The 24th Annual Benchmarking Visit

For more than two decades the Chamber has taken an annual Benchmarking Visit to investigate programs and initiatives in a city similar to our community. It gives us a chance to study other great cities and adapt best practices to meet the growing needs of Tampa Bay. The 24th annual Benchmarking Visit will take us to Phoenix!

2026 Benchmarking Chair, Joanne Sullivan – USF Health, is partnering with the Chamber team, putting together an in-depth program designed to introduce you to the region.

Registration Pricing

¹ Please select this option if you are a spouse/significant other of a registered Benchmarking attendee and will be sharing their hotel room. All contracted hotel rooms include a King size bed.

² Attendees must be active members of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay at the time of registration to receive the discounted rate.

Registration Includes

• Pre-Trip Reception in Tampa on Tuesday, September 22.
• 2 nights hotel accommodation at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown (Oct. 5 and 6);
• Opening Night Reception on Monday, Oct. 5;
• Ground transportation during the program;
• All scheduled activities;
• All meals except for small group dinners on Tuesday evening. The Chamber will coordinate dinner arrangements, but the expense of the meal is paid by the individual; 
• Access to the Benchmarking mobile event app, which includes attendee profiles and communication tool, program agenda, networking opportunities, and trip information. The mobile event app will be released to all registered attendees in early September 2026; and
• Post-Trip Debrief in Tampa on Monday, October 19.

Agenda

Monday, Oct. 5

• 1:00 – 1:30 PM | Registration & Networking at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown hotel
• 1:30 – 3:45 PM | Program Sessions at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown hotel
• 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Opening Night Reception

Tuesday, Oct. 6

• 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Program Sessions (including breakfast & lunch)
• 6:00 PM | Small Group Dinners

Wednesday, Oct. 7

• 7:30 – 9:00 AM | Farewell Breakfast 

Agenda Topics include (not limited to): bioscience and biotechnology, education and workforce development, public policy and its impact on the business community, and transportation.

Agenda is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the Tampa Bay Chamber. A detailed agenda will be provided in advance of the program via a mobile event app.

Air Travel

Attendees are responsible for booking their own flights to and from the Phoenix area. We welcome attendees to fly their airline of choice.

Ground Transportation

Attendees are responsible for their own transportation from the airport to the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown upon arrival.

Transportation will be provided by the Tampa Bay Chamber to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) following the Farewell Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Hotel

Renaissance Phoenix Downtown
100 North 1st Street,
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004
(602) 333-0000

• Check-in Time: 4:00 PM
• Check-out Time: 11:00 AM

Event registration includes room and tax for the nights of October 5 and 6 (arrival on 10/5 and departure on 10/7). The Chamber will book this reservation for you. You will place a credit card down upon arrival for all incidental charges.

The Tampa Bay Chamber will not manage any extension of your reservation; it will be booked as noted above. If you would like to arrive in Phoenix early (or stay after the program), please contact the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown or another hotel of your choosing directly. Your reservation for additional nights will be booked via your selected hotel, separate from the Chamber’s room block, at the prevailing hotel rate. Our discounted group rate will not be available at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown for additional bookings.

Sponsors

Session Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships are available for those interested in investing in our programming. For more information, please contact Katie Lopez, VP of Advocacy.

Staff Lead

Katie Lopez