November 20, 2025
EVENT PROGRAM PROVIDED BY
Thank You! FOR COMING
We’re so glad you could join us to celebrate our community’s second-largest industry and the incredible people who make Corpus Christi unforgettable. Your presence helped make the evening truly special, and we are so grateful to share this celebration with you.
From all of us, thank you for being part of our community and helping us shine together!
About the State of Tourism Gala & Hospitality Awards
The State of Tourism Gala & Hospitality Awards is a signature event that celebrates excellence in hospitality by honoring individuals who make an impact in the community through the Corpus Christi tourism industry.
Held in conjunction with Visit Corpus Christi’s Annual Presentation, this event welcomes the entire community to honor and support the professionals that keep the tourism industry thriving.
EVENT PROGRAM
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Social Hour
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM Dinner
7:45 PM - 8:20 PM Visit Corpus Christi Annual Meeting
8:20 PM - 8:30 PM Intermission
8:30 PM- 9:30 PM Hospitality Awards
DINNER MENU
Salad (GF)
Bibb Lettuce | Mandarin Orange | Goat Cheese | Lemon Chardonnay Vinaigrette
Santa Maria Short Rib (GF)
Wild Mushroom Ragout | Creamy Parmesan Polenta | Broccolini
Quinoa Cake (V)
Mojo Roast Tri Color Cauliflower | Cauliflower Puree | Honey Carrot Coulis
Dessert
Assorted popcorn flavors, toppings and drizzles
Thank you to OVG Hospitality for the outstanding meal! Your attention to detail and passion for excellence made the dining experience truly memorable. We appreciate the hard work that went into every dish—thank you for making the event so special!
About the Hospitality Awards
The Hospitality Awards presented at the State of Tourism Gala honor the exceptional individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the tourism and hospitality industry. Join us as we celebrate the achievements of those who exemplify excellence in service, innovation, and community engagement. These awards recognize the best in hotels, restaurants, attractions, and tourism professionals who go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for visitors. Come together with industry leaders to applaud their dedication and hard work and be inspired by the stories of excellence that define our vibrant tourism landscape!
PAST HONOREES
Visit Corpus Christi Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
Bucaneer Commission
Visit Corpus Christi Awards of Excellence 2024
Gaberial Duran
Del Mar Hospitality
Kevin Smith, CCIA
Visit Corpus Christi Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
State Representative Todd Hunter
Visit Corpus Christi Awards of Excellence 2023
Brady Ballard
Casey Lain
Lively Beach Resort
2025 PATH SCHOLARSHIP
The Professions Across Tourism and Hospitality (PATH) program supports dynamic careers in tourism and hospitality. Each year, the PATH scholarship is awarded at the State of Tourism Gala & Hospitality Awards to a Del Mar College student excelling in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or Baking and Pastry. Del Mar’s Hospitality Management Program offers a certificate and an Associate of Applied Science degree, combining hands-on experience with industry-focused education to prepare students
Meet Brittany Ramos
Brittany Ramos found her path in the culinary arts through a lifelong love of creativity. She enjoys painting and sculpting, and eventually discovered that pastry work offers the perfect way to blend her artistic skills with the joy of cooking.
Brittany is inspired by the care and creativity that goes into food, from beautifully crafted pastries to thoughtfully prepared dishes. Her grandmother also played a meaningful role in shaping her passion, filling every holiday with handmade treats that were created with love. Today, Brittany hopes to bring that same warmth and artistry to others as she continues her culinary journey.
Congratulations to All Award Finalists! 2025 HOSPITALITY AWARDS
Attraction of the Year
Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History
USS Lexington Museum on the Bay
Hilliard Center
Bar of the Year
Caller & Critic
Old Kress Live
Rockit’s Whiskey Bar
Chef of the Year
Phoebe Trotter, Bellino Ristorante
Meesha Graham, Elizabeth’s at the Art Museum
Michael Smith, Ruby Ladle
Culinary Experience of the Year
Elizabeth’s at the Art Museum
Odi’s Pizzeria
Bellino Ristorante
Destination Salesperson of the Year
Sammie Ramon, OVG 360 Hilliard Center
John Garcia, Comfort Suites
Sarah Frakes, Lively Beach Resort
Event of the Year
Corpus Christi 7 Day Film Project
First Friday ArtWalk
Barefoot Mardi Gras
Film Partner of the Year
Heidi Hovda, Corpus Christi 7 Day Film Project
Jimmy Willden, Local Filmmaker
Christine Longoria, Independent Actor & Writer
Housekeeper of the Year
Breanna Borrego, Lively Beach Resort
Alma Soyos, Texas State Aquarium
Valerie Gonzales, USS Lexington Museum
Mixologist of the Year
Thomas J. Salazar, Republic of Texas
Donnie Stephens, Omni Corpus Christi Hotel
Laura Rivera, House of Rock
Music Partner of the Year
Alexis Puga, DJ Ero Soul, The Kickback Events CC
Paul Bissell, Del Mar College
Freddie Martinez, Freddie Records
Rising Tourism Star
Lacey Guzman, Corpus Christi International Airport
Johnathan Martinez, Glow Row
Albert “Aza” Lara, Glow Row
Service Professional of the Year
Sergio Espinosa, Mansion Royal
Arielle Del Bosque, Holiday Inn Downtown Marina
Anna Vargas, Omni Corpus Christi Hotel
Signature Experience of the Year
Gulf Coast Mokes
Rose Soiree
STEM Day by the Bay
Sports Partner of the Year
Jessica Furdock, Conquer the Coast
Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo, Corpus Christi FC
George Manias, Corpus Christi Ice Rays
Tourism Advocate of the Year
Steve Banta, USS Lexington Museum
Zack Jurasek, Glow Row
Jeff Elledge, OVG 360 Hilliard Center
Awards of Excellence
Tonight, we honor the individuals and local businesses that have played a vital role in the success of our tourism industry over the past year. We’re excited to present four awards this evening in recognition of their contributions.
Brad Lomax LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONOREE
For more than four decades, Brad Lomax has helped shape the way Corpus Christi eats, gathers, and sees itself. Alongside his wife Liz, he transformed a small idea on Water Street into beloved local institutions that anchor downtown and make visitors feel at home. Through booms, busts, and hurricanes, Brad’s answer was always the same—lean deeper into community. His stewardship helped spark Sink Your Shucks, recycling millions of pounds of oyster shells to restore Texas reefs, and his advocacy at the Capitol paved the way for the state’s first permitted oyster farm. Today, his family carries the Water Street legacy forward while Brad continues to champion the coast, small businesses, and a thriving future for the Gulf Coast Capital. We proudly honor him as our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The Corpus Christi Dia de los Muertos Festival has grown from a local street celebration into a signature event, filling downtown with art, music, food, and tradition. It supports artists, activates small businesses, and draws visitors to experience the culture that defines the Gulf Coast Capital.
Cheryl Votzmeyer-Rios led the charge to revive the historic Ritz Theatre, securing a $30 million state grant to restore the 1929 landmark. Her leadership is bringing this downtown icon back as a vibrant cultural and performing-arts venue for the community and visitors.
Durrill Properties has shaped Corpus Christi’s live-music scene with venues that bring families together, showcase artists, and attract visitors statewide. From amphitheaters to waterfront stages, their work continues to elevate tourism and hospitality in the Gulf Coast Capital.
Dia de los Muertos Festival
Cheryl Votzmeyer-Rios
Durrill Properties
Toast TO THE Coast
Transform your table gift into a coastal cocktail. Elevate your next drink by using the custom-blended salt or sugar garnish to craft one of these seaside-inspired cocktails.
RECIPES & BLENDS CRAFTED BY SIP & ENJOY COURTESY OF
After Party
HOSTED BY
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS and SPONSORS
PLATINUM
ADDITIONAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Old Kress Live, Omni Hotel, City of Corpus Christi- Planning and Economic Development, Lively Beach, RGB Hospitality, CC Ritz Theater, Durrill Properties, The Social Butterfly - Media Consulting, Victory Building Team, United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, The Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, House of Rock, Roland Barrera Insurance, CFO by Design, Corpus Christi Hooks, Buccaneer Commission, Distance Brothers Transportation Services, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, GlowRow, Gulf Coast Mokes, CC7D
We’re How Corpus Christi is
Enjoying More Fresh AIR .
ESCAPING THE STRESS AND CHAOS OF OTHER AIRPORTS
Every time you fly CCIA, you’re helping Corpus Christi climb higher. From new destinations and expanded services to fresh experiences travelers love, the airport’s growth reflects the city’s own momentum. Together, we’re creating a future where local travel feels easier, cleaner, and full of opportunity. Want more? Keep flying CCIA!
5% increase in year-over-year passengers
1,200 sq. ft. craft beer bar & outdoor patio
14 daily departures/100 weekly flights
New Denver nonstop from Frontier
Dedicated to the future
Focused on expanding route choices, fueling growth, and connecting Corpus Christi to more of what matters.