Westshore E-News: News from the Westshore Alliance
IN THIS ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2015
ALLIANCE NEWSAllianceNews
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Helicon Property Restoration
Northwestern Mutual
The University of Tampa
The Weisman Law Firm
Do you know someone who could benefit from Alliance membership? Refer a new member and receive a certificate for FREE admission to an upcoming Westshore Alliance luncheon. Learn more about membership benefits.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
Thank you to the following companies that have recently renewed their Alliance membership.

20+ Years
First Housing

15-19 Years
Arcis Investments, Inc.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Tampa Bay

10-14 Years
Brinks
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Extended Stay America
Village Inn
Workscapes
5-9 Years
Framework Group, LLC
Friedrich Watkins of Tampa, LLC
Hiregy
North Reo Street, L.P.
Schwartz Research, Inc.

1-4 Years
Balfour Beatty Communities
BCC Engineering
Chase Suite Hotels
Del Frisco's Grille
Impact Health and Performance
MLK MOB, LLC
New York Yankees
Pentasys Corporation
Profitability Institute
South Tampa Ecumenical Ministries/Faith Caf�
Trenam Kemker
Ron Rotella Golf Classic Sponsorship Opportunities Available
The Ron Rotella Golf Classic on November 13 is sold out, but there are still sponsorship opportunities available. View a complete list of sponsorship opportunities here.

Thank You to Our Tournament Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor


Gold Sponsors
      New York Life

Silver Sponsors
UPCOMING WESTSHORE ALLIANCE EVENTS

Holiday Luncheon Returns to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Tues. Dec. 1
11:30 am Registration, 12 pm Lunch
Fleming's, 4322 W. Boy Scout Blvd.
$40 Members, $55 Prospective Members
REGISTER

Informational Breakfast and New Member Orientation
Tues. Dec. 8, 8:30 - 9:30 am
Location TBD
FREE Event
REGISTER
Committee Meetings (Members Only)
Ambassador Committee
Tues. Dec. 1, 11 am
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
RSVP to Rosemary Bidwell		Transportation Committee
Wed. Jan. 6, 10 - 11:30 am
AECOM
RSVP to Chris Weber
January Luncheon with Cigar City Brewing Founder/CEO Joey Redner
Thurs. Jan. 14
11:30 am Registration, 12 pm Lunch
The Centre Club, 123 S. West Shore Blvd., 8th Floor
$40 Members, $55 Prospective Members
REGISTER

SAVE THE DATE! 33rd Annual Meeting & Dinner
Wed. Feb. 24
5:15 - 8 pm
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Drive
Contact Rosemary Bidwell for sponsorship opportunities.
Thank you to our Media Sponsors
View a complete list of Westshore Alliance events on our website.
DEVELOPMENT & TRANSPORTATIONDevelopmentTransportation
Restoration Hardware's 37,000-square-foot "Gallery at International Plaza" is scheduled to open November 13. The store will include multistory showrooms of its high-end furniture designed to look more like a home than a store and showcase some of its lesser-known lines such as RH Baby & Child and Outdoor & Garden. Read more.
A hotel flag that Marriott International Inc. has imported from Europe to appeal to millennial travelers is in the works. A 180-room, 91,000-square-foot hotel, labeled an AC by Marriott property in filings with the city, is proposed between One Metro Center, the office building that fronts West Boy Scout Boulevard, and MetWest One. Read more.
The 262-unit apartment complex under construction at 4310 Spruce St. has been named "The Westly." Framework Group is developing the luxury apartments, which range from approximately 600-square-feet for a studio to over 1,600-square-feet for a three-bedroom. Read more.
YO! Sushi is now open at International Plaza. The fast-fresh restaurant specializes in serving authentic Japanese dishes from a rotating conveyor belt. Its flagship debuted in London 18 years ago, and the brand has more than 80 eateries.
Microsoft is opening its first retail storefront in the Tampa Bay area at International Plaza this week, which will replace the Microsoft kiosk that has been there since 2013. The 3,521-square-foot store is expected to employ 30 people. Read more.
Florida Community Bank will open its second Bay area branch at 130 S. West Shore Blvd. in Town Square Center at the West Shore and Kennedy boulevards. The new office is about 1,500 square feet and is expected to open in early 2016. Read more.
Oxford Capital Group, the new owners of the Bay Harbor Hotel and Conference Center (formerly the Best Western Bay Harbor) on Rocky Point are planning major property renovations. The Chicago-based company acquired the 261-room hotel last month, as well as the 20,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant formerly known as Hogan's Beach. Read more. 
Plans are in the works for a new tourist attraction in Westshore where guests will answer scavenger hunt-type questions and solve a series of puzzles to "escape" from their location. The Escape Countdown company's newest "escape room" is scheduled to open one block east of WestShore Plaza. Read more.
The Westshore Alliance Transportation Committee on November 4 was packed with information on transportation priorities and initiatives in Westshore. Here's a quick recap of the items discussed:
  • RS&H presented an update on the City of Tampa's plans for operational and safety improvements on Spruce Street from Hesperides to Dale Mabry. View the presentation here. 
  • Alliance Executive Committee member and Master Plan Committee Chair Randy Coen provided an update on our discussions with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) regarding the I-275/SR 60 Interchange Reconstruction Project. In addition to alleviating traffic congestion on the highway, the project presents an opportunity for improvements to local streets in Westshore. The Alliance has communicated our priorities for the project which includes Reo, Trask and Occident Street extensions that provide NEW connections under the interstate.
  • Westshore is the City of Tampa's first location to receive the new Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) offering the latest technology in traffic control devices, fiber optic communications and cameras. The system installation will be complete by next fall. 
  • Updates were presented on GO Hillsborough and the Tampa International Airport Master Plan construction. Follow airport construction progress here.
To learn more about transportation projects happening in Westshore, please email the Alliance's Director of Transportation Chris Weber or call 813-289-5488.
The Westshore Alliance, Community Traffic Safety Teams of Tampa Bay, Tampa Downtown Partnership, New North Transportation Alliance and St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership invite you to attend the Regional Summit for Bike/Walk Tampa Bay - a regional coalition of citizens, public officials and community leaders dedicated to making Tampa Bay the best place in the nation to walk and bike. The Summit takes place on December 2 at the John F. Germany Downtown Library. The free event is open to the public, however space is limited and RSVP is required. Read more.
COMMUNITY & MEMBER NEWSCommunityMemberNews
AECOM recently appointed Srini Kris as Senior Vice President and Manager of its Florida Division. Kris brings extensive experience in large public- and private-sector projects, including major transport infrastructure projects and multi-billion-dollar programs to build and modernize hospitals, schools and universities. Read the announcement here.
COMMUNITY & MEMBER EVENTSCommunityMemberEvents

Nov. 6 - Dec. 24: Santa Photos at International Plaza Nov. 12-15:Father and Son Fantasy Clinic at Steinbrenner Field  Nov. 15:Buccaneers vs. Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium Nov. 20: Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting Children's Cancer Center 

Visit the Alliance "Community & Member Events" webpage to check out more upcoming events happening in Westshore, as well as events submitted by member companies.
To submit your company's event, please email the event name, date and link to event webpage or flyer. Events are included on a space-available basis.
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