Tampa Convention Center has received the gold medal for Best Convention Center (Regional – Southeast U.S.) in the Stella Awards for the third consecutive year. The award, presented by Northstar Meetings Group, recognizes venues and suppliers in the meetings industry that consistently deliver high-quality service and innovation.
David Ingram, Executive Director of Tampa Convention Center, said, “Our team has worked hard to not only earn but maintain our reputation as one of the best convention centers in the region. Winning three years in a row shows that we are a world-class venue that focuses on partnerships and outstanding service for our clients.”
The Stella Awards are now in their ninth year and are regarded as a significant honor within the meetings sector. Winners were selected from more than 10,000 votes submitted by event planners and over 1,000 nominations. A panel of judges chose Tampa Convention Center for the top spot among five finalists.
Selection criteria included overall excellence, food and beverage offerings, staff professionalism, sustainability initiatives, and other key aspects important to event managers and planners.
In addition to its Stella Award wins, Tampa Convention Center is currently nominated for the ConventionSouth Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards—a prize it also received in 2023. Voting remains open until October 5 at midnight at https://conventionsouth.com/readers-choice-award-voting-florida/.
The center has also been recognized with a Best Convention Center designation from Smart Meetings’ Smart Stars Awards and holds a Center of Excellence ranking from Exhibitor Magazine.
Located in downtown Tampa since 1990, Tampa Convention Center features 600,000 square feet of event space with waterfront views. The facility marks its 35th anniversary in 2025. It has achieved LEED Silver certification for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M), reflecting its commitment to sustainability.
The convention center works with partners such as Aramark for food services, Edlen for utilities, Encore for audiovisual needs and rigging, FedEx for shipping and printing services, Sentry Event Services for security, Smart City for internet access and telecommunications, and Xpodigital for digital signage.
Northstar Meetings Group serves various segments of the business meetings industry through multiple brands targeting meeting planners and professionals worldwide. More information can be found at www.NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com.
