FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  April 7, 2006

CONTACT:

Karen Brand,, VP of Communications (813) 342-4052 or (813) 220-5916 kbrand@VisitTampaBay.com (813) 342-4052

Editor’s note: The Republican National Committee does not intend nor desire for the interested cities meetings to be a covered media event. As such, the RNC will not be making any statements to the press, nor will they have a spokesperson available in DC to take media questions.

Anyone interested in speaking with members of the Tampa-St. Petersburg delegation can make arrangements for phone interviews through Karen Brand at the numbers above.
 

Tampa, FL – An 18-member Tampa Bay delegation will assemble in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, April 11 to participate in a meeting with the Site Selection Committee and key Republican National Committee officials as part of the 2008 Republican National Convention bid process. Each city interested in submitting a bid has been allotted one hour with the group.  Tampa-St. Petersburg’s meeting has been scheduled from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon EST.

“This is a critically important step in the process,” explained Paul Catoe, president/CEO of the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know them, and more important, for them to become familiar with the Tampa Bay area and all that we have
to offer.  The Site Selection Committee is entirely different from the last time we bid, and although we really turned some heads last time, we still need to make a good first impression.  I’m confident that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

The RNC’s portion of Tampa Bay’s allotted hour will consist of introductions and an overview of the site selection process.  The remainder of the time will be used by the area’s delegation to highlight the key selling points of the community, including facilities, transportation, hotel capacity, and special event venues.  At the conclusion of the presentation, the delegation will have the 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.  New York City and New Orleans were the other
finalists; the event was awarded to New York City.

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.  The convention 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.