Tampa Eats
• On the Tampa Riverwalk at the Tampa Convention Center, the Bay Bistro (
bit.ly/1aIjlNk) is perfect for lunch.
• Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant (
bit.ly/18fBaxa) has both a private barrel-aging room and a Napa-style tasting room.
• The Lime Fresh Mexican Grill (
limefreshmexicangrill.com), which opened in May, serves up healthful Mexican food in the Westshore district.
• On colorful Seventh Avenue in Centro Ybor, the Ybor City Wine Bar (
yborcitywinebar.com) can host private group tastings.
Tampa/St. Petersburg
The TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort in St. Petersburg recently finished a $20 million renovation of all 584 guest rooms, which now sport custom-made dark wood furniture and décor reminiscent of a classic British West Indies plantation. The property has a total of 70,868 square feet for events, including outdoor and beachfront space. The hotel's Guy Harvey Outpost, just down the beach, has 17,228 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space.
The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay completed a $16 million renovation of its 442 guest rooms and restaurant earlier this year. The hotel offers more than 20,000 square feet of event space.
The 683-room Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina just wrapped up a $2.5 million enhancement of its main lobby, restaurants and outside patio. The hotel features 33 meeting rooms and a total of 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
The Mainsail Suite Hotel & Conference Center in Tampa has converted its 360 guest rooms to 120 one- and two-bedroom suites. The property offers 18,000 square feet for events.
The newly rebranded 521-room Hilton Tampa Downtown, formerly the Hyatt Regency Tampa, is undergoing a $13 million renovation set to wrap up in November. The property has a total of 30,000 square feet of event space.
The 137-room Epicurean Hotel, born of a partnership between Marriott's Autograph Collection and Tampa's famous Bern's Steak House, will open this fall in the city's trendy Hyde Park district. The hotel includes a dedicated culinary classroom, a rooftop lounge, a high-end bistro and a wine shop, while Bern's itself can accommodate up to 60 people with a prix fixe menu.
The 108-year-old Federal Courthouse in Tampa is being retrofitted as the 130-room Le Méridien Tampa, to debut in 2014. The property will have 4,800 square feet of meeting space, including a 2,200-square-foot ballroom set in the old courtroom with 18-foot-high ceilings. Other features include two breakout rooms and a boardroom that seats 12 people.
Meeting Hotels
To find and compare properties in Tampa and elsewhere, and to send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
Convention Center
Tampa Convention Center; exhibit space, 200,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 36; (813) 274-8511; tampaconventioncenter.com
Airport Transit
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, 10 miles from Clearwater and 12 miles from St. Petersburg. Transfer cost by taxi to Clearwater, $20; to St. Petersburg, $28
Taxes
Tampa: room tax, 5%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12%
St. Petersburg and Clearwater: tourism tax, 5%; other taxes vary by municipality
Group Venue
Tampa's Capital Grille, an elegant New American restaurant, can host groups of up to 45 surrounded by wine cellars offering selections from around the world. (888) 591-4424; thecapitalgrille.com
Contact
Visit Tampa Bay, (813) 223-1111 or (800) 448-2672; visittampabay.comLee County
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, in Bonita Springs, just finished a $14.5 million renovation of all 454 guest rooms. They now sport contemporary Florida-inspired artwork, new beds and bathroom fixtures. The resort has more than 70,000 square feet of flexible function space, including ballrooms, boardrooms and outdoor venues.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, fresh from a revamp of all 263 guest rooms, is planning to convert the existing 4,000-square-foot spa into a Westin Heavenly Spa. The property has more than 25,000 square feet of flexible function space that can accommodate groups of up to 400 people.
In Fort Myers, the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa recently completed a $5 million renovation of the lobbies and front desks in the resort's two towers. The on-site Tarpon House restaurant and Charlie's Cabana bar also have been renovated. The hotel has 45,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 9,684-square-foot ballroom.
Meeting Hotels
Find and compare hotels in Lee County, and send RFPs, at mcvenues.com.
Convention Center
Harborside Event Center; exhibit space, 41,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 4; (239) 321-8110; harborsideevents.com
Airport Transit
Florida Southwest International Airport; transfer by taxi to Cape Coral, $39-$50; to Sanibel Island, $57-65; to Fort Myers, $34-$44
Taxes
Room tax, 5 percent; sales tax, 6 percent; total tax on hotel rooms, 11 percent
Group Venue
Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille on Sanibel Island is a sports bar with an extensive gourmet menu. The restaurant can accommodate up to 80 people inside and an additional 40 guests on the patio. (239) 472-8311; docfordssanibel.com
Contact
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, (239) 338-3500; fortmyers-sanibel.com