San Antonio CVB Staff Spreads the Good News

Once again the San Antonio CVB sales team hit the floor at Springtime Expo to spread the good news about meeting in San Antonio. The Expo took place in Washington, DC, on April 28. After the Expo, San Antonio partnered with other Texas cities to host a small reception. A good time was had by all and we look forward to seeing all our DC friends again soon!

Newly Renovated Visitor Center Has Reopened

The San Antonio Visitor Information Center, located across the street from the Alamo near the Convention Center, has recently undergone a renovation and reopened its doors in March to help meeting delegates get around town and have a wonderful time while here. Some highlights of the renovation include new flooring, paint, lighting fixtures, finishes, shelving and displays. The restrooms in the historic building were also upgraded with new plumbing and fixtures.

Team Texas Hosts Event for Alamo Battle Anniversary

The San Antonio CVB recently hosted a VIP reception at the historic Mansion at Judges Hill in Austin. The event launched the March issue of Texas Monthly, which featured coverage of the 175th anniversary of the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo. The reception was attended by many Austin meeting planners who were hosted by Team Texas. 

Annual Tamale Lift Delivers Again!

In San Antonio, tamales are a traditional holiday meal. And thanks to the SACVB and Team Texas (our hotel and industry partners) the annual Tamale Lift Client Appreciation Event has become a tradition in its own right.

More than 16 pairs of CVB staffers and Team Texas partners personally called on over 170 clients in San Antonio and nearby Austin to deliver giant tins of delicious homemade tamales. The event, in place for two decades, was a huge success, with some clients planning holiday parties around the arrival of the tamales.

“They’re expecting us and they’re excited to get them,” said CVB Convention Sales Manager John Vlieger, CMP, who oversees Tamale Lift. “It’s just become a great tradition that the clients look forward to. They’re always asking about it.”

San Antonio CVB Names New Housing Manager

The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau named Joy Ware as its new Housing Manager. Ware brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including two years as the CVB's Assistant Housing Manager.

“Joy has demonstrated excellence throughout her time with the CVB and has been instrumental in implementing new ideas to improve our services," said CVB Services Director Brenda Square. "We look forward to much more success and are excited that she will be leading our housing efforts.”

Ware will lead the housing team in handling multihotel conventions utilizing Passkey, a web-based hotel reservation system. She will also work closely with meeting planners and hotel partners to help facilitate a successful housing experience. 

CVB and Convention Center Win Inner Circle Award

The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, along with the San Antonio CVB, were among only 15 convention centers and convention and visitors bureaus given the prestigious Inner Circle Award recently from "Association Meetings." The publication's 66,000 readers determined the winners.

The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center has a total of 630,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, a grand, flexible layout and a River Walk location that makes it an ideal gateway for inspirational meetings. The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau is a standout for customer service and convention services, including marketing, housing, on-site materials, registration and post-convention services.

For news about what's happening citywide, see What's New