Let’s take a look at everything that’s happening in the Tampa Bay area, what’s coming up in the next few weeks and months, and how Ready Stays is here for your month-to-month rental needs in Tampa.
Big Wins in Tampa
While Florida saw a modest dip in visitor numbers during the first quarter of 2026, Tampa Bay is telling a different story. March was a record-breaking month for the region, with hotel revenue hitting $134 million and generating $8.4 million in Tourism Development Tax receipts. The Tampa Convention Center is on track to host over 100 events this year, welcoming more than 325,000 visitors. Port Tampa Bay is also riding high, with cruise passenger numbers expected to reach 1.8 million in 2026, and a brand-new cruise terminal currently under construction to keep pace with demand.
The Gulf Island Ferry, which connects the Bradenton Riverwalk to Bradenton Beach Pier, is seeing a surge in popularity, and local businesses are reaping the rewards. Ridership is up nearly 70% on the previous year, with further growth of 50-60% anticipated by the end of 2026. Shops and restaurants along Bridge Street are reporting a noticeable uptick in foot traffic, with some attributing around 15% of their increased sales directly to ferry riders. As a bonus, each busy day takes up to 300 cars off the road. A third stop at South Cortez Beach has also been planned.
Speros and Moffitt Cancer Center have joined forces with USF, Embarc Collective and Pasco-Hernando State College to launch FORGE; the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine. The coalition aims to build a regional hub for radiopharmaceutical therapies, a rapidly growing area of cancer treatment that delivers radiation directly to tumor cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional cancer drugs, these therapies must be manufactured close to patients due to the rapid decay of radioactive isotopes, making Tampa Bay’s combination of research infrastructure, academic institutions and the 775-acre Speros life sciences campus in Pasco County a suitable base. Organizers predict the initiative will create 4,000 jobs and generate $2.6 billion in economic impact across Florida over the next decade.
St. Petersburg has been recognized at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference with the Innovation Award for its Hometown Haulers program, launched in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The initiative enrolled 100 local trucks to help clear storm debris, paying drivers $300 per haul. In total, 5,382 hauls were completed, putting $1.6 million directly into the hands of local small businesses and residents, money that in some cases went straight back into education, certifications and new ventures. Perhaps best of all, FEMA ultimately reimbursed the city in full, making it a win for the community and the public purse alike.
Tampa Looks to the Future
J.C. Newman Cigar Co. is investing nearly $19 million to restore the historic Sanchez y Haya Building in East Tampa, just across the street from its El Reloj factory. Plans include an inn, restaurant, and cigar lounge, with the project expected to create 75 jobs, many filled from the surrounding neighborhood. J.C. Newman received a $5 million grant from the East Tampa CRA to support the work. Originally built in 1910, the building once served cigar industry workers and visitors; this restoration aims to bring that same spirit back, while also addressing a lack of dining and lodging options for the 20,000-plus people who tour El Reloj each year.
The former St. Petersburg Science Center, which has sat largely vacant since closing in 2014, is set for a major transformation. A $25 million redevelopment plan would more than double the site’s footprint to over 67,000 square feet, turning it into a hub for AI training, startup incubation and science education. Plans include an AI Village, launch space for entrepreneurs, a restored planetarium, podcast and video studios, and a rooftop event venue called the Star Garden. Groundbreaking has already taken place, with the facility expected to open in 2027.
Developer Hillpointe has broken ground on Pointe Grand Interbay, a 408-unit workforce housing community on an 18-acre former industrial site at 7400 Interbay Blvd., close to MacDill Air Force Base. The project is one of the first in the area to use Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows qualifying affordable housing developments to be built on industrial and commercial land that would otherwise be off-limits for residential construction. Around 40% of the apartments will be reserved for households earning between 80% and 120% of area median income, with those restrictions locked in for 30 years. The development is expected to open in June 2027.
Ready Stays is Here to Help!
With so much going on across the region, it’s no surprise that more and more people are finding reasons to spend time in Tampa Bay, whether for work, a relocation, or simply to enjoy everything the area has to offer.
Ready Stays provides fully furnished, all-inclusive apartments and homes across the bay, available on a flexible, contract-free basis. From the moment you arrive, everything you need is taken care of, with a friendly team on hand whenever you need support. Whatever brings you to Tampa, Ready Stays is here to help you settle in.
