While so much of our Bay Area attention continues to focus on the ongoing soap-opera that is the Tampa Bay Rays’ rapidly cooling relationship with St. Petersburg City Hall, there was a notably positive regional step taken the other day. Pinellas County’s Tourist Development Council seems amenable to working–as in contributing tax money–with Tampa International Airport. It would be in support of TIA’s campaign to help land more international flights and make TIA the “international gateway for the west coast of Florida.”
This is, in part, a testimonial to the credibility of TIA chief executive Joe Lopano, whose pro-active work ethic and marketing acumen have been winning him accolades since his arrival earlier this year. Whether it’s flying off on a trade mission to Panama or crossing the bay to talk regional reality.
As for the TDC, its willingness to kick in a six-figure advertising sum is a welcome acknowledgement of enlightened self interest. Tampa Bay must sell itself regionally. To do that, it must play as a team.