TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Bright colors. Bold photography. A freshly renovated convention center set against a brilliant backdrop.
These are among the attributes Visit Tampa Bay is promoting in the largest meetings and conventions campaign in the organization’s history.
Coming off its most successful summer of conventions to date and the DMO’s best fiscal year ever, with $1.1 billion in taxable revenue, the $1 million campaign will target meeting professionals and associations across the United States. According to a press release, the goal is to expand the awareness Tampa has captured in key markets in the Midwest and West Coast.
Highlighting things such as the upgrades at the Tampa Convention Center to the destination’s MICHELIN-recognized restaurants and nationally recognized hotels, the campaign, developed in partnership with FKQ Advertising + Marketing, encourages meeting professionals to “Meet Vibrantly” and “Gather Brightly.” Tampa Bay’s diverse culture and “ongoing commitment to warmly welcoming all” are also featured in the campaign, the news release states.
“Tampa Bay isn’t only a place where dynamic meetings happen—it’s also where convention-goers want to extend their stay because they feel our warm welcome,” says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “We want meetings and groups to enjoy what our premier destination offers like the scenic Tampa Riverwalk, which links our beautifully expanded Tampa Convention Center and many other must-experience attractions like gems on a string.”
Seeking to engage directly with meeting professionals, Visit Tampa Bay has developed strategic partnerships with industry groups such as the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), helping to increase brand exposure and boost the value of the ads.
Come January 2024, with an additional $1.5 million investment, Visit Tampa Bay will ramp up the messaging by launching a new campaign targeting transient business travelers and small groups. According to the news release, the campaign will reach individual business travelers, encouraging them to extend their stay and enjoy the city’s events and festivals, attractions, and restaurants.
