Tampa Bay @Sunset: Behind the Scenes

The Tampa Bay @ Sunset event on September 7th provided more stunning views of Tampa! This time, Chamber guests enjoyed the vistas from AVE Tampa Riverwalk. The new state of the art residential community is located in the heart of Downtown, across from the performing arts center, the Tampa Museum of Art and the iconic Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa.

"Hosting Tampa Bay @ Sunset was a true pleasure," said Logan Zoiti, Business Development Manager of the host site. "The event provided a wonderful platform for us to showcase our brand-new building. The benefits to our company were numerous - not only did it allow us to introduce our location to a broader audience, but it also strengthened our connections within the business community. It was a fantastic opportunity to foster new relationships and highlight the uniqueness of AVE Tampa Riverwalk," added Zoiti, grateful for the subsequent conversations on AVE's flexible lease terms on furnished and unfurnished apartments. 

At the networking reception, Zoiti thanked Melt Social, 7th and Grove, and Bar Artistry for partnering with him to bring delicious hors d’oeuvres. "Leveraging my connections to bring in food and beverage vendors was not only possible but also added tremendous value to the event. It's a win-win situation – other potential hosts should know that it's both feasible and advantageous. Collaborating with local vendors not only enhances the event experience but also provides exposure for these businesses to our event attendees from the thriving business community," explained Zoiti. "It's a mutually beneficial opportunity that I highly recommend for future hosts."

The Chamber hosts Tampa Bay @Sunset six times per year for members to network, increase business leads, spark partnerships and more. Hosting the event at different locations in the region, provides the added benefit of showcasing the businesses of fellow members who host the events. At AVE Tampa Riverwalk, its leaders made the most of the opportunity to share information on its unique blend of offerings. AVE offers traditional unfurnished one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as furnished apartments with a minimum 30-day length of stay - ideal for corporate relocations, extended stay business travel and interns.  

Some @Sunset hosts, like AVE offer raffle items unique to their business. For guest Ruth Revilla of REACHUP, Inc. it was a thrilling end to an evening of networking. Seeing Zoiti "fish" her business card out of the raffle bowl, she exclaimed "I’m so excited!" Asked about the entire night's experience, she added "This event is such a great way to promote businesses here in Tampa. I didn’t know about this place and now I’m inspired to bring others and tell people about what AVE is doing. I love it!” That's music to the ears of Zoiti, who described the process of organizing the event with Chamber staff as "remarkably straightforward." 

The next Tampa Bay @Sunset is planned for October 24th onboard the American Victory Ship and sponsored by USAA. The upcoming "Operation Partnership: Tampa Bay @Sunset is a modification of a traditional Chamber after hours event. Transitioning service members and military spouses are invited to network with members of the Tampa Bay Chamber. When themed, @Sunset events offer members the opportunity to expand their networks within specific audiences. In November, Tampa Bay @Sunset becomes "Engage @Sunset" at the Tampa Convention Center. There, guests will engage with young professionals who are part of the Chamber's Emerging Leaders program. The November event will be sponsored by Skanska and Baker Barrios as joint hosts.

No two @Sunset events are the same and no industry is too niche or commonplace. These events are as unique as its hosts. In 2023 alone, @Sunset guests received the behind-the-scenes-in-Tampa-Bay experience at Fleming's Steakhouse, the historic building that was a cigar factory in the 1990's and is now home to Saint Leo University in West Tampa, plus the Lion's World Vision Institute - the largest eye bank, tissue transplantation & research center in the nation.  

With the calendar quickly moving closer to 2024, the Chamber staff is already at work on @Sunset locations for members to enjoy in the new year and seeking sponsors and hosts. For more information, contact Caroline McCabe.