Tag Archives: tampa

IPMI 2021: The Energy We Need

By Patrick L. Wells

The Super Bowl of Parking Conferences just concluded, and like many organizations, we didn’t know ahead of time what to expect. We heard the rumors that clients who normally attend had scrapped travel plans from a fear of health concerns.

However, upon arriving in Tampa, I immediately noticed a level of enthusiasm and excitement from individuals that I haven’t seen in a while, an eagerness to talk and, yes, HUG! My first Shoptalk was moderated by Chris Austin, CAPP, from the University of Buffalo. There were more than 150 individuals in the room, most from colleges and universities. Participation was lively and many were eager to share their thoughts–the session could have easily lasted longer.

When the Expo hall opened, our anxiety reappeared as we wondered how much traffic we would see. It was fantastic! Individuals were engaged, eager to listen to what we had to say, and  excited to be seen.

The virtual world  has definitely had its advantages the last 21 months, allowing us to maneuver in a business climate like we have never seen before and still be successful. However, at the end of the day, in-person contact is needed–we crave interaction, especially the serendipitous encounters that help establish and drive business. We also intuitively want to utilize our complete arsenal of senses by evaluating body language and, maybe most importantly, have fun!

To this point, as 2021 Industry Professional of the Year, Brian Shaw, CAPP, with Stanford University mentioned during his acceptance speech, “This week brought me the energy I needed!” Thank you, Brian, I agree. It brought us all the energy we’ve been missing.

Patrick L. Wells is senior associate, regional director with DESMAN.

Tips for Tampa

By Tina Altman

Getting my feet wet again by going to a recent site visit in Tampa ahead of the 2021 IPMI Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo felt so good! Time to dust off the suitcase and get back to some type of normalcy. The airport and flight had a sea of covered faces and were uneventful, thank goodness.

I stayed away from the limos and stuck with the less expense ride option to the hotel. Pick up was quick and easy, I had to put my luggage in the car but I’m no diva so it’s all good. The vehicle was an older, clean Honda Pilot and as much as I love all eras of music, the ‘70s vibe playing with a static background had me trying to reach up to adjust the tuning. Finally, at what I thought was my destination, I grabbed my luggage and thanked the driver, walked into the Marriott to check in, and learned I was dropped at the wrong one! Luckily, the right hotel—the JW Marriott—is right across the street, so no biggie. Clearly, Uber drivers are unaware of the new Marriott location.

Here are some more Tampa tips for your visit:

  • The airport is less than 20 minutes from our hotel. Tampa International Airport ground transportation information can be found here.
  • The JW Marriott is still fairly new. If you get to the Marriott with the water fountain in front, be sure to tell your driver you are going to the new JW Marriott, not the Marriott Water Street. They are adjacent to each other.
  • Tampa weather in December is usually in the high 80s/low 60s  but nights can be cooler. Remember how chilly conference centers can be? Dress in layers and choose comfort over stylish shoes—your feet are just getting back into the swing of things too!
  • Our space for the Conference is stacked from the second to the fourth floors, with escalators & elevators very nearby for ease.
  • There are plenty of options for food. In the main lobby of the hotel is a Market Place for coffee and lite fare and you’ll also find a bar, a restaurant for breakfast, and a walk-up window for sandwiches right outside. You can also take the skybridge to the Marriott Water Street to dine in. More info on dining at the Marriott can be found here.
  • The sixth floor of our hotel has a spa and gym along with a bar/restaurant with an outside open area.
  • There are a few Starbucks within walking distance.
  • The TECO Streetcar runs right through the area and is free! Check out the map of stops here.
  • There is lots to see and do in Tampa, with plenty of museums and an aquarium right up the street.
  • Be sure to book your hotel room right away! These rooms will sell out fast!

We can’t wait to see you this fall.

Tina Altman is IPMI’s manager, member and event services.

Call for Presentations Closes for #IPMI2021 at 7 PM ET


November 29 – December 2, 2021

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street


What’s the same: IPMI will bring you the best content, speakers, and inspiration in three days of amazing content.

What’s new: Most selected presenters and panels will share their content during two sessions to allow for social distancing and smaller than usual groups. Attendees will select which sessions to attend in advance.

Get all the details here.

Get started on your best ideas, panels, and content!


Call for Presentations Opens for The 2021 IPMI Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo


November 29 – December 2, 2021

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street


What’s the same: IPMI will bring you the best content, speakers, and inspiration in three days of amazing content.

What’s new: Most selected presenters and panels will share their content during two sessions to allow for social distancing and smaller than usual groups. Attendees will select which sessions to attend in advance.

Get started on your best ideas, panels, and content!


2021 IPMI Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo, Tampa, Florida

November 29 – December 2, 2021

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW


We know much about the parking & mobility industry’s premier Conference & Expo will be different this year.

Our collective—and our members’ individual—recovery efforts and the still-emerging “new normal” affect the entire IPMI community. Our Board, volunteers, members, and the industry as a whole have demonstrated incredible innovation, perseverance, and generosity as we’ve navigated a different looking and feeling world.

All of these efforts will culminate in the return of IPMI’s in-person Conference & Expo this fall.

The in-person 2021 IPMI Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo will be dedicated to keeping our amazing community connected through exhibits, general and education sessions, Shoptalks, networking, and community-building events. The Conference & Expo will be offered only in-person; we will continue to host virtual events for our industry for those who are not able to join us in person.

Every aspect of the event will be carefully thought through and reshaped for your safety and wellness while offering a welcome opportunity to see one another and experience it all face-to-face for the first time in a long time.