The Tampa/Hillsborough County area features four distinctively different regions that enable travelers reserving rooms at area hotels, motels and resorts to customize each trip according to budget, location, range of requested amenities and proximity to popular attractions, local landmarks, business centers and convention/meeting facilities.

West Shore/Rocky Point

West Shore is a vibrant commercial center that encompasses Florida’s largest office community and provides one of the primary points of entry to Central Florida via Tampa International Airport.  Hotels include a wide variety of budget-oriented to luxury accommodations and guests enjoy numerous casual to fine dining options that are abundant throughout West Shore as well as the adjoining Rocky Point waterfront.  Two major shopping centers and two high profile professional sports facilities - Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Steinbrenner Field, which hosts New York Yankee spring training games –  and a stunning waterfront attract a cross section of area residents, business travelers and visitors from around the world.

Downtown/Ybor City

Tampa’s downtown business district boasts world-class facilities for tradeshows, conferences and conventions as well as state-of-the-art venues for concerts, professional sports events and competitions – from the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey team to college basketball competitions - plus touring productions of Broadway plays and entertainers from around the world.  Many hotels offer views of the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, a major waterway for cruise ships docking near downtown.  Outdoor cafes to white tablecloth restaurants, art and cultural centers, nightclubs and specialty shops, The Florida Aquarium, the Channel District and historic Ybor City are all part of the downtown community.

University of South Florida (USF)/Busch Gardens

Tampa Bay’s major attractions, as well as the sprawling University of South Florida campus, one of the state’s largest public universities, help to draw attention, activity and attendance to the northern region of Hillsborough County.  Busch Gardens, a major theme park and one of North America’s largest zoos and the Museum of Science & Industry, the largest science center in the Southeast, offer year round entertainment for all ages.  The area also boasts major medical facilities, an abundance of golf courses and outstanding recreational facilities, ranging from public parks to scenic canoe excursions along the Hillsborough River.   Overnight options include economical to full service suites as well as Saddlebrook, a golf and tennis resort in nearby Wesley Chapel.

Florida State Fairgrounds/I-4/East Hillsborough/SouthShore of Tampa Bay

Just minutes from the downtown core, the I-4 corridor caters to travelers seeking a scenic setting within a more rural environment.  The area’s diverse range of lodging offerings include a waterfront resort that provides direct deepwater access to the Gulf of Mexico for boating excursions or deep sea fishing.  It’s easy to enjoy an evening under the stars at an open-air amphitheater that welcomes top musical groups year round, as well as dining and shopping at one of the area’s largest malls.  The hundreds of acres that encompass the expansive Florida State Fairgrounds, serve as a host site for equestrian competitions, the state’s annual fair and numerous public exhibitions, expos and other events.

Industry and Allied Members of HCHMA are encouraged to visit this site frequently for announcements, updates, upcoming meeting information and networking opportunities.

If you are interested in learning more about the HCHMA and its member benefits, please access, download and print the online information and membership application forms available on this site.