Steel Products

Tampa Steel Conference Networking Update, Hotel Status, COVID Protocols
Written by John Packard
January 13, 2022
Temperatures today in a large portion of the Northern U.S. are at or below freezing. Snow is piling up. This is not expected to change once we move into February. The average temperature in Tampa in February is 74 degrees with only four days of rain during the month. Make your plans now to join the 350-400 executives we anticipate will be attending the 33rd Tampa Steel Conference.
Registrations for the 2022 Tampa Steel Conference are surpassing 250 executives from manufacturing, service centers, trading companies, steel mills, warehousing and ports, logistics, and companies that support those market segments. We anticipate 350-400 executives will be in attendance when the actual program kicks off on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 15). The conference is slated to end on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 16) around 3:30 p.m. ET. There are special networking functions on Monday afternoon (Feb. 14) for those arriving early.
We have a few special programs for this conference. There is an Introduction to Steel Hedging (used to be called Hedging 101) workshop, which will run on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Information about the agenda, our instructors, and costs to attend can be found here.
On Monday afternoon, there will be a free boat tour of the port. Information about registering for the boat tour will be found at the registration desk when you check in. There will be a second boat tour on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, there will be a networking cocktail party for those arriving early. Information about the location of this event can be found at the registration desk when you arrive.
On Tuesday morning, there will be a golf outing for those interested in playing. Lunch is included in the separate fee ($150 per golfer). Currently there are spots open to add more golfers. Golfers will need to provide their own transportation to the golf course. You can register for golf at the same time you register for the conference. If you would like more information, please contact conferences@crugroup.com
The full conference meeting program will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon followed by a second networking cocktail party after the program concludes for the day. We begin again on Wednesday with a full agenda beginning at 8:00 a.m. We expect to be finished and close the conference at 3:30 p.m. You can find the full agenda on the Tampa Steel Conference website: www.tampasteelconference.com
The costs to attend the Tampa Steel Conference are reasonable, especially when you consider the networking opportunities, the event location, the anticipated weather, and our great program.
Cost is $650 (prior to any discounts)
We offer discounts for SMU/CRU member companies, prior TSC and SMU Steel Summit Conference attendees, and for companies who are bringing more than one person. You can register by clicking here. If you have any questions about costs, discounts, golf, or anything else, please contact conferences@crugroup.com
Hotel Room Block is Sold Out – Here are Some Options
Our hotel block at the Marriott Water Street Hotel is sold out. The hotel has advised it is close to being totally sold out during our conference dates (Feb. 14-16). There are a couple of hotels located close to the conference hotel. Across the street is the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the JSW Marriott Tampa Water Street Hotel (new and 5-star rating). The Marriott Water Street Hotel is located on the trolley line, so there are many other more cost-effective options available in the greater Tampa area.
COVID Update & Protocols
The SMU/CRU official policy is to adhere to the recommendations provided by the CDC, the State of Florida, and the Marriott Water Street Hotel where the conference will be held. Currently, masks are recommended but not required. We will provide colored wrist bands to all attendees as we did at the SMU Steel Summit Conference. The wrist band identifies your level of comfort in being in close contact with other attendees. We will also have masks available for our attendees.
There have been some encouraging signs regarding the Omicron variant of the COVID virus. In this morning’s New York Times (and elsewhere), there are reports the virus may be peaking, and the expectation is for a rapid decline in cases as we move into February. The best way to travel and attend conferences like the Tampa Steel Conference is to be fully vaccinated (including booster) and to wear a mask. Recent reports are saying the use of an N95 or KN95 mask radically cuts transmission of the virus.
Steel Market Update is looking forward to hosting this event along with our partners at Port Tampa Bay.
You can find information about the conference, our agenda, costs to attend, etc. by going to: www.tampasteelconference.com

John Packard
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