LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

 Laredo, TX—After serving as the acting director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau for more than three years, the City of Laredo has officially named Blasita Lopez as the director.  Previously, Lopez served as the assistant director of the department.

 “Blasita has always shown the creativity and passion necessary to promote Laredo,” said City Manager Carlos Villarreal.  “She was the right person for the job,” he concluded.

 Lopez, originally from Garland, Texas, is a 1997 graduate of the University of Texas, where she earned a bachelor’s of journalism degree in broadcast journalism.  She started her career in Laredo, working first at KGNS-Pro8 News as a general assignments reporter, and then later, at KVTV-CBS 13.  After starting a local, family-owned sports magazine, Lopez spearheaded the campaign to convince voters to approve the sports venue tax for the entertainment center.   She joined the City of Laredo as the Public Information Officer in 2000, a role she held for six years.  While serving as the PIO, she also took on additional duties as telecommunications director, overseeing issues related to the franchise agreement the City of Laredo had with Time Warner Cable, monitoring local cable issues and a council appointed citizens advisory commission. 

 Lopez moved to the CVB as an assistant director, to help elevate the activities and promotions of the Miss Texas^® USA Pageant and that of the department, which was held in Laredo from 2003 to 2007.  Additionally, she managed the development of the Laredo media campaign, specifically focusing on a strategic media buys to best promote Laredo.  Not long after joining the department, Lopez became the acting director in March of 2007.  This new leadership opportunity allowed for on-the-job training promoting Laredo as a destination spot for not only Mexican shoppers, but Texas and other domestic travelers.  She has also enhanced the relations between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo; especially, working closely with the Mexican Consulate’s Office for coordinating and hosting the annual Paisano Rest Stop, a staple of the Laredo CVB office which helps to facilitate Mexican citizens return trip to Mexico for the Christmas holidays from throughout the United States as they pass through Laredo. 

 Looking for opportunities to enhance CVB’s role in promoting local tourism, Lopez also engaged in product development, working towards new and enhanced nature tourism offerings.  “Webb County and its surrounding areas are known as having prime white-tail deer hunting grounds,” stated Lopez.  “I want to build on that already successful reputation and offer yet another form of revenue for our private landowners by adding birding and nature photography activities while opening up a new avenue of marketing sales pitch

 An important partner in helping to jumpstart this project is the Images for Conservation Fund in their Pro Tour of Nature Photography.  This nature photography tour event documents and captures the beautiful south Texas brush country – of which Laredo is teeming with – and puts it on display for the world to see in photos and what authorities hope will be, a catalyst for them to want to experience firsthand.

 In fact, just this past January, Laredo was not only visited by birders from across the country who came to see a rare avian visitor better known as the Amazon Kingfisher, but also, the community was given rave reviews by these visitors.  Under Lopez’ direction, visitors were welcomed in the field with coffee in the mornings and water in the afternoons and portable toilets were installed for their convenience in proximity of the viewing area.  This resulted in a barrage of positive feedback about Laredo’s hospitable and bird-friendly attitude, as well as promoting the city for its beautiful landscape and other tourist amenities. 

 “I want people who come to Laredo to remember the city’s hospitality and warmth.  It is these small gestures that help to convert negative perception about the border community and turn it positive, one person at a time,” continued Lopez.

 “I consider myself a dedicated public servant and I am proud of my career with the City of Laredo, my staff at the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the manner in which I have been able to contribute to my community,” said Lopez.  “I look forward to being able to positively impact the economic development of this area through increased tourism in the near future and I appreciate the support of my family and the vote of confidence from my City Manager, Mayor Raul G. Salinas and the members of the Laredo City Council,” she concluded

 Lopez is the mother of four children – Goyo, Isabella, Maya and Blas – and is married to Gregorio “Goyo” Lopez.