We are delighted to announce that the official host hotel for the Penguin Winter Carnival 2005 is . . . .

The Marriott Residence Inn in Downtown Tampa!!! 
101 East Tyler Street, Tampa, FL 33602 USA
Phone: 1 813-221-4224 
Fax: 1 813-221-4228

http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage.mi?marshaCode=TPATD

Click here for a navigable map of this location.

Only ten rooms are reserved at this special Penguin Winter Carnival rate: $109 per night for a suite with a separate bedroom, a complete kitchen, and a sofa bed in the living room. You will need to tell them when you are making reservations that you are with the Penguin Winter Carnival. If you want to be assured of this special rate, you should make your reservations before early autumn 2004. Remember, Run Tampa 2005 will attract a lot of people to local hotels that weekend and late bookings may present a big problem!

To reserve your room(s), you can either call the local number listed above or the Marriott toll free reservations number:   1(800) 331-3131.

The Residence Inn is in a great location for RUN TAMPA 2005 participants! Easy access to the race expo and start lines (about 3/4 mile), and close to historic Ybor City (about half a mile), shopping (Channelside about one mile), and sightseeing opportunities (the Florida Aquarium about one mile).

They offer room service and they have a FREE HOT BREAKFAST every morning. We are working with them to see if we can get breakfast to start early enough for us on race mornings, but if not, a few breakfast items will be available in the hospitality suite!!! Additionally, they have a pool and a whirlpool and high speed internet access. :-)

And, they have a reception for guests every Thursday evening, which is where the party will be until we head upstairs to the Penguin Hospitality Suite. :-)

Please make your own arrangements in advance to share lodging with other penguins via the Penguin Winter Carnival 2005 email discussion group.  Each suite should hold three or four adult penguins comfortably.

If the host hotel is full, you may wish to try getting a room at the adjacent hotel:

Courtyard Tampa Downtown
102 E Cass St
Tampa, Florida 33602 USA
Phone:  1 813-229-1100

News Flash: Consumer Reports magazine, July, 2004:

The host hotel chain of the Penguin Winter Carnival, Residence Inn by Marriott received a "Quick Pick for Best Values" top rating in the moderately priced range of nationwide hotel chains (only four selected out of 24 national motel chains including La Quinta, Holiday Inn, Ramada, etc.), and got a special mention as one of the top three hotel chains nationwide for "Best Complimentary Breakfast".

Area map
Click to enlarge

Click here for an extensive listing of additional downtown Tampa area hotels, with inexpensive alternative lodging options for those of us on a very limited budget.

RACE RESULTS ARE HERE (15K, 5K, TEAMS) 
AND HERE (marathon, half marathon, triple challenges).

Questions? PenguinWinterCarnival-Owner@yahoogroups.com

This is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run event and is NOT AN OFFICIAL RACE SITE. Disclaimers.