Host Committee for Tampa - St. Petersburg's Bid for 2004 Republican National Convention Announced
June 5, 2004
(TAMPA, FL) -- At a press conference today at the Ice Palace, City of Tampa Mayor Dick Greco announced the Host Committee for Tampa - St. Petersburg’s bid for the 2004 Republican National Convention.
The Host Committee will be in charge of coordinating the bid and presentation for the 2004 Republican National Convention. If Tampa - St. Petersburg is selected as the Host City, the Host Committee would be responsible for organizing all aspects of the convention, which would take place August 30 - September 2, 2004.
The 83-person committee is lead by four co-chairs: Richard (Dick) A. Beard III, Owner & President, R.A. Beard & Co.; Alfred (Al) S. Austin, CEO, Austin Companies; Robert (Bob) D. Basham, COO, Outback Steakhouse, Inc.; and J. Patrick (Rick) Michaels, Chairman & CEO, Communications Equity Associates, Inc. Others serving on the committee represent a diverse group of industries in Tampa Bay, including banking, transportation, government, education, medical, real estate, media, retail, technology, tourism and meetings.
“This is the first time that the Republican National Committee has asked Tampa - St. Petersburg to bid on the convention, and we are taking their invitation very seriously. Appointing a Host Committee shows the Republican National Committee that we really want this convention here in Tampa - St. Petersburg,” said City of Tampa Mayor Dick Greco. “I have great confidence that the Host Committee I have appointed to coordinate our bid will do an excellent job at making a very strong case for Tampa - St. Petersburg as the Host City for the 2004 Republican National Convention.”
Tampa - St. Petersburg’s bid
for the 2004 Republican National Convention is due to the Republican National
Committee on June 17, 2002. The Committee will announce the finalist cities
in August, then conduct site inspections of those cities in September.
The Host City will be announced on February 1, 2003.
The Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit membership organization created to attract and serve visitors to Tampa Bay.