Matthew J. Ivory
Leadership Program Coordinator; Society of Nuclear Medicine; Reston, Va.
Describe your event. I planned the Health Professions Network’s biannual meeting. The organization comes to town for a Wednesday to Saturday configuration that includes a board meeting and allied health-based seminars. When we were in Tampa, we had 40 attendees with people staying at the Tampa Marriott Waterside, Hyatt Regency Tampa and Embassy Suites Tampa.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Tampa? We enjoy having our meeting in warmer climates that offer many different event options.
What surprised you most about Tampa? The Tampa Marriott Waterside was an awesome hotel, and its service really surprised me. It was excellent!
What did your attendees seem to enjoy most? They enjoyed an afternoon trip we took to Busch Gardens. Even though it rained cats and dogs at the end, we all had a lot of fun. It is a very flexible and enjoyable venue for entertaining a group. We spent an evening in Ybor City as well, and ate dinner at Columbia Restaurant, where we were treated to a private flamenco show.
Was anybody particularly helpful? The staff at the Tampa Marriott Waterside was amazing, but the Tampa Bay CVB staff members are the real heroes because they helped me plan a great meeting.
Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand? No. The CVB made sure I was aware of everything that was going on and were there helping the whole time.
What would you have done differently? I would have kept attendees in only one or two hotels, such as the Marriott and
Embassy Suites, so they would have been closer.
What are some of the attractions you would suggest for group excursions? Definitely Busch Gardens. You can get group tickets and even meal tickets for attendees. They will make your group feel like the park is open just for them!
How does Tampa compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings? Vendors were more flexible and service was impeccable.
Would you return? Absolutely.
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Tampa? Give the CVB a call and work with them on ideas. They will hook you up with the best deals and the most exciting venues.