Greetings from the Gulf Coast Capital!

The past month was nothing short of extraordinary, with continuing to foster International strides that have paved the way for the Gulf Coast Capital to become a must-visit destination and every other cutting-edge initiative that our team has dreamt up, developed, and made a reality. From the more recent Corpus Christi Tourism Grant Program announcement and press conference, to gaining invaluable insight from this year's Destinations International Annual Conference we ensure that we continue having a firm foundation for success and innovation. On a similar note, we also have our incredible sales and experience project wins that create an atmosphere of growth for our economic impact and visitor satisfaction. Last but certainly not least, the Corpus Christi Sports Commission and Film and Music Commission are Visit Corpus Christi's newest endeavors of expansion, but have already proven to be fruitful in results that are substantial and gearing up for maximum impact.

As we look forward to another fiscal year here pretty soon, I am thrilled to present to you the new, improved, and condensed Visit Corpus Christi Organizational Report, highlighting these remarkable achievements and more that have unfolded over the past month. As President and CEO of Visit Corpus Christi, it is my pleasure to share with you the advancement we have made in positioning Corpus Christi as a premier destination for travelers from around the world and creating a better community by sharing Corpus Christi with the world.

Breaking Waves: Dive into the Top 3 Tourism Tidbits for Corpus Christi! 🏝

• A World War II Story to Remember: The USS Lexington team made national headlines when a flag known as Yosegaki Hinomaru or a good luck flag, was discovered and reunited with the original owners family, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, a Japanese soldier who fought in World War II. [Read More]
• Announced as a Voyager City: Corpus Christi has been officially recognized as a Voyager City by DestinationNext assessments. Find out what this prestigious designation means for the city and how it positions Corpus Christi as a top-tier destination for travelers seeking unforgettable experiences.
• New Downtown Corpus Christi Hotel Announced: Demolition has started on Lomax Street to make way for a new downtown hotel, which will include restaurants, a rooftop bar, Top Gold Swing Suites, and 126 hotel rooms, with construction expected to commence in the fall. 

Organizational & Operations

- At Visit Corpus Christi, we gather quarterly data insights from a range of sources, presenting a review of the previous quarter and forecasts for the next. Our aim is to keep you informed about industry trends, support your future accomplishments, and utilize our data to benefit the local tourism industry and economy. [Download the Report]

- Congratulations to Chief of Staff Meredith Darden for earning her Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) credential from Destinations International after 2 years of dedicated effort, and we anticipate her ongoing exceptional contributions to destination management services and community impact.

- Additional congratulations are also in order for two of our Visit Corpus Christi marketing team members, Erica Tamez and America Segura, for their well-deserved recognition in Corpus Christi – Erica as a CC under 40 honoree for her strategic leadership, and America as a member of Leadership Corpus Christi class 52, both contributing significantly to our mission and vision. 

- Visit Corpus Christi's Executive Leadership Team along with other key members of the staff gained valuable insights by attending this year's Destinations International conference, a vital platform for networking, sharing industry best practices, and staying updated on the latest trends in destination marketing and management. Renowned for its comprehensive educational sessions and diverse networking opportunities, the conference is known to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth within the destination marketing community. 

Marketing & Communications

- Visit Corpus Christi's hotel marketing campaign, running from June 15th to September 30th, utilizes three key media channels to optimize real-time campaigns, enhance hotel visibility, deliver personalized experiences, and drive increased revenue through bookings. [Click here for reporting]

- Corpus Christi continues to pave the brand image and identity of the Gulf Coast Capital through earned media coverage and public relations efforts on a regional and national level. The Corpus Christi Public Relations team has secured 103 placements totaling almost 150 million impressions. Including a variety of outlets and media type including broadcast, print, and social media.

- This month after a collaboration between the digital and public relations team, a new "In the International News" page was launched on the Visit Corpus Christi website highlighting each international story where Corpus Christi has been featured as a result of our media relations strategies. 

Convention Sales and Services

- Nicole and Travis participated in Cvent CONNECT, a premier event industry conference with over 3,000 professionals, where they engaged with meeting planners in one-on-one appointments to explore Corpus Christi's potential as a future meetings and events host.

Experience and Visitor Services

- The experience team spearheaded the itinerary and hosting coordination for a Workforce Solutions Educator Externship to offer educators insights into the tourism industry, including tours of local attractions like American Bank Center Texas, Water Street Restaurants, and Whataburger Field, in collaboration with Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend. 

- Director of Visitor Services, Stev Guerra continues to educate our local tourism industry workforce through continued educational sessions as apart of the Tourism Academy. The program composed of three levels each providing your staff with the tools needed to provide excellent customer service for your business. Interested in having your team become #CCMe Certified? [Register here]

Sports Commission

- After working to bring the Express Beach Soccer tournament to Corpus Christi, The Sports Commission provided continuous services to ensure event success, including marketing efforts, on-site Gulf Coaster support and presence, and distributed 175 bags of CCTX gear to coaches, attracting over 2,500 attendees to McGee Beach and Downtown Corpus Christi and driving traffic to local businesses.

- City Manager Peter Zanoni welcomed Visit Corpus Christi's convention sales and sports teams to lead a meeting, recognizing the collaboration that helps build a better community and strengthen tourism through initiatives like the Coast Back Home program, led by Nicole Olivares and Joey Jewell.

Film & Music Commission: 

- The Corpus Christi Film & Music Commission participated in the Corpus Christi 7 Day Film Project Cast and Crew Call, promoting local creativity, advocating for filmmakers, providing resources, and supporting the event's success through representation by Megan Jabsen and Emily Zertuche.