TAMPA
Major Trade Show Venues in Tampa
Tampa Convention Center: Located downtown, its large third-floor Exhibit Hall is ideal for major conventions, auto shows, and large-scale vendor displays, with flexible configurations.
Major Trade Shows & Events in Tampa
- Defense & Tech: SOF Week (Special Operations Forces), Military Additive Manufacturing Summit.
- Construction & Home: Build Expo, Home & Design Expo, Florida Home Show.
- Food & Beverage/Hospitality: Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association events, Tampa Bay Veg Fest.
- Boating: IBEX (International Boatbuilders Expo), Tampa Bay Boat Show.
- DAX TAMPA (Decorated Apparel Expo): A trade show specifically for the decorated apparel industry.
- Florida International Audio Expo: An exposition for audiophiles showcasing high-fidelity sound reproduction equipment.
SEE Exhibit Services in Tampa
SEE provides complete exhibit solutions for exhibitors
Services include:
- Custom exhibit design & fabrication
- Turnkey rentals (10x10 through large island booths)
- Shipping & logistics management
- Installation & dismantle supervision
- Rigging planning & AV integration
- Graphics production
- Storage between shows
- Promo products, apparel, and Essentials kits
Your entire exhibit program is managed by one team with national coverage and deep experience in the Tampa show ecosystem
Hotels Near the main Tampa trade show venues
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center
This hotel is directly connected to the convention center via a sky bridge, making it the most convenient option for event attendees. It offers spacious suites and a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast.
Tampa Marriott Water Street
Located about 0.2 miles away, this is a large, central hotel right on the Riverwalk, adjacent to the convention center and Amalie Arena. It features multiple restaurants and a pool.
The Westin Tampa Waterside
Situated about 0.3 miles away on Harbour Island, this hotel offers waterfront views and is a short, five-minute walk across a causeway to the convention center.
Restaurants near venue
Casual & Waterfront Dining
The Sail Plaza & Big Ray's Fish Camp
Located just steps outside the Convention Center on the Riverwalk, this spot offers an outdoor, dog-friendly bar and a locally-owned seafood eatery featuring items like the award-winning Grouper Sandwich and traditional Cuban sandwiches.
Harpoon Harry's Crab House - Tampa
Situated right at the Tampa Convention Center, this spot serves seafood, steaks, and sushi in a lively atmosphere.
American Social - Bar & Kitchen - Tampa
601 S Harbour Island Blvd #107
A vibrant gastropub on Harbour Island, just across the channel, with a large patio, great views of the skyline, and classic American comfort food.
Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center
A smaller version of the historic Ybor City restaurant, offering Spanish and Cuban dishes, including the famous "1905" Salad and Cuban sandwiches, with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the water
Ulele
Located further north on the Riverwalk (a short drive or a longer walk), this restaurant celebrates native Florida ingredients with dishes prepared on a ten-foot barbacoa grill, featuring items like alligator hush puppies and fresh seafood.
After Hours & Group Activities
- Ybor City: A hub for nightlife, offering dance clubs like Castle Ybor, bars, and restaurants.
- Late-Night Spots: Check out places like Babylon Hookah Lounge, Repeal 18, or American Social for late-night vibes.
- Rooftop Bars: Enjoy skyline views with cocktails at places like M.Bird.
- Shows: Consider male revue shows like Florida Thunder for a lively girls' night out.
Group & Team Building Activities
- Gaming & VR: Laser Ops Extreme Gaming Arcade offers VR, laser tag, and archery for competitive fun.
- Water Activities: Urban Kai provides stand-up paddleboarding for unique group outings, even at night.
Here are some fun facts about Tampa
- "Cigar City" Legacy: At its peak in 1929, Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood was the "Cigar Capital of the World," home to over 200 factories that produced around 500 million hand-rolled cigars a year.
- Birthplace of the Cuban Sandwich: Though a subject of friendly debate with Miami, the Cuban sandwich as we know it—featuring ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and notably Genoa salami (a nod to Italian immigrants)—was invented in Tampa's Ybor City.
- Annual Pirate "Invasion": Tampa is the only city in the world to be "invaded" by pirates every year during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. A fully rigged pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, sails into the bay, and the event features one of the largest parades in the country, celebrating a mythical pirate named José Gaspar.
- The Longest Sidewalk: Bayshore Boulevard boasts the world's longest continuous sidewalk, stretching 4.5 miles along the waterfront and providing a scenic route for walking, jogging, and biking.
- Lightning Capital: The Tampa Bay area is known as the "Lightning Capital of North America" because it experiences more lightning strikes per square mile than any other metro area on the continent, which inspired the name of the local NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Home to the World's First Commercial Flight: The world's first scheduled commercial passenger airline service took off from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914. The flight across Tampa Bay took about 23 minutes and cost $5.
- Small Piece of Cuba: José Martí Park in Ybor City is legally Cuban soil. The land was donated to the Cuban government in the early 20th century to honor the Cuban independence leader who frequented the area.
- An Underwater Ghost Town: The remnants of the small fishing village of Bayview lie submerged beneath Tampa Bay, a result of the construction of the Gandy Bridge in the early 1900s.
- Babe Ruth's Longest Homer: Babe Ruth once hit an exhibition game home run at Tampa's Plant Field (now part of the University of Tampa campus) that traveled an estimated 587 feet—believed to be the longest of his career.
Ready to Exhibit in Tampa?
Whether you need a 10x10 rental or a 50x50 custom exhibit, SEE delivers design, fabrication, logistics, and full on-site support for every major Tampa show.
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