Tampa Bay Business Journal: December 21, 2012

TAMPA - In this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal segment, editor Alexis Muellner discusses the new Starwood Hotel coming to downtown Tampa, how social media know-how is becoming a job asset, and the hiring of a new director for the Port of Tampa.

Clearwater-based Liberty Group is partnering up to transform the former Mercantile Bank building at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa into a Aloft hotel.

Aloft is the boutique hotel brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The selection of Tampa by Starwood for a new hotel shows what the company thinks of the city as the company usually picks trendy locales such as London, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi for expansion.

Retail Business Development is requiring social media know-how for three new jobs. The company serving the telecommunications industry and understands that social media use is a growing way to reach business-to-business audiences.

The selection of Paul Anderson to be the Port of Tampa's new port director and CEO looks to be a good choice.

"It doesn't raise any red flags," said Tanya Langman, associate director at Fitch Ratings. "We are confident he will continue to perform well in Tampa."

Anderson had been the CEO at the Port of Jacksonville for the past 22 months. He is expected to become a key player to help project Tampa Bay's image to the world.

For more information on these stories, click on the video player on the left, visit youtu.be/1d88y-HyAYo or pick up this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal available on newsstands.