Trade Show News

A 13-story AC Hotel and Moxy hotel project, featuring 175 AC Hotel rooms and 135 Moxy rooms, along with event space, is expected to open in early 2028, providing walkable accommodations near the Tampa Convention Center.

Strategic Property Partners has submitted plans for a new luxury residential high-rise at Water Street and Cumberland Avenue, which will include 452 residential units and over 37,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, adding walkable accommodations near the Tampa Convention Center.

Santiago Corrada, with Visit Tampa Bay, helped grow Hillsborough County's taxable hotel revenue to over $1 billion annually by 2025. The article also notes that tourist-tax money, partly generated by the hotel industry, is now being reallocated to help publicly finance the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed stadium.

Santiago Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, has overseen significant growth in Hillsborough County's taxable hotel revenue, reaching over $1 billion. However, Tampa now faces the challenge of losing larger conventions due to insufficient meeting and exhibit space at the convention center. Visit Tampa Bay is actively looking at convention business for 2035 and 2038, highlighting the long-term planning required for the industry.

Hillsborough County, home to Tampa Bay, attracted 28 million visitors who spent $6.0 billion, generating a total economic impact of $9.5 billion annually, according to a report by Tourism Economics, highlighting a record-breaking boom in tourism and meetings.

HireQuest Direct Tampa offers dependable staffing solutions for businesses in the Tampa Bay region, including support for convention and event schedules. They provide on-demand labor for various roles, helping businesses manage project deadlines and workforce needs for events.

Aramark is seeking a full-time Food Service Supervisor for the Tampa Convention Center, responsible for overseeing staff, maintaining food production, and ensuring sanitary conditions.

The City of Tampa website lists an "Evaluation/Scoring Meeting – Food And Beverage Services For The Tampa Convention Center" scheduled for September 29, 2026. This indicates ongoing processes related to venue contracts and operations.

Local entrepreneurs and businesses are invited to learn about the procurement process with Hillsborough County's Board of County Commissioners at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center in Tampa on September 17, 2026.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has selected Tampa Bay as the host city for its World Education Congress (WEC) in 2030. This significant win for Visit Tampa Bay highlights the city's growing appeal as a premier destination for global meeting professionals.

The Tampa Guitar Show, a trade show featuring vendors displaying stringed instruments, amps, pedals, and accessories, is scheduled for October 24-25, 2026, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Admission is $15 for adults.

The Tampa Marriott Water Street will host several industry events in late 2026, including the Millennium Software Meevo LIVE 2026, FLASCO Fall Session Oct2026, Heavy Moveable Structures Bi-Annual Symposium Nov2026, and ICSC RETAIL FORWARD WEST FLORIDA TPAMC.

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) will host its 2027 Annual Convention & EXPO from April 19-21 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. This three-day event is expected to attract over 700 industry leaders for networking, learning, and discovering innovations.

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) will host its 2027 Annual Convention & EXPO in Tampa, Florida, co-located with a Formulation Strategies Short Course. This event will provide technical professionals with practical knowledge in adhesive formulation and product development.

The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street will host several events in late 2026, including the 2026 Military Influencer Conference (September 24-26), the 2026 National Urology Conference Fall Meeting (October 9), the RJFS Empower conference (October 25-28), and the IPIA Convention & Trade Show (November 16-18).

The Tampa Convention Center recently received the Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Management in July. A feasibility study recommended the venue nearly double in size and add a headquarters hotel, with recent improvements including large LED video walls and a refurbished marquee.

The Tampa Convention Center has been nominated for the 2026 ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award, recognizing its exceptional service, professionalism, and amenities, following previous wins in 2025.

The Tampa Convention Center (TCC) is nominated for the 2026 ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award, recognizing its exceptional service and amenities. TCC is projected to host over 100 events and 300,000 attendees in 2026, generating a $147 million economic impact.

The University of South Florida (USF) and its development partners have broken ground on the $500 million first phase of Uptown Landing, a new mixed-use project in Tampa. This development will include a hotel and conference center, along with student housing, retail space, and academic research facilities, with the first phase anticipated to open in fall 2028.

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts is undergoing a massive $100 million renovation and expansion project, adding 164,000 sqft of space. This transformation aims to enhance community outreach, educational programming, and elevate the center's status on the global stage.