This hotel was clean and safe with professional staff. If you need to be in downtown Tampa for business or an event at one of the arenas, I'd recommend this or the Marriot. One great perk, guests received $25 to spend at the on-site Starbucks during the time I stayed.
The downtown area overall, is a skip in my opinion unless it's necessary for business or a sports/arena event. The streets were chaotic during my stay as hockey playoffs were taking place at the arena. Allot 10+ extra minutes for your hotel arrival in similar situations.
The "Riverwalk" consisted of two restaurants, unless I missed other attractions. There is no reason to check it out. We stayed one night before heading to the barrier islands based on a plan to visit Busch Gardens. Next time, I'd skip Tampa all together and drive the 90 mins to the amusement park. There are other neighborhoods to see aside from Downtown, however, this hotel may not be the most convenient choice if visiting those areas.