Beaumont Puts a Spotlight on Tourism Stars at 33rd Annual Hall of Fame Awards
On the evening of January 28, 2025, the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) hosted its prestigious Hall of Fame Award ceremony in the Neches Room, celebrating the remarkable contributions of meeting planners and hospitality partners to Beaumont's tourism industry in 2024. The event, attended by representatives from diverse groups and organizations and city officials, highlighted the collaborative efforts that transformed Beaumont into a bustling hub for 106 events, attracting 72 organizations and 51,812 convention delegates and sports participants.
"We are incredibly proud of the partnerships we've built and the milestones we've achieved together,” remarked Freddie Willard, Executive Director of the Beaumont CVB. " The success of our industry is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and we look forward to continuing this momentum in the years to come.”
The distinguished Industry Service Award for Meetings and Conventions was presented to Juztin Stewart, the Area Director of Operations for Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, Candlewood Suites Beaumont, and Candlewood Suites Orange of Palette Hotels. Stewart’s duties include preparing the hotels operating teams for the arrival out-of-town guests. His efforts contributed to keeping the meeting industry booming in Beaumont throughout 2024.
Additionally, this year’s ceremony awarded the Industry Service Award for Tourism to Hetty R. Brown, administrator of Best Bites and dedicated CVB Volunteer. Brown’s contributions to promoting Beaumont and unifying tourism efforts throughout the year were recognized through this award.
2024 was an excellent year for Beaumont, with the city's convention activity injecting more than $8.9 million directly into the local economy. This achievement underscores the critical role visitors play in supporting the economic vitality and community well-being in Beaumont.
Some of the honored attendees were the Cirque du Solei, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, French High School Mass Reunion, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Skills USA, Southeast Texas Baseball Academy/Perfect Game, Southern Black Softball Association, St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, the Streetz Dance Conference & Competition, and USA Softball of Texas. These honorees hosted events drawing large numbers of overnight stays.
The Hall of Fame Award ceremony is more than a celebration of the past year's achievements. It’s also a rallying cry for the future. As the “Growing Beaumont Together, One Meeting at a Time” campaign is poised to usher in an era of growth and prosperity for the city's tourism and hospitality. This campaign is an initiative aimed at encouraging individuals and organizations to contact the Beaumont CVB to bring even more meetings, reunions, and conventions to Beaumont in 2025.
"We see firsthand the positive impact gatherings and events have on our city," said Tessa Myers, Director of Sales of the Beaumont CVB. "With the “Growing Beaumont Together” initiative, we're inviting the entire community to participate in our city's success story and help make 2025 even more successful."
With the unwavering dedication of its tourism champions and the community's support, Beaumont looks forward to a bright and bustling 2025, filled with events showcasing the city's unique culture, hospitality, and spirit.
As the official Destination Marketing Organization, the Beaumont CVB’s mission is to promote and market Beaumont, Texas as a premier visitor and convention meeting destination for the purpose of positively affecting the city's economy. Learn more about their mission and funding at www.beaumontcvb.com/about.