Paul Catoe, President & CEO of Tampa Bay & Company will be the guest speaker at our membership luncheon on September 13 at the InterContinental Hotel.  Mr. Catoe will retire effective October 31 after nearly a decade leading tourism promotion efforts for Tampa.  Join us as we thank Mr. Catoe for all he has done to advance tourism in Tampa and hear his thoughts about the opportunities and challenges ahead for the local hospitality industry.

 
Time:  11:30 a.m. - Registration;  Noon to 1:15 p.m. - Luncheon
Cost:  $35 for members; $55 for non-members.
Register at our website by 5 p.m. on September 9

Title Sponsor                           Media Sponsor

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently announced that a number of major construction projects affecting the Westshore district will begin in 2012.  Following is a summary of the projects, for more information contact Chris Weber (weber@westshorealliance.org)

• Reconstruction of the southbound lanes of I-275 from the Hillsborough River to Himes has been moved up from a programmed start date in 2014 to late 2012.  FDOT plans to select the contractor by April of 2012 with construction to begin in September 2012 and completion in early to mid 2017.
• Resurfacing of the Courtney Campbell Causeway from the Hillsborough County line to Bay Harbor Drive at Rocky Point will begin late this year and be completed before the start of the Republican National Convention in August 2012.  Pedestrian and bicycle improvements along the Causeway will begin after the convention and be completed by late 2013.
• Finally, the Veterans Expressway from Memorial to Gunn
  Highways will be widened from 4 to 8 lanes and provide all electronic tolling.  The project will begin in late 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2015.

MCRT Investments has filed a rezoning petition with the City of Tampa for a 300 unit apartment complex on a 3.3 acre site on Spruce Street, between Trask and Hesperides.  The rezoning hearing is tentatively scheduled on November 10, 2011.

Coterie Restaurants Group LLC plans to open a Grille One Sixteen restaurant at 612 N. Dale Mabry by the end of the year.  This will be the second location for the upscale restaurant. 

InterMountain Management LLC has plans to develop a 5 story, 126-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott on Lois Avenue at International Drive.  Construction is tentatively slated to begin in late 2011/early 2012.   Construction should take about 12 months.  

 
Optical Outcomes LLC is building a new two-story, 36,000-square-foot $9.5 million cancer treatment facility at 3402 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Florida Cancer Specialists will be the sole tenant and have an option to purchase the building when it's completed in the fall of 2012. 

The City of Tampa's Land Development department produces a monthly newsletter that lists upcoming public hearings for rezonings, wet-zonings, variance requests and more.  You can access the latest newsletter here. 

• 1st Place - Dan Woodward, Highwoods Properties 
• 2nd Place- Bill Szydlowski with Vernon Sales Promotions
• 3rd Place - Sylvia Thomas with the Tampa Bay Business Journal
• Honorable mentions to Brandon Marshall, Wyndham Tampa Westshore and Michelle Cyr, Centre Club

Thank you to the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza and Centre Club for donating prizes for our winners.  

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USF Bulls begin a full slate of games at Raymond James Stadium this month. The Buccaneers will take on the Detroit Lions on September 11 and the division rival Atlanta Falcons on September 25.  USF has home games on September 10 vs. Ball State, September 17 vs. Florida A&M and September 24 vs. UTEP.  Get ticket and complete schedule information for the Buccaneers at www.buccaneers.com and for USF at www.gousfbulls.com. 

Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance offers employers: On-the-Job Training Initiatives, Employed Worker Training Grants, Business Association Paid Referrals, Access to Thousands of Resumes, and Free Recruiting Services - at no cost to the employer!  For more information, e-mail employerinfo@workforcetampa.com, call 813-930-7850, or visit www.workforcetampa.com.  

Troy University will present a free session, "Explore the possibility of becoming a Clinical Mental Health Counselor!" on Saturday October 15, 2011 from 11 am - 1 pm (includes light lunch) at 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd #110 (Bridgeport Center). Topics include future of the profession. RSVP: 813-835-6220 or tampa@troy.edu. 

The Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore was recently recognized as the #1 Crowne Plaza in the United States and #2 in North America for Guest Satisfaction. 

ItaliAsia, a new restaurant that fuses the cuisines of Italy and Asia, will be opening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa Airport - Westshore at 4500 West Cypress Street on September 19.  For more info, visit www.facebook.com/ItaliAsiaTampa

Shutts & Bowen partner, Lee E. Nelson, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation ("TEDCO").  TEDCO provides economic development and job creation in the Tampa Bay area through private-public partnerships that create innovative, accessible financing for small businesses.

Bowen A. Arnold, DDA Development has been appointed to the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission for a four year team.  The Planning Commission is an independent, consolidated planning agency that promotes and coordinates comprehensive long-range planning, growth-management, transportation, and environmental protection in Hillsborough County.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Airport Westshore proudly serves Starbucks® coffee! If you are in the Westshore District near the airport and have a coffee craving, stop by the Hilton Garden Inn, located at the corner of Spruce and O'Brien Streets. Now brewing fresh Starbucks® coffees, Frappuccinos® and Tazo® teas!