Trade Show News

Our meeting and event space is undergoing a beautiful remodel that will feature a bright, modern atmosphere, up-to-date meeting amenities in a highly desirable downtown Tampa location.

Tampa is recognized as a premier destination for corporate events, with over 540 conventions and meetings generating an estimated $366 million in economic impact for the Tampa Bay region in 2025. The global corporate events market continues to grow, with Tampa ranking highly among mid-sized U.S. cities for economic expansion.

The Tampa Convention Center's FY2026 budget outlines goals including achieving a $15.5 million revenue target, developing a long-range master plan for competitiveness, and releasing a Food and Beverage RFP by the beginning of FY26. The partnership with Visit Tampa Bay and the Tampa Sports Commission is estimated to have a $161 million economic impact for the current fiscal year.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center, connected via sky-bridge to the Tampa Convention Center, has undergone recent renovations. The hotel, located in downtown Tampa, offers a newly updated, vibrant, and contemporary guest experience, enhancing hospitality options for convention attendees.

The City of Tampa is hosting a Bridges To Business Event, an information session and networking event for local businesses. Attendees can connect with City-contracted prime firms and explore small- to medium-sized commercial construction and residential rehab projects. Businesses can also register for bid notifications and start City of Tampa certification applications on-site.

Hamilton, a full-service experiential and event marketing agency, will return to EXHIBITORLIVE 2026, taking place March 29 – April 2 at the Tampa Convention Center, with its 'Hamilton Outpost' exhibit. The exhibit aims to showcase Hamilton's full-service capabilities across experiential marketing, from strategy and creative to fabrication and on-site execution.

Hamilton, an experiential marketing company, is set to exhibit at EXHIBITORLIVE 2026 from March 29 – April 2 at the Tampa Convention Center. Their 'Hamilton Outpost' booth will feature interactive elements designed to showcase their full-service capabilities in experiential marketing.

Hamilton will be returning to EXHIBITORLIVE 2026, held at the Tampa Convention Center from March 29 – April 2, with their 'Hamilton Outpost: Creative Fuel. High-Octane Ideas. Full-Service Execution.' theme. Attendees can visit Booth #501 to experience their full-service capabilities in experiential marketing, featuring interactive elements and personalized takeaways.

The Virtual Wild today announced the launch of "WildView," a breakthrough analytics platform designed to transform how brands, exhibitors, and trade show organizers understand real-world engagement, set to debut at this year's ExhibitorLive conference in Tampa Bay, Florida, on March 30th. Powered by advanced AI-driven computer vision, WildView delivers the most precise measurement of human attention and interaction ever introduced to the live events industry. The platform can measure impressions on specific displays, dwell time, traffic flow, and content performance.

The City of Tampa is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide reliable, high-performance, and redundant telecommunications and internet services at the Tampa Convention Center.

Howick participated in the Tampa BUILD Expo 2026, held at the Tampa Convention Center on January 21-22, showcasing cold-formed steel solutions and roll-forming automation for the construction industry.

The DAX Show is making its debut in the Southeast, choosing Tampa as the location for a new event at the Florida State Fair Special Event Center on May 29-30, 2026. This event will showcase innovations in decorated apparel, offer deals from suppliers, and provide networking opportunities.

The Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2026 is scheduled to be held at the Tampa Convention Center. This annual event attracts fans of comics, pop culture, and entertainment.

Connect Marketplace 2026 is listed as an upcoming event at the Tampa Convention Center. This marketplace event serves as a platform for industry professionals to connect and engage.

The ASCRS 2026 Annual Convention is listed among upcoming events at the Tampa Convention Center. This annual convention is a significant gathering for professionals in its respective field.

The City of Tampa is seeking proposals for telecommunications and internet services at the Tampa Convention Center, aiming to enhance technological capabilities and provide a world-class digital experience for events like conventions and trade shows. The contract will run until April 30, 2026, with potential extensions, and requires providers to offer high-capacity internet, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, and a dedicated help desk.

In FY2026, the City has identified $3.2m in Non Ad Valorem Debt funding to fund various electrical, facility lighting, and fire suppression repairs and upgrades to the Tampa Convention Center. The capital improvement program is aligned with the Mayor's strategic goal of strengthening community-centric quality services.

The City of Tampa held an evaluation/scoring meeting on March 23, 2026, for RFP #26-P-00051 concerning food and beverage services for the Tampa Convention Center. This meeting is a step towards awarding a new contract for these essential convention center services.

St. Petersburg has initiated a comprehensive feasibility study to assess the viability of a downtown convention center, acknowledging the Tampa Convention Center's projected $149 million economic impact for 2026 and its busy event schedule. The study will evaluate market demand, competitive positioning, and financial performance for a potential new facility.

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking proposals for a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate the viability of a proposed convention center in downtown St. Petersburg. The study will assess market demand, competitive positioning, facility requirements, financial performance, and overall economic impact. This initiative aims to address the city's long-standing need for sufficient meeting and conference space.