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Millions of dollars and months of preparation focus on four days in August when tens of thousands of delegates, media, protesters and hangers-on will join Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and friends at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
But the greater payback for host city Tampa could take place in the years after presidential and vice presidential candidates are selected.
Sustainable improvements in transportation, economic development, security and high-tech communications are the Tampa Bay Host Committee's key goals beyond a short-term outlook to fill hotel beds and project a favorable regional image to a worldwide audience.
"For the long term … we aim to provide a sustained economic boost for the entire Tampa Bay area not only from a tourism industry standpoint but also from a business development and relocation standpoint," Tampa Bay and Company spokesman Travis Claytor said.
Officials in Tampa and beyond say the prospective benefits of hosting a national political convention fall somewhere between landing the Olympics and the Super Bowl.
For the full article, visit the Tampa Tribune.
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