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City of Tampa City of St. Petersburg |
Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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Host City
No place can surpass the incredible adventures
that await while visiting Tampa-St. Petersburg. From its glistening
coastlines, to breathtaking architecture and natural wildlife, this destination
holds a captive audience by infusing natural Florida with lively nightlife,
cultural opportunities, and thrilling attractions. Both Tampa and
St. Petersburg offer unique and different interests to visitors. Tampa
is a dynamic state-of-the-art city which is the third largest in the state.
St. Petersburg is a coastal city which enjoys cool breezes off the gulf
and a casual state of mind. But both cities share the desire to make
the Bay area a diverse and culturally-appealing destination to people of
all walks of life. Together, the Tampa-St. Petersburg communities
create the most compelling, multi-faceted destination in Florida.
Host Committee
Tampa-St. Petersburg’s Host Committee
is chaired by local businessman Al Austin, CEO of Austin Companies, a real
estate development corporation. As an active participant in the Florida
Republican Party, Austin has been a delegate or alternate to every Republican
National Convention and has served in leadership roles in every Presidential
campaign in Florida since 1972. Austin currently serves as Finance
Chairman for the Republican Party of Florida.
Facilities
The St. Pete Times Forum, the main convention
area, overlooks the nearby Tampa Convention Center, the site of your media
work space. Towering between these two buildings is the 717-room
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. Within an easy walk
from this convention complex are the recommended locations for the office
staff facilities, additional accommodations, plentiful parking, and flexible
staging areas for transportation systems.
Accommodations
The Tampa Bay area's more than 40,000
hospitable hotel rooms greatly exceed the estimated room requirements of
the Republican National Convention. Grand historic resorts, high
rise luxury hotels with contemporary designs and modern conveniences, cozy
B&Bs that cater to travelers by creating the comforts of home and much
more beckon travelers fortunate enough to stay within the Tampa Bay area.
Transportation
From the skyways to the highways, all
major roads, railways, waterways and flight routes lead to Tampa Bay.
The area’s abundant network of publicly and privately operated transportation
systems already in place, coupled with those under construction, keep traffic
flowing smoothly throughout the entire area. Spacious, prevalent
parking facilities put delegates just steps away from the main convention
area and other key locations, contributing to the overall accessibility
and convenience of travel throughout Tampa Bay.
Telecommunications
The Tampa Bay area maintains a technologically-advanced
telecommunications system that well serves the many demands of its population
base, business community, governmental entities and transportation sectors.
World-class network service capability is available in the region.
Security
Convention delegates will be safe in Tampa
Bay because it is our business to protect visitors; we do it day in and
day out for tens of millions of guests each year. It is vitally and
equally important to preserve an environment where delegates can concentrate
on the event and business at hand. Tampa Bay has a proven track
record having safeguarded many national, large-scale events, including
three Super Bowls, the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament, NHL
All-Star Weekend, Vice Presidential Debate, the Gulf States Governors Conference,
and the 2000 Republican Governors Association Annual Meeting.
PRESS RELEASES (date of release)
Tampa-St.
Petersburg selected as a finalist (June 14, 2006)
Bid
Delivery (May 22, 2006)
Interested
Cities Day (April 7, 2006)
Intent
to bid (March 29, 2006)
| Copyright © 2006 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action |
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