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Tampa Bay Convention And Visitors Bureau Adopts New Name

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2007

Forum And Poll: Do You Like The New Name?

TAMPA - After 15 months in search of a new brand for the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hillsborough County tourism officials today announced their choice: "Tampa Bay & Company."

In addition, the group created a new slogan, "Economic Development Through Tourism," and a new logo.

The idea was to come up with a shorter, more memorable name, said Paul Catoe, president and chief executive of the visitors bureau. The new name and logo were disclosed at the group's annual meeting this afternoon that drew about 600 people to a luncheon at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa.

Catoe said he was not concerned that the new name no longer uses the word "visitor" since that remains part of the group's Internet address, which will remain VisitTampaBay.com.

Tampa Bay & Company reflects the many roles that the group conducts for Hillsborough County, including leisure, business travel and convention marketing and sales, plus efforts to recruit sporting events, Catoe said. He added that the group's role in local economic development has not been understood.

The organization gets funds from the first 3 cents of Hillsborough's 5-cent bed tax on hotel room sales and from sales of memberships.
Pinellas County's tourism group is called the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Convention & Visitors Bureau and uses "Florida's Beach" as a slogan. That group also is expected to soon announce a new, shorter official name.

"It was a great event and a fresh and exciting new look for our "sister" destination," said D.T. Minich, executive director of the Pinellas visitors bureau who attended the luncheon. "We look forward to partnering with the new Tampa Bay & Company."

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