Tampa Bay will host Florida's biggest tourism events in 2015-16

TAMPA, Fla. – For the first time in their history, the biggest tourism-industry events in Florida will visit Tampa Bay.

Visit Tampa Bay will host the Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism, the state's biggest gathering of tourism professionals, Aug. 31 – Sept. 2. A few months later, Tampa Bay will be the site of Florida Huddle, the state's largest tourism-related trade show. Huddle will visit Tampa Bay the last week of January, ending one day before Tampa Bay's annual Mardi Gras-style Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, the third-largest parade in the Southeast.

"Tampa and Hillsborough County have been on a winning streak lately," said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. "We're excited to host the Governor's Conference and Florida Huddle for the first time and to have the chance to show our colleagues all the treasures they can unlock in Tampa Bay. From cultural events and venues to culinary gems to professional sports and fine accommodations with superior customer service, Tampa Bay is the place to visit."

Nearly 1,000 people attended the 2014 Governor's Conference on Tourism in Boca Raton. More than that attended Florida Huddle last January in Fort Lauderdale. Both events will take place at the Tampa Convention Center.