Marking the first time India’s biggest media event will be held in the U.S., the June 2014 IIFA Weekend & Awards will be held in Tampa Bay, Fla., according to the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), a South Asian film academy.
With a viewership of almost 600 million, the awards are among the world’s most-watched annual entertainment events and are nicknamed the “Bollywood Oscars.” The multi-day program is expected to bring thousands of visitors to Tampa Bay during the summer. Previous IIFA events have generated upwards of 24,000 room nights with more than $11 million in economic impact to the host community.
“We are thrilled to be selected as the host city for IIFA. This event will place unprecedented international attention on Tampa Bay,” said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO, Visit Tampa Bay.
Leading the effort of economic development through tourism, Visit Tampa Bay credits its selection by IIFA to the dedication and encouragement of the local community. To support its bid, a delegation from Tampa Bay is in Macau for the 2013 IIFA Weekend & Awards, which lasts until July 6.
Members of the delegation include Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham; Visit Florida Vice President of Global Brand Susannah Costello; Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council Vice President Deborah Wilkinson; and Tampa Bay businessman Chetan (“Jason”) R. Shah as well as Visit Tampa Bay representatives, including Board Member James Ransom, and members of the local Indian community.
