The Tampa Bay area of Florida has much to offer visitors who are coming into town for several days or longer! Serviced by the large and modern Tampa International Airport, Tampa is an easy and economical travel destination, and is an ideal location to bring your family along while you participate in the field conference and exposition. Spend the weekend before or after the conference enjoying all that the Tampa Bay area has to offer. There is plenty for everyone to do while in the Tampa Bay area! Get a jump-start on your tan by visiting some of the world's finest beaches!

Tampa is located just across Tampa Bay from 35 miles of white sand beaches at Clearwater and St. Petersburg and their adjoining communities. Visitors interested in local history, fine dining and microbreweries find that the Ybor City area, located a short drive south from the host hotel for this event, is an interesting spot to spend a few hours during the day or an evening. Tarpon Springs, located a few miles to the north of the host hotel, is another interesting spot to visit. Here, visitors can learn about the history of sponge harvesting and enjoy wonderful Greek cuisine along the waterfront. Those who want to stay close to the hotel can venture across the street and visit famous Busch Gardens, home to a fascinating collection of lush tropical plants, exciting amusement rides and the Anheuser Busch beer school! Contact the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors' Bureau for more travel planning ideas (800-44-TAMPA) or check out www.visittampabay.com.

About the Host Hotel The 2010 North American Environmental Field Conference and Exposition will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, Florida. The hotel will host the conference, indoor workshops and exposition. The field site for the outdoor workshops and field equipment demonstrations is immediately adjacent to the hotel. The Nielsen Environmental Field School has carefully selected this venue because of its top-quality meeting facilities along with high-quality, all-suites sleeping accommodations. The contact information for the Embassy Suites Hotel at USF is as follows: 3705 Spectrum Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 phone: (813) 977-7066 - reservations desk or 1-800-362-2779 fax: (813) 977-7933 website: www.embassysuitesusf.com Group Code: NAE (required to obtain our discounted rate)

UPDATE: As of Saturday, December 5, the block of rooms that was set aside at the Embassy Suites USF for attendees of this event has been sold out. An alternate block of rooms has been arranged at the Wingate Inn located across the street from the Embassy Suites. Contact information and rates for this hotel are as follows (you must identify yourself as being with The Nielsen Environmental Field School group and provide our group code NIEL to receive our special rate):

Wingate Inn - Busch Gardens Area
3751 E Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612
phone: (813) 979-2828
Rate: $94.95 single or double (Rooms must be booked by January 2 to receive this rate; you must use the booking code NIEL)

Other hotels within a mile of the Embassy Suites include the following (we DO NOT have rooms blocked at these locations):

La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa Bay - USF
3701 E Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612
phone: (813) 910-7500 (Call La Quinta Central Reservations at (800) 642-4239 to make reservations)

Best Western All Suites Hotel - Busch Gardens/USF
3001 University Center Dr.
Tampa, FL 33612
phone: (813) 971-8930

Clarion Hotel Near USF and Busch Gardens
2701 E Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612
phone: (813) 971-4710

Hyatt Place USF Busch Gardens
11408 30th St N
Tampa, FL 33612
phone: (813) 979-1922

The Embassy Suites Hotel is located 15 miles from the Tampa International Airport. The hotel does not run an airport shuttle service, however, a number of commercial airport shuttles and taxi services do operate from the airport.

(Contact your travel agent to receive more information about these services.)

Directions to the hotel from Tampa International Airport:
From I-275 take exit 34 (Fowler Blvd.). Travel East on Fowler for 2.4 miles.
Turn Left onto Spectrum Blvd.

Directions to the hotel from I 75:
From I-75, take Exit 54 (Fowler Blvd.). Travel West on Fowler for 4.5 miles.
Turn Right onto Spectrum Blvd.

We look forward to meeting you in Tampa in January 2010!