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Greybeard the Business Pirate tries to hook Tampa business travelers (w/video)

 
Greybeard the Business Pirate is the star of Visit Tampa Bay’s new marketing videos. 
Greybeard the Business Pirate is the star of Visit Tampa Bay’s new marketing videos. 
Published Aug. 16, 2016

Tampa is on pace to more than double the number of convention visitors it had last year, the county's tourism agency said Monday.

Last year, about 200,000 people turned out for Tampa's conventions, said Cristina Duschek, spokeswoman for the agency, Visit Tampa Bay. She said the agency set a goal of 450,000 convention attendees this year.

"Right now, we're on pace already to have every year pretty full through 2020, 2021," said the agency's chief executive, Santiago Corrada. He said Visit Tampa Bay has been working to attract big summer conventions by "waiving most of the cost."

Visit Tampa Bay also unveiled a $50,000 video marketing campaign to attract more business travelers.

A nod to Tampa's love of pirates, the agency unveiled Greybeard the Business Pirate ­— the star in a series of short videos that will be broadcast on social media and shown at conventions around the country. In a mock business presentation recorded at Tampa Theatre, Greybeard explains how he likes to bring his crew to Tampa Bay because of the zoo, aquarium, craft beer and nightlife.

"I guarantee you'll be circlin' back from that meetin' ready to synergize your paradigm shift, i.e. your low-hangin' fruit," he says. "If you're looking for a place for your crew to think outside the box, think inside the bay."

The Tampa Convention Center this year has hosted the National Baptist Convention's Congress of Christian Education, International Shriners, Metrocon, Comic-Con, the Florida Bar Examiners and the Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club, Corrada said. This week, thousands of Prince Hall Shriners are also in town for their annual convention.

Contact Alli Knothe at aknothe@tampabay.com. Follow @KnotheA.