Tourism

Strategic Property Partners plans a downtown Tampa entertainment district anchored by a 3,500-seat live music venue.

How a New Year’s Eve bowl game became a $1.2B economic engine for Tampa Bay.

Tampa ended 2025 with record tourism, strong job growth and major investment across key sectors, setting the stage for what comes next in 2026.

The St. Regis Longboat Key brings a new level of coastal luxury to Sarasota with refined design, quiet service and an 18-acre Gulf-front setting.

Peak Surf Park plans a surf-focused destination in Pasco County as part of a large-scale mixed-use development, targeting a 2027 opening.

Evette Torres, of Schulte Hospitality Group, has been named the new chair of Visit Tampa Bay’s Board of Directors, succeeding Ray Mathews of State Farm. Torres, appointed during Visit Tampa Bay’s annual meeting at The Motor Enclave, takes the helm after Hillsborough County saw two consecutive years of over $1 billion in tourism development tax

► Procure by The Women’s Creative, a retail shop that sells gifts, accessories and skincare, opened a location in Hyde Park Village, in Tampa. (Pictured above) ► The Straz Center for the Performing Arts announced its 2023-24 Bank of America Broadway at The Straz season, with shows scheduled including Beetlejuice, Funny Girl, Company, Girl from

► Oronzo, in Midtown Tampa, has expanded its menu items including gluten-free penne, keto and protein bowls, in addition to its pizza, pastas, soups and salad offerings. (Pictured above) ► National Strategies PR, a public relations firm headquartered in Tampa, named Christine McLarty its public relations director. ► Merit Logistics, a third-party warehouse services provider,

One of the benefits of living in Florida is that you can leave your “home” paradise for a new, different, paradise when the mood strikes you, easily. And you only need a few hours to do so. With that in mind, Naples presents a wonderful option. Only 2½ hours south of Tampa Bay, you’ll find

► Achieva Credit Union, based in Dunedin, named Rocio Smith as Hillsborough market vice president, with an initial focus on establishing Achieva’s first Hillsborough branch in Carrollwood. (Pictured above) ► Bay Food Brokerage, in Tampa, launched a Center Store division and hired Gary Royal to oversee it as vice president of sales. ► Visit Tampa

Some say it’s South Carolina’s Lowcountry sultry, salt air and hazy sun-filled afternoons that captivate holiday goers. Others claim the magic of indigenous Gullah cultural and culinary charms as a primary draw for visitors. Still, others point to an almost endless string of sporting pursuits from kayaking, fishing and sailing to golf, tennis and cycling

Clearwater Marine Aquarium showed off more completed parts of its $80 million expansion Friday, including a food court, retail area and above water viewing deck. This addition is part of the $80 million expansion which began with the unveiling of the new 1.5 million gallon dolphin habitat in July. “We’re proud to be a community