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For nearly 10 years, the Chamber has taken an annual Benchmarking Visit to investigate new programs and initiatives in a city similar to our community. It gives us a chance to study one of America’s other great cities and adapt its best practices to meet the growing needs of Tampa Bay. Past visits include Austin, Baltimore, San Diego, Memphis, Seattle, Boston, Denver, Charlotte and Phoenix.
In the Fall of 2012, we will be visiting Baltimore, Maryland. Stay tuned for details!
2011 Benchmarking Visit: Philadelphia
Chair: Mark MacMillan, ProShred
The Chamber hit the road for our 11th annual Benchmarking Visit in August. This year we visited Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy, to continue our tradition of studying one of America’s other great cities and adapt its best practices to meet the growing needs of Tampa Bay. In 2011 we looked specifically at three issues that we’ve identified through our Chamber Caucuses as meriting further investigation, including:
• Professional Sports Facility Alternative Financing
• Public Sector Economic Efficiencies
• International Commercial Aviation
Many thanks to our 2011 Benchmarking Visit Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
A Look Back 2010 Benchmarking Visit
 More than 30 Chamber members hit the road at the end of September for the Chamber’s 10th Annual Benchmarking Visit. The 2010 trip took them to Phoenix, Arizona, home to more than 4.2 million people. The area’s explosive growth over the last decade has made it one the largest metropolitan areas in the country, and presented extensive opportunities for learning.
Phoenix just celebrated the first anniversary of a very successful light rail system, which the group studied extensively on the trip. They were easily 100 percent dependent on the public rail and bus system during the trip, and loaded into standing room only trains to reach many of their appointments.
“It would be great if everyone who will be voting on rail could see what a transforming venture it is for the Phoenix community,” said Doug Dieck of Ryan Companies and chair of the 2010 Benchmarking Visit. “It can have even a bigger impact in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City and Hillsborough County.”
 Day one meetings included a presentation on how Phoenix won the vote for rail and a tour of a LEED certified multi-modal train station with facilities for trains, buses and bikes. The transit system is only one year old and has already exceeded the ridership projections for the year 2020.
Day two included a presentation by the City of Phoenix and Greater Phoenix Economic Partnership (GPEC), which gave insight into the need for government and private business to be partners in development. The GPEC has focused on specific targeted industries for their future including solar renewable energy.
The day continued with a closer look at how Phoenix is using the business of professional sports to grow its community, and concluded when the group attended an Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field. The stadium’s downtown location, retractable roof and connectivity to transit were all of note.
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