FMEA books its own rooms. The association's hotels page states that it runs no housing bureau and that attendees reserve through individual hotel links. Blocks opened September 26, 2026 at 9 a.m. Eastern, and the association's hotel feed lists 13 properties for the January 13 to 16, 2027 conference at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St.
The ladder
The feed runs from $173 at the Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, 111 W Fortune St, to $257 at the Westin Tampa Waterside, 725 S Harbour Island Blvd.
Downtown properties sit in the middle: Marriott Tampa Water Street at $234, Hotel Tampa Riverwalk at $249, Embassy Suites Downtown Convention Center at 513 S Florida Ave at $254, Hilton Tampa Downtown at $255, Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown at $229 and Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa Downtown at $211.
The Channel District pair, Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites, both sit at 1155 E Kennedy Blvd and quote $239 and $236. The airport and Westshore set reads Holiday Inn Tampa Airport Westshore at $179, Four Points by Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore at $199 and Embassy Suites Tampa Airport Westshore at $254.
Rates are per room before tax. Hillsborough County adds a 6 percent tourist development tax to Florida's 6 percent sales tax, which puts the $234 Marriott at $262.08 and the $173 Barrymore at $193.76.
Parking sits on each property
The feed carries a parking line per hotel. Marriott Water Street and Hotel Tampa Riverwalk charge $50 overnight on valet. Hilton Tampa Downtown charges $55, Embassy Suites Downtown $31 and Courtyard $35. Self-parking runs $25 at the Residence Inn, $41 at Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites, $17 at Four Points, $15 at Holiday Inn Airport Westshore and $45 on valet at the Westin. The Barrymore includes a shuttle and self-parking at $10 a day. Embassy Suites Tampa Airport Westshore includes self-parking in its rate.
Five rooms per name and card
The hotel policies block caps reservations at five guest rooms per name and credit card. It also requires the credit card name to match the name on the reservation. A director booking for a band, a chorus and a chaperone group needs more than one card.
The November 7 deposit clock
A room held past 5 p.m. on November 7, 2026 takes a non-refundable deposit equal to one night at the posted rate plus tax, charged to the card on the reservation. FMEA asks for a cancellation confirmation number when a surplus room goes back.
At the $234 Marriott rate the deposit is $262.08 with both taxes. Five rooms left standing is $1,310.40.
The second opening
FMEA states that the blocks fill almost immediately, because directors overestimate the rooms their All-State students and chaperones need. The association names the release: directors cancel surplus rooms after audition results in late October and early November, and it asks attendees to try again in that window.
Cancelled rooms return to the blocks until December 12. The deadline to reserve in a block is December 14, when unsold rooms go back to the hotels.
The page hands readers a test. When a hotel's own page quotes a price that differs from the FMEA list, the block is likely full and the hotel is showing full-price rooms.
Check the departure date
The conference runs Wednesday January 13 to Saturday January 16, 2027, and the city's listing closes it at 9 p.m. Saturday. A delegate staying to the final session checks out Sunday January 17.
One booking link in the feed arrives January 13 and departs January 16, which books three nights and drops the last evening. Change the departure date before submitting.
Cards, cheques and the December 14 close
Online reservations need a credit card in the guest's name. A cheque pays by phone, and the cheque must reach the hotel by December 14. Conference registration is not a precondition for a room; FMEA states it is considering that rule for future years.
What the block does not cover
FMEA provides no transport and states that not every hotel sits within walking distance of the center. The association asks directors to share that with chaperones. It also warns that nobody from FMEA calls to sell a room.
The conference lists about 250 clinic sessions and concerts and 24 All-State Ensembles across more than 10,000 attendees. The city's own listing states 22 ensembles.
Before you book
Match the rate on the hotel's page to the rate on the FMEA list. Confirm the departure date against the Saturday night. Price the parking at the property you choose. Keep the party to five rooms per card. Put 5 p.m. November 7 in the calendar and cancel with a confirmation number.