-based Imerza, allows users to navigate through 360-degree views of nearly 1,700 buildings and popular sites. The tool primarily was developed for meeting planners and includes landmarks like the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Riverwalk, Sparkman Wharf and the Tampa Museum of Art.

• In the heart of the Water Street district, the new five-star, 173-room Tampa Edition offers boutique amenities, a high-end restaurant and 11,287 square feet of meeting space among 11 rooms, the largest of which spans 3,257 square feet. Outdoor event space totals 7,000 square feet.

• The new 180-room Current Hotel, Autograph Collection, overlooks Tampa Bay and has a private beach, along with easy access to the 16.2-mile walkable/bikeable Courtney Campbell Causeway West Trail. For gatherings, the hotel offers eight event rooms. On-site dining takes place at Julien Restaurant, featuring international small bites inspired by local flavors, while libations flow at the Rex Rooftop Bar.

• The burgeoning Midtown Tampa development recently opened new culinary experiences including Walk-Ons, Colony Grill and True Food Kitchen. Recent retail additions include Casper, Buff City Soap, William Dean Chocolates, Whole Foods and REI.

• The 519-room JW Marriott Tampa Water Street debuted in February 2021. The five-star hotel features a four-story atrium lobby lounge with hanging art and a floating conference room dubbed the Skybox. Guest rooms are open and spacious, featuring soft, natural color palettes and materials inspired by the surrounding waterfront. Located next door to both the Tampa Convention Center and Amalie Arena, the property has 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

• A dual-branded Hyatt property has opened. The 17-story project includes a 230-room Hyatt Place and a 115-room Hyatt House.  Planners can choose from five A/V-equipped event spaces, including an outdoor terrace, for a total of 3,603 square feet of flexible space. Also on-site are 3,200 square feet of retail space and a 220-space parking garage. The hotels are across from Tampa City Hall with easy access to the downtown area, the Tampa Convention Center and neighboring Riverwalk attractions, such as the Florida Aquarium and Amalie Arena. 

• The 178-room Hotel Haya has debuted in Ybor City. The boutique property offers 7,300 square feet of meeting space, including 6,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 1,300 square feet of outdoor space. The hotel has two restaurants, a bar and lounge.

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• Castlerock Asset Management has acquired the 244-room Westin Tampa Bay. The property has 10,101 square feet of conference space spread among nine rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 250 attendees.

• Marriott’s new 175-room AC Hotel Tampa Airport is in the West Shore District, near International Plaza’s upscale shopping and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium and, of course, Tampa International Airport. The hotel has four flexible meeting rooms with a total of 2,400 square feet of space.
 
• The Westin Harbour Island underwent an $18 million renovation and is now the 309-room Westin Tampa Waterside with a new waterfront restaurant, Blue Harbour, and 18,032 square feet of flexible meeting space, all just a few blocks from the Tampa Convention Center.
 
• A $50 million renovation to downtown’s largest hotel, the 727-room Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, is complete.  The property, which has been renamed Tampa Marriott Water Street, has 89,909 square feet of total event space spread among 45 rooms, the largest of which spans 6,815 square feet.  
 
• The newly renovated 277-room Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel features 12,500 square feet of meeting and event space, as well as an ideal location on the Riverwalk and just a few blocks from the Tampa Convention Center.

• The Florida Aquarium has implemented new health and safety initiatives have been implemented at the attraction, including attendance limits that support physical distancing, touchless transactions, and enhanced cleaning protocols. Staff wear masks at all times, and tickets to enter the aquarium must be purchased in advance. Situated near Tampa Bay’s Convention District, the aquarium can host groups of 250 to 4,000 people for off-site events. Individual event spaces include the Coral Reef Gallery, which can accommodate up to  200 attendees, the Mosaic Center & Rooftop, which can host up to 650 attendees and the Vinik Channelside room, for up to 125 guests.

Cigar City Brewing Taproom has opened in a prime spot between Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL hockey team, and the soon-to-open JW Marriott Tampa Water Street.

More Tampa Bay Meetings and Event Venues

• The Hotel Alba Tampa, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, has 222 guest rooms. Even spaces include a ballroom that accommodates up to 600 people, as well as multiple outdoor spaces. 

• In the heart of Tampa’s Downtown Arts District, The Vault is an elegant and versatile event venue, originally built in 1919 as the Exchange National Bank. The neoclassical main room is impressive from top (35-foot-tall ornately decorated ceilings) to bottom (polished marble floors), including floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Tampa Bay skyline. In addition to more than 6,000 square feet of interior rental space, The Vault has a charming private park perfect for a cocktail party. The place can host receptions for up to 300 people and seated dinners for up to 200.

Hyde House Public Studio is a curated, gallery-style meeting and event venue set within the vibrant shopping and dining complex called Hyde Park Village. Guests can gather in a variety of spaces, including a lobby that can host up to 100 people for a cocktail reception, an airy event area for up to 300 featuring the stylish 360 Bar, a 120-person auditorium with state-of-the-art A/V, and a covered veranda that can seat up to 180 for a sunset dinner overlooking the colorful array of shops and restaurants below.

• The 115-room Element Tampa Midtown is centrally located, just minutes from Tampa International Airport, Raymond Jones Stadium and International Plaza. The property has 3,764 square feet of event space across six rooms, the largest of which spans 2,305 square feet and can hold up to 256 people for a reception.

Armature Works, a mixed-use commercial building, offers six event spaces with views of the Hillsborough River, as well as restaurants and bar

• The Tampa Museum of Art's eclectic permanent collection leans toward modern and contemporary works, including sculpture, painting, photography and installation art. The museum, which bills itself as the only such institution in the country accessible by boat, hosts private events for groups of up to 800 people.

• The 137-room boutique Epicurean Hotel, a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, began an expansion in late 2021 that will add 43 guest rooms, eight suites, a private lobby, new meetings rooms and a fourth-floor terrace space. The property currently has 4,885-square-feet of event space, including the Grand Cru Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 200 people.

• For a venue with a raw, industrial vibe, consider CL Space. The versatile 2,088-square-foot industrial loft in the heart of Ybor City can accommodate up to 200 guests and features brick walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights and exposed beams. Dining tables, chairs and cocktail tables are included in the rental price. The venue has a kitchen, and outside caterers are welcome.

Things to Do in Tampa Bay

What's Happening in Tampa Bay?

• For those who like their thrills in high gear, the Motor Enclave features an 80-acre off-road course and a state-of-the-art performance circuit. Participants get professional driving instruction, thrilling rides and a chance to venture off-road on their own.

• Visit Tampa Bay has launched Visit Tampa Gay, a comprehensive guide for LGBTQ visitors.The guide provides an in-depth view of the region’s thriving LGBTQ community through interviews with key figures, including Tampa Museum of Art director Michael Tomor, Diversity Chamber director Justice Gennari and newly elected Tampa Mayor Jane Castor – the city’s first LGBTQ mayor.

• The hot new hangout in town is Sal Y Mar Rooftop Bar perched atop the new Aloft/Element Midtown Hotel. This casual yet sophisticated bar/restaurant offers a blend of styles and flavors from its design, inspired by the Riviera Maya town of Tulum, Mexico, to its Old World-inspired menu, created by executive chef Stephanie Biscogne. An added attraction is the 360-degree views of the Tampa, Westshore, and St. Petersburg skylines. 

Getting Active & Outdoors

• Visit Tampa Bay has launched the Riverwalk Attraction Pass, a new program offering discounts to the colorful attractions of the Tampa Riverwalk in one ticket. The pass includes access to the Florida Aquarium, the Henry B. Plant Museum, Glazer’s Children's Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay History Center and the Pirate Water Taxi. The Riverwalk extends for 2.7 miles along the Hillsborough River; bike and scooter rentals are available.

• Thrill-seeking attendees will enjoy Tampa’s newest jet-boat thrill attraction, the Bay Rocket. Propelled by 2800 horsepower, the ride maneuvers through 180-degree spins, turns and dips, while those still keeping their eyes open can enjoy views of the city’s sparkling downtown.

• Explore Downtown Tampa’s iconic Hillsborough River from a new perspective with Cruising Tikis,  a floating tiki bar that takes up to 12 guests on a unique 90-minute sail that glides by landmarks including Henry B. Plant Hall, the Davis Islands, Harbor Island and more.

• For attendees to love or would like to try mountain biking, Alafia River State Park has more than 20 miles trails for all skill levels. Set in a dense forest, the park also offers picnic pavilions, horseback riding, hiking and more

• Three unique ways to enjoy Tampa's great outdoors can found on the waterfront just outside the Tampa Convention Center. Board a Kraken Cycleboats "bar on wheels" and "pedal, pedal, drink" down the Hillsborough River. Ride along the same river on single or tandem water bicycle via Tampa Bay Water Bike Company’s "wheel" that are “easy to ride and virtually impossible to fall from or tip over.”  Those who crave speed can zoom along the Tampa Riverwalk in a rented miniature powerboat from Riverwalk Boating Company

• To take in the sights of Tampa Bay from the bay itself, arrange a two-hour stand-up paddleboard class and adventure organized by Urban Kai Stand Up Paddleboarding.

• Following a $36 million redevelopment, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and its River Center structure have received two 2019 American Architecture Awards for design excellence from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Completed in 2018 as part of the City of Tampa's plan to regenerate the West Tampa riverfront and adjacent neighborhoods, the park features expansive picnic and gathering spots with city views; first-class tennis, basketball, and football courts; a pedestrian wharf; raised walkways lined with more than 100 pre-existing oak trees; and a weekend water taxi stop. There's also a floating dock where visitors can watch the action on the Hillsborough River. The River Center has a swooping roof that channels runoff into an adjacent rain garden and incorporates a boathouse that offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, dragon boat, and scull rentals.

Extending Your Trip in Tampa Bay

• Tampa Bay is known as the craft-brewing hub of the Southeastern U.S — craft beer is as much a part of life as sunshine and hand-rolled cigars. Choose from among hundreds of locally brewed craft beers at Cigar City Brewing Co.

The Tampa Bay History Center's new Cuban Pathways exhibit tells the stories of the Taíno Indians, enslaved Africans, Chinese laborers and U.S. tourists who traveled to and from Cuba over the last 500 years. The exhibit showcases the toil, political crusade and vacations that shaped the island’s history.
 
Thrill-seekers revel in the roller coasters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Among them is Tirgris, Florida's tallest launch coaster, which "catapults riders through an exhilarating array of looping twists with forward and backward motion, breathtaking drops, a 150-foot skyward surge and an inverted heartline roll" at more than 60 miles per hour. 

Take the free streetcar line that makes 15 min stops at key destinations like Tampa Convention Center, Amalie Arena, Sparkman Wharf, The Florida Aquarium and Historic Ybor City.

Tampa's Sports Scene

Tampa Bay, nicknamed "The Big Guava" in the 1970s, takes its sports seriously. Make some time to catch a home game of:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
Tampa Bay Rays 
Tampa Bay Lightning, 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup winners

Hot F&B Spots in Tampa

• A prestigious Michelin star has been bestowed upon three new Tampa restaurants with global roots: Koya (Japan), Rocco (Italy) and Lilac at the Tampa Edition (Mediterranean). In addition, Bib Gourmand has given official recognition to Psomi (Greece) and Gorkhali (Katmandu).

• Roast deli in Ybor City is one of the area’s newest choices for breakfast and lunch via classic dishes with a nod to Tampa Bay’s African American history. The eatery also has its own bakery, and hidden within the same walls is a speakeasy in the guise of Madam Fortune Taylor’s Dessert + HiFi Parlour, featuring Caribbean soul food and an array of craft cocktails.

• Tampa Bay's undeniably hip cocktail scene is showcased in "Tampa With a Twist: A Baycrafted Cocktail Guide to Tampa Bay," a new release in Visit Tampa Bay's book series. Available at Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center and at several local retailers, the book combines photography with commentary from the pioneers of the city's cocktail culture, inspired cocktail recipes from some of the region’s best mixologists, bar bite recipes, and tips on how to create a perfect charcuterie board. 

• The city has earned the eighth spot on WalletHub’s 2022 Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians list. The list ranks the top 100 U.S. cities in this category based on 17 key metrics, including the of restaurants serving meatless options, number of salad shops per capita, and cost of groceries for vegetarians.

• The menu of dining and sipping options at the Tampa Convention Center has expanded with the completion of a project on the Riverwalk adjacent to the facility. Big Ray's Fish Camp, a fishing shack-themed restaurant, is now open. The area surrounding the 360-degree bar The Sail, formerly known as the Sail Pavilion, has been renamed Sail Plaza and revamped to include amenities like upgraded/expanded restrooms, additional seating, new shade structures, and a full kitchen for Big Ray’s Fish Camp.

Among other local favorite eateries in the area are:

  1. Columbia - Spanish
  2. Ulele - Florida Fare
  3. Wright's Gourmet House - American
  4. La Terrazza Restaurant - Italian
  5. Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que - American, BBQ
  6. Happy Fish - Peruvian
  7. First Watch - American
  8. Mr. Dunderbak's - German
  9. Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse - Brazilian
  10. Bern's Steak House - French, Steakhouse