Visit Tampa Bay

The Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses returned to Tampa Bay for the first time since 2017, generating an economic impact of $7 million in Hillsborough County. Last year alone, conventions brought over $400 million to our local economy, helping to support local businesses and showcase the vibrant, welcoming community that makes Tampa Bay a top destination. It's not just the economic impact and the exposure to the destination; the social impact of these conventions on the Tampa Bay area is incomparable. Our heartfelt thanks to all the visitors and attendees who have chosen Tampa Bay. Your presence and participation have significantly contributed to the economic growth of our region. Together, we are building a stronger, more dynamic Tampa Bay! https://lnkd.in/diWMH5vY

The Visit Tampa Bay team was honored to win a first place Henry at the Flagler Awards for our role in the Hillsborough High School Tourism Academy that not only introduces tourism to high school students but also expands our reach through the University of South Florida program. We were also recognized for our Guide to Social Inclusion with a bronze award last night at the 2024 Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism hosted by Visit Florida at the Tampa Convention Center. Named after American industrialist Henry Flagler, the Flagler Awards are an annual statewide competition recognizing outstanding Florida tourism marketing. Established in 2000, they honor the countless individuals and organizations helping maintain Florida's position as one of the world's most popular travel destinations.

Thank you Destinations International for the privilege of hosting your 2024 Annual Conference at the J.W. Marriott Tampa Water Street and Tampa Marriott Water Street and allowing Tampa Bay’s standing as a world-class destination to take center stage among world experts on top-tier travel. With nearly 2,000 destination marketing organization professionals in attendance representing more than 30 countries and territories, this convention was the largest in DI history! From the Unlock the Block! kickoff party at Sparkman Wharf on Tuesday to the Sunset Market: Sip, Savor, and Shop supporting local businesses on Wednesday to the Ybor City Block Party culminating the convention Thursday and all of the highly-information breakout sessions – that is why everyone was here after all – in between, the entire event was a rousing success and unmitigated blast. Let’s do it again in the very near future!

Destinations International Annual Convention kicks off today in Tampa Bay! With 2,000 attendees expected it’s their largest ever. To celebrate the event, we’re showing off our Visit Tampa Bay-branded rideshare cars courtesy of Carvertise. This is the first time we’ve been able to release these cars in Tampa, and we were the first DMO to capitalize on this unique marketing opportunity. Typically, these cars would be seen on the streets in some of our top visitor markets like New York, Chicago, and Boston promoting our beautiful destination. Keep an eye out for these eye-catching vehicles in downtown Tampa throughout the week.

At this month’s Business by the Bay, help us give back to the community by shopping local! Stop by the Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center on July 17th from 4:30pm - 6:30pm to support minority-owned businesses and food & beverage partners. This event will be held in conjunction with the Destinations International 2024 Annual Convention. All conference attendees, Visit Tampa Bay partners, and the general public are invited to participate. Join us! https://lnkd.in/eca5Df_S

After breaking tourism records in 2023, Tampa Bay is achieving similarly robust numbers in 2024, thanks, in part, to a variety of new hotels and restaurants available to visitors, bolstering an already significant and sizable lineup.  Thanks to TravelPulse for shining a spotlight on the evolution of our destination https://lnkd.in/eA2qBmv9

Visit Tampa Bay scores with globally recognized FC St. Pauli! ⚽️ We are officially a Kapitan level sponsor of Bundesliga’s FC St. Pauli von 1910 e.V.! This partnership will bring media opportunities, Tampa takeovers, and more. Fans can look forward to seeing Tampa Bay represented at Millerntor Stadium, in Germany, throughout the season. With direct flights from Frankfurt and other European hubs, we're excited to connect with FC St. Pauli’s global following. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating this exciting partnership! #VisitTampaBay #FCStPauli #TampaBay #Bundesliga #Partnership #GlobalCommunity #Inclusion #Diversity

Aeromexico’s inaugural flight has just landed at Tampa International Airport (TPA), marking the beginning of an incredible new journey. With daily flights from Mexico City to Tampa Bay, this new route will bring over $70 million in revenue annually for the community! To celebrate the first direct flight between Mexico City and Tampa Bay in three decades, we watched an incredible performance by our friends at Tampa City Ballet and Dance Tampa Bay with music from a mariachi band. Get ready to unlock new adventures in Tampa Bay! #AdventureAwaits #UnlockTampaBay

We are so grateful and appreciative of everything the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc is doing for our community. The economic and social impact is invaluable, but what we treasure most is the incredible friendship we’ve formed between Visit Tampa Bay and the Divine Nine.

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, ΩΨΦ, is taking over Tampa Bay. Approximately 25,000 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members are in Tampa from June 26 - July 2 for their 84th Grand Conclave at the Tampa Convention Center, billed as the largest Conclave in the fraternity’s illustrious history. Thursday morning, the Omegas unveiled a paver on the Tampa Riverwalk commemorating the significance of the occasion. Our Vice President of Multicultural Sales & Development Sherri Brown put it best during the ceremony - the Omegas are now part of our Tampa Bay family and will be here forever. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically Black college - Nov. 17, 1911 at Howard University.