Party Places
Looking for a glamorous spot to hold your next charity event?
Here are some popular and/or intriguing places — from hotels to cultural pavilions — and the distinguishing details.
A La Carte Event Pavilion
4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa
813-831-5390 or alacarteeventpavilion.com
Catering Capacity: 2,500 reception; 1,000 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Award-winning facility with terrace, gardens and ballroom; in-house design center helps create large themed events
Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa
3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
866-728-2206 or doncesar.com
Catering Capacity: 500 reception; 300 banquet
Outside Catering: No
St. Pete Beach landmark features top-quality food and beverages from Maritana Grille, Chef’s Table, others.
Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa
813-273-4000 or flaquarium.org
Catering Capacity: 3,000
Outside Catering: No
Rent entire facility or portions, including Coral Reef and Shark Bay exhibits, Taylor Great Room or facility catamaran
Florida International Museum
100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg
727-822-3693 or floridamuseum.org
Catering Capacity: 500 reception; 250 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred List
Affiliate of Smithsonian Institution means events held amid blockbuster exhibits; hours 6 p.m.-midnight
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa
813-874-1234 or grandtampabay.hyatt.com
Catering Capacity: 2,000 reception; 980 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Four-diamond hotel overlooking Tampa Bay and 35-acre wildlife preserve; award-winning chefs and A/V team
Gulfport Casino Ballroom
5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport
727-893-1070 or ci.gulfport.fl.us
Catering Capacity: 450 reception; 450 banquet
Outside Catering: Yes
Elegance of the 1930s in newly renovated facility; outstanding bayside view; full bar service
Harborview Center
300 Cleveland St., Clearwater
727-462-6778 or harborv.com
Catering Capacity: 1,390 reception; 900 banquet
Outside Catering: No
View of Clearwater Harbor; ballrooms and meeting rooms divided easily; Clearwater Room popular for receptions
Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hotel
950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg
727-540-0050 or hilton.com
Catering Capacity: 925 reception; 770 banquet
Outside Catering: No
New property, opened in summer 2006; its Picasso Ballroom can be configured from 1,540 to 9,265 square feet
Higgins Hall
5225 N. Himes Ave., Tampa
813-875-4040 or stlawrence.org/hall
Catering Capacity: 1,500 reception; 850 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred list
One of the Bay area’s newest facilities; high ceilings and hardwood floors provide gracious ambiance
Hyatt Regency Hotel Tampa
211 N. Tampa St., Tampa
813-225-1234 or tamparegency.hyatt.com
Catering Capacity: 2,400 reception; 1,500 banquet
Outside Catering: No
In heart of downtown; offers extensive planning additions for events, including in-house A/V team and décor assistance
India Conference Center
5511 Lynn Road, Tampa
813-960-7092 or indiaconferencecenter.com
Catering Capacity: 1,000 reception; 800 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Flexible scheduling with creative décor and additional decorating for no extra charge; alcohol must be provided by host
The Italian Club
1731 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa
813-248-3316 or italian-club.org
Catering Capacity: 450 reception; 300 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred List
One of Ybor City’s grandest buildings; offers three floors and three rooms (ballroom, cantina, theater) for festivities
Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa
813-935-8552 or lowryparkzoo.com
Catering Capacity: 1,400 reception; 450 banquet
Outside Catering: Yes
Saunders Pavilion provides secluded and tropical setting; smaller banquet halls have similar ambiance
Mahaffey Theater
400 First St. S., St. Petersburg
727-892-5798 or mahaffeytheater.com
Catering Capacity: 350 reception; 250 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred list
Newly refurbished facility features Grand Ballroom (3,696 square feet) and a spectacular view of the bay.
Marriott Waterside Hotel
700 S. Florida Ave., Tampa
813-221-4900 or tampawaterside.com
Catering Capacity: 2,500 reception; 1,580 banquet
Outside Catering: No
In heart of downtown Tampa; only five minutes away from Channelside shopping district
Mirror Lake Lyceum
737 Third Ave. N., St. Petersburg
727-821-1926 or mirrorlakelyceum.com
Catering Capacity: 800 reception; 500 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred list
1920s style grand hall and ballroom, with stained glass, period décor and original oak hardwood floors.
Palladium Theater
253 N. Fifth Ave., St. Petersburg
727-822-3590 or palladiumtheater.com
Catering Capacity: 350 reception; 150 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Professional stage and performance space; great for awards banquets or charity galas with live entertainment
Port Authority Cruise Terminals
1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa
813-905-7678 or tampaport.com
Catering Capacity: 1,500
Outside Catering: Yes
Terminal 3 is newest terminal and a scenic waterfront setting
Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza
4200 Jim Walter Blvd., Tampa
813-877-9200 or marriott.com
Catering Capacity: 830 reception; 530 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Lavish Costa del Sol Ballroom features Italian crystal, on-site event planner, custom menus
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg
727-894-1000 or marriott.com
Catering Capacity: 900
Outside Catering: No
Historic property overlooking Tampa Bay; award-winning chefs; indoor and outdoor settings available
Ruth Eckerd Hall
1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater
727-791-7400 or rutheckerdhall.com
Catering Capacity: 350 reception; 280 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred list
Recently renovated Heye Great Room was first phase of $21 million expansion project
Saddlebrook Resort
5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel
813-907-4717 or saddlebrookresort.com
Catering Capacity: 2,000 reception; 1,500 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Beautiful glass-enclosed tropical pavilion for banquets and receptions; extensive catering menu
Safety Harbor Resort & Spa
105 Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor
800-458-5409 or safetyharborspa.com
Catering Capacity: 300 reception; 250 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Historic facility located on Tampa Bay’s waterfront; spectacular views of water and surrounding 22 acres
St. Petersburg Hilton Hotel
333 First St. S., St. Petersburg
727-894-5000 or stpetehilton.com
Catering Capacity: 1,200 reception; 660 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Great location in downtown St. Petersburg; newly renovated lobby and meeting rooms
St. Petersburg Coliseum
535 N. Fourth Ave., St. Petersburg
727-892-5202 or stpete.org/coliseum
Catering Capacity: 1,400 reception; 900 banquet
Outside Catering: Preferred List
In heart of downtown waterfront district; entire facility or individual ballrooms available
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa
813-222-1075 or tbpac.org
Catering Capacity: 360 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Downtown facility has multiple spaces for a variety of purposes; Banquet Hall (4,047 square feet) easily accommodates dinner and dances
Tampa Convention Center
333 S. Franklin St., Tampa
813-274-8511 or tampagov.net
Catering Capacity: 17,000 reception; 9,000 banquet
Outside Catering: Yes
Downtown waterfront location best suited for huge events; in-house catering available
Tampa Museum of Art
600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa
813-274-8130 or tampagov.net
Catering Capacity: 600
Outside Catering: Yes
Perfectly artful backdrop of events large and small; 6 p.m. is earliest start time; museum provides alcohol
Tampa Radisson Riverwalk Hotel
200 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa
813-223-2222 or radisson.com
Catering Capacity: 300 reception; 300 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Located in downtown on Hillsborough River with University of Tampa’s famous minarets as backdrop
Tampa Theatre
711 Franklin St., Tampa
813-274-8286 or tampatheatre.org
Catering Capacity: 150
Outside Catering: Preferred List
Intriguing location for receptions; often used in conjunction with TECO Plaza atrium (across street) for banquets
TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
727-367-6461 or tradewindsresort.com
Catering Capacity: 950 reception; 700 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Award-winning service, creative catering managers, breathtaking beachfront location
University of Tampa
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
813-253-6238 or utampa.edu
Catering Capacity: 500 reception; 230 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Historic Tampa Bay Hotel holds Fletcher Lounge, newly renovated and touted as “most enchanting ballroom in Tampa”
Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort
36750 U.S. Highway 19 N., Palm Harbor
727-942-2000 or westin-innisbrook.com
Catering Capacity: 2,100 reception; 1,400 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Award-winning reception space at a beautiful resort set amid 1,000 wood acres
Wyndham Westshore Hotel
4860 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
813-286-4400 or wyndham.com
Catering Capacity: 650 reception; 400 banquet
Outside Catering: No
Easy access from al parts of the Bay area; beautiful atriums with fountains and foliage
