TIDES
Bring Your Delegation to Tampa
Bring the leaders, institutions, businesses, educators, innovators, and cultural voices of your community to Tampa for two days of international connection and collaboration.
TIDES welcomes official and community delegations seeking to build relationships, share ideas, explore opportunities, and connect with Tampa and international partners.
November 16–17, 2026 · Tampa Convention Center · Tampa, Florida
TIDES welcomes official and community delegations seeking to build relationships, share ideas, explore opportunities, and connect with Tampa and international partners.
November 16–17, 2026 · Tampa Convention Center · Tampa, Florida
Who should participate
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Businesses & Exporters
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International Companies
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Chambers of Commerce & Trade Organizations
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Economic Development Agencies
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Ports, Airports & Logistics Companies
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Investors & Financial Institutions
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Consulates, Trade Offices & Delegations
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Professional Services & Legal Firms
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Universities & Workforce Partners
Welcoming International Delegations to Tampa
The Tampa International Diplomacy & Exchange Summit — TIDES welcomes official and community delegations from around the world to join us in Tampa for a summit focused on international connection, civic diplomacy, trade, education, innovation, sustainability, and cultural exchange.
Delegations are an important part of the TIDES experience. They bring global perspectives into the room, create opportunities for meaningful partnerships, and help transform the summit from a conference into a platform for international relationship-building.
Whether you represent a Sister City partner, consulate, chamber of commerce, university, cultural organization, nonprofit, government office, or international business network, we invite your delegation to be part of TIDES in Tampa.
Delegations are an important part of the TIDES experience. They bring global perspectives into the room, create opportunities for meaningful partnerships, and help transform the summit from a conference into a platform for international relationship-building.
Whether you represent a Sister City partner, consulate, chamber of commerce, university, cultural organization, nonprofit, government office, or international business network, we invite your delegation to be part of TIDES in Tampa.
Who Should Bring a Delegation?
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Sister City partner communities
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International city representatives
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Foreign chambers of commerce
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Consulates and diplomatic offices
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Study abroad and exchange organizations
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Cultural organizations
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Trade and investment organizations
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Arts and heritage groups
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Universities and academic institutions
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Nonprofits and NGOs
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Startup and innovation organizations
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Sustainability and resilience organizations
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International business associations
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Student and young professional groups
What Delegations Can do at TIDES
TIDES offers multiple ways for delegations to participate, including attending summit programming, contributing to sessions, requesting targeted meetings, showcasing their communities, and exploring opportunities for international partnership and exchange.
Attend the summit
Participate in plenaries, panel discussions, and networking events.
contribute to the program
Share expertise by speaking, joining panels, or leading roundtables.
request targeted meetings
Connect with Tampa leaders and global partners that align with your goals.
showcase your community
Highlight your city, region, or organization to a global audience.
explore partnerships
Identify and pursue collaborations across sectors and borders.
A Special Invitation to Tampa’s Sister Cities
Move beyond ceremonial connections into active collaboration.
Tampa’s Sister City relationships are central to the mission of TIDES. We especially welcome delegations that include civic leaders, educators, students, businesses, cultural organizations, and community representatives.
How to Bring a Delegation
1
Submit an Interest Form
Tell us about your delegation and your goals for participating in TIDES.
2
Speak with the Delegations Team
We’ll learn more about your interests, answer questions, and discuss participation opportunities.
3
Confirm Your Participants
Share your anticipated attendee list and each participant’s organization or role.
4
Register for TIDES
Each participant completes the applicable summit registration process.
5
Coordinate Your Visit
Work with the team to identify relevant sessions, meetings, and logistical considerations.
6
Come to Tampa
Join the summit, meet international partners, and begin building lasting relationships.
Suggested Delegation Types
Civic Delegations
For city officials, municipal leaders, consular representatives, protocol officers, and public-sector partners.
Business and Trade Delegations
For chambers, companies, trade organizations, ports, airports, logistics partners, tourism leaders, and economic development organizations.
Education Delegations
For universities, schools, exchange programs, researchers, student groups, study abroad offices, and international education partners.
Cultural Delegations
For artists, performers, museums, cultural institutions, heritage organizations, culinary groups, and community representatives.
Innovation Delegations
For startups, accelerators, technology companies, research organizations, investors, and entrepreneurship ecosystem builders.
Sustainability Delegations
For environmental organizations, resilience experts, city planners, utilities, clean-energy companies, coastal communities, and climate-focused institutions.
For city officials, municipal leaders, consular representatives, protocol officers, and public-sector partners.
Business and Trade Delegations
For chambers, companies, trade organizations, ports, airports, logistics partners, tourism leaders, and economic development organizations.
Education Delegations
For universities, schools, exchange programs, researchers, student groups, study abroad offices, and international education partners.
Cultural Delegations
For artists, performers, museums, cultural institutions, heritage organizations, culinary groups, and community representatives.
Innovation Delegations
For startups, accelerators, technology companies, research organizations, investors, and entrepreneurship ecosystem builders.
Sustainability Delegations
For environmental organizations, resilience experts, city planners, utilities, clean-energy companies, coastal communities, and climate-focused institutions.
Why Bring a Delegation to TIDES?
TIDES offers delegations the opportunity to:
- Strengthen relationships with Tampa and Florida partners
- Meet civic, business, education, nonprofit, and cultural leaders
- Showcase international initiatives and opportunities
- Explore trade, education, and exchange partnerships
- Participate in meaningful conversations about global issues
- Highlight culture, history, and community
- Connect with Sister City leaders and international organizations
- Engage students and emerging leaders
- Build visibility for your city, country, institution, or organization
- Create a foundation for future missions, exchanges, and collaborations
For Tampa Sister City Partner Communities
TIDES is an opportunity to celebrate and activate Tampa’s global relationships.
We invite Tampa’s Sister City partner communities to consider bringing delegations that reflect the full range of our relationships, including civic leaders, educators, students, businesses, artists, cultural organizations, entrepreneurs, and community members.
Potential areas of collaboration include:
We invite Tampa’s Sister City partner communities to consider bringing delegations that reflect the full range of our relationships, including civic leaders, educators, students, businesses, artists, cultural organizations, entrepreneurs, and community members.
Potential areas of collaboration include:
- City-to-city partnerships
- Student and university exchange
- Trade and business development
- Cultural programming
- Arts and music exchanges
- Tourism promotion
- Sustainability and resilience projects
- Youth leadership
- Food and culinary exchange
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Shared history and heritage
This summit is designed to give each relationship a place to connect, contribute, and grow.
Planning Your Delegation
To help us support your participation, delegation leaders should be prepared to share:
- Delegation name
- City, country, or organization represented
- Primary delegation contact
- Estimated number of participants
- Areas of interest
- Preferred TIDES tracks
- Whether delegation members are interested in speaking
- Whether the delegation would like meetings with Tampa-area organizations
- Whether the delegation is interested in cultural programming
- Whether invitation letters may be needed
- Delegation name
- Travel dates
- Language or accessibility needs
- Any protocol considerations
Invitation Letters
Invitation letters are available to registered international participants upon request.
Please note that letters do not guarantee visa approval.
Questions About Bringing a Delegation?
TIDES Delegations Team
Deborah Wilkinson
delegates@tidestampa.com
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