FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  March 29, 2006

MEDIA CONTACT Karen Brand (813) 342-4052 kbrand@VisitTampaBay.com

Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau announced today its intention to submit a bid for the 2008 Republican National Convention.  The announcement at the St. Pete Times Forum -- the proposed Convention site -- kicks off what is likely to be a 10-month process.  The high-profile event would bring an estimated $150 million in direct spending and an additional $300 to $400 million in indirect economic impact to the greater Tampa Bay area.

“It’s a great honor to be asked by the Republican National Committee to submit a bid,” said Paul Catoe, president/CEO of the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau. “ National political conventions are one of the most highly-prized events a community can host, but this is also an extraordinary strategic business opportunity and economic development tool that will pay dividends in the Tampa Bay region for years to come.”

Prominent businessman, developer, and Republican party stalwart Al Austin has been tapped to serve as chairman of the local Host Committee.  Dick Beard, another leader in the Republican ranks, will serve as co-chair.  The Committee’s primary responsibility will be to identify and raise the funds that would be used to produce the Convention.  A budget has yet to be created.

The Tampa Bay CVB is working in conjunction with the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB and leaders in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to put together the area’s bid. The Republican National Committee is asking host cities to commit 20,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the 50,000 people that will attend the Convention, including over 15,000 members of the international media. It is estimated that the Convention will consume more than 125,000 hotel room nights -- a significant figure in the traditionally slower months of August and September -- and good news for local businesses, restaurants, and attractions.

"This is an incredibly prestigious and important event to try and bring to the Tampa Bay region,” said Carole Ketterhagen, executive director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “ Both CVB’s have worked extremely well together in the past on events of this magnitude and we’re looking forward to putting a successful bid together.”

The Request for Proposals requires host cities to commit to several key elements, including:

• A convention facility capable of seating at least 20,500 persons, including a convention floor for seating 5,500 delegates and additional seating for 15,000 plus news media
• A minimum of 350,000 square feet of media workspace near the main Convention facility
• Approximately 40,000 square feet of Convention office work space
• No fewer than 8,000 volunteers to assist in activities related to the Convention

A delegation from the Tampa Bay area will travel to Washington D.C. for an April 11 meeting with the nine-member Site Selection Committee to present a brief presentation on the area and its facilities. The meeting is also an opportunity to ask specific questions about the bid requirements, the process, and any other elements requiring further explanation or clarification.

This marks the second time the Tampa Bay area has been involved in bidding on a national political convention.  In 2002, Tampa-St. Petersburg was named one of three finalists to host the 2004 Republican National Convention, and coordinated an elaborate three-day visit by the Site Selection Committee. New York City and New Orleans were the other finalists; the event was eventually awarded to New York City and held at Madison Square Garden.

The Republican National Convention is held every four years in cities across the country.  Its purpose is to nominate an official candidate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and to adopt the official Republican Party platform.  If Tampa-St. Petersburg is selected to host the convention, it would be one of the largest events in the community’s history as well as one of the area’s highest-profile conventions.  Dates for the 2008 Convention have not yet been released by the Republican National Committee.