Laredo CVB Director Named to State-Wide Board
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 21, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Lopez hopes appointment will help promote January 2012 conference in Laredo
Laredo, August 17, 2010– Blasita J. Lopez, Laredo Convention & Visitors’ Bureau Director, has been named to the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (TACVB). The appointment was made this past week in Lubbock at the TACVB annual conference during their business meeting on Thursday, August 12. The meeting consisted of approximately 150 voting members and the new appointments to the board were approved unanimously.
“I am excited to start my term on this highly organized and efficient group that dedicates itself towards destination promotion and the travel industry,” stated Lopez. “I got a call early in the summer advising me that I had been nominated to serve on the board and after discussing it with those close to me, the two-year commitment was a step in the right direction for Laredo.”
According to their website, the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus was organized in 1972 for the purpose of providing cooperative action to enhance and encourage the growth of the convention and visitor industry in Texas. Through the Texas convention & visitor bureaus they identify and promote cultural diversity, rich history, hidden treasures, and off-the-beaten-path places of interest across the state along with all the well-known icons that say “Texas” to anyone anywhere. Lopez joins the ranks of board members, individuals from all over the Lone Star State including:
· Charlie McIlvain, Chair, Granbury CVB
· Shannon Overby, Chair-Elect, Bryan-College Station CVB
· Jay Buress, Secretary, Arlington CVB
· Rebecca Ybarra-Ramirez, Treasurer, San Marcos CVB
· Dean Conwell, Immediate Past Chair, Beaumont CVB
· Diann Baynes, McKinney CVB, CEO Representative
· Ann B. Vaughan, Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau, CEO Representative
· Judy Skowron, Mesquite CVB, CEO Representative
· Carla Pendergraft, Waco CVB, Professional Staff Representative
· Jennilee Latimer, Abilene CVB, Professional Staff Representative
· Kimberly Lemley, Corpus Christi CVB, Professional Staff Representative
This is not the first time that Laredo has been recognized by this group. It was when Laredo was selected as the host for the TACVB Mid-Winter Education Conference slated for January 2012. During a competitive bid process at one of TACVB’s two annual meetings this past January in Granbury, TX, Laredo bid for the event against two other destinations, Corpus Christi and Pearland. In an unprecedented decision, the board selected Laredo and the conference promotion process has begun.
“In Lubbock, we set up a booth and had a banner printed up inviting everyone to Laredo in January 2012. We want there to be lots of folks in attendance and we want to give them a chance to talk about coming to Laredo with plenty of time to anticipate their arrival and offer our hospitality,” stated Selina Villarreal, LCVB staff member also in attendance at the TACVB annual conference. “Our strategy was to give them a little sample of the great things that we have to offer here. We raffled-off talavera dishware and products from San Bernardo Avenue to generate excitement for 2012 conference attendance.” Laredo CVB staff was also represented by Jessika Alexander at the state conference in Lubbock.
Part of what a host city must do is assist with attendance generation because it is an important step towards a successful event and setting a good basis for repeat conference business. Brian Frazier, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, was the big winner with a major item from San Bernardo Avenue. He had all the luck with his name drawn by TACVB staff for a hand-made wrought-iron, tin and wooden cross measuring 5’ x 3’.
Laredo CVB has been a member of the state association for 12 years. Lopez was recently named director of the Laredo CVB and has been participating in the TACVB meetings for the past three years.
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The Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization of the city of Laredo. It promotes tourism services including the use of local hotel and lodging service providers.
