TAMPA, Fla.—Visit Tampa Bay celebrated its 40th anniversary during its “Back to the Bay”-themed annual meeting, held Nov. 5 at Centro Asturiano de Tampa. The event came as Hillsborough County marked its third-consecutive year surpassing $1 billion in taxable hotel revenue.
The annual meeting, which also serves as the organization’s forum for approving board memberships, featured the installation of new board and advisory board members, including incoming chair Pam Barber. Barber, president and general manager of Tampa Bay’s MOR-TV, succeeds outgoing chair Evette Torres of Schulte Hospitality Group.
Torres, who served as chair since October 2024, was recognized for her leadership during a record-breaking year for local tourism.
“Hillsborough County just experienced our most successful tourism year in history—exceeding $1.2 billion in hotel revenue—and I want to thank Evette for her leadership and contributions to that achievement,” said Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “She was the right leader at the right time to chair our board of directors during this successful period. We’re fortunate to have an experienced executive like Pam to guide our board going forward. With an experienced mix of hospitality and local leaders on the board and advisory board, we look forward to building on last year’s performance as we navigate a dynamic domestic and international hospitality landscape.”
The organization’s annual meeting also celebrated Visit Tampa Bay’s founding 40 years ago. Established in 1985 as the Tampa Hillsborough County Visitors Bureau, the organization became Hillsborough County’s official destination marketing organization (DMO). Over the past four decades, Visit Tampa Bay has worked with local government partners, thousands of hospitality workers, and an expanding network of businesses to promote economic development through tourism.
“We’re not just celebrating the achievements from last year,” Corrada says. “We’re honoring 40 years of collectively driving Tampa Bay forward and putting our destination on the map.”
More than 500 community partners, stakeholders, dignitaries, and elected officials, including Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan, attended the event to celebrate Visit Tampa Bay’s legacy and future.
In addition to Barber, the newly appointed officers for the 2025-2026 fiscal year include chair-elect Peter Wright of Hotel Alba, secretary/treasurer Greg Holland of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, immediate past chair Torres, and Corrada.
New members of the board of directors include Raul Aguilera, of Hilton Tampa Downtown/Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center; Jessica Cain of Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay; Andrea Gonzmart-Williams of the 1905 Family of Restaurants; Laura Maldonado of Hotel Haya; Nilesh Patel of GSNP Hotels; and Julio Soto of AAA The Auto Club Group.
New advisory board members include Tee Ann Bailey of Casa Ybor; Stephen Brocato of Florida Blue; Jennifer Castro of the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office; Eric Eisenberg, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida; William Giraldez of Embassy Suites USF; Randy Kuiken of Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites Tampa Airport Westshore; Aaron Lesage of Three Oaks Hospitality; Sarah Nemes of United Parks and Resorts; Jason Perkins of Element & Aloft Tampa Midtown; Tony Rokita of The Florida Aquarium and Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council; Joe Ruiz of Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore; Andrew Spicknall of Le Meridien; and Jeff Weckbeck of Pepin Distributing Company.
As Barber and the new appointees begin their terms for fiscal year 2026, Tampa Bay’s hospitality industry is positioned to build on its strong performance, with 28.2 million visitors generating a $9.4 billion economic impact last year.
“As we begin a new fiscal year, Tampa Bay remains a prime destination for travelers near and far, thanks to the support of county and city officials, our more than 61,000 hospitality workers, and our nearly 1,000 partners,” Corrada said. “Together, with our phenomenal Visit Tampa Bay team, we are poised to welcome the world to discover the treasure awaiting them in Tampa Bay.
