Young professional looking for job in the Hospitality Industry...Which areas should I look in? (Tampa: hotels)

[Rachel127]

Hello Everyone!

I am a 23yr old college grad. My degree is in Hospitality and Tourism Mgt and I am possibly going to be moving to the Tampa area in the next few months. I would like to get a job as management in either a resort or restaurant. What parts of Tampa are considered the young, upscale, nightlife oriented areas.

I don't have kids so I'd prefer not to live in the "suburbs" or any area that is super family oriented. I am looking for an area of Tampa that has plenty of nightlife, (bars, restaurants, clubs, shopping, ect...) is realtively safe, (I believe vigilance and common sense can go a long way in keeping you safe anywhere), and that I can find an apt in for less than 1200 a month. Does that place exsist?

Lastly, what is Ybor City like? It has an interesting history, beautiful spanish colonial architechture, and it seems like an interesting place. Plus I like the idea of living in a historical area. How far is it from Tampa, and does it have any of the above mentioned features?

Thanks so much for all your advice!

[tampaguy03]

South Tampa would be my first choice for everything you inquired about in your post, areas like Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, Bayshore Gardens. Downtown proper(where the tall buildings are) is a very new urban area, up and coming, lots of young professionals moving in, and also Channelside area and Harbour Island. All in and around downtown Tampa proper.

Ybor City has its good and not so good depending on what you like, very urban, historic, cultural, up and coming, gentrification going..the people i know LOVE it there..and I LOVE that they live there too!! walk to everything(bars, clubs, restaurants, movies, theater, arts, festivals, markets), take the streetcar downtown and Channelside..Its less than a mile from downtown Tampa proper. The areas directly north of Interstae 4 and East of 22nd Street can be not so nice areas.

As far as Hospitality..i graduated college quite a few eyars ago from USF in Tampa, and got a great job in management with Marriott, worked all over Tampa, opened quite a few hotels, and became GM of a few...after 12 years of Hospitality it was time for a change...Marriott was a great company to work for,a nd they have LOTS of hotels in the Tampa area(Rennaisance, Marriott, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, SprinHill Suites), although some are also Franchise companies and not Marriott corporate.

[FloGrownGrl]

Ybor is ghetto, not a fan of it at all. I suppose it's a cool place during the day and the little bit of architecture that is left is nice to admire, but that does not mean that it is a "cool" "neat" or "nice" place to live. They have a little bit of night life going on, but I've been there a few times and it's not much to get excited about..unless you're a hipster and only make friends with other hipsters, then you'd probably love it ( I know people who fit this description, and the idea holds true! ;P) But yeah, I wouldn't consider Ybor a 'safe' place to live. It is IN Tampa, not far at all from Downtown Tampa. I would recommend visiting to experience it for yourself, if you're able to.

Channelside, although I've personally never been, is supposed to be 'upscale' and have a little bit more going on. I always hear of events going on there, clubs, bars, restaurants, and people. Hyde Park is another place, again, never been, but I hear about it..it is also supposed to be a very 'happening' spot and attracts alot of people, especially the younger single people.

Where are you moving from? Orlando??