When Hurricane Beryl surprisingly did significant damage and knocked out power for much of Galveston during the heart of tourism season, Galveston Park Board Chair Jason Hardcastle admits it shocked the system and posed a serious risk to the island’s lifeblood. Five months later, Hardcastle was joined by other tourism officials, state and local officials, and the chamber CEO to accept recognition from Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Office as a certified Tourism Friendly Texas Community. On Tuesday, under the poinsettia Christmas tree at Moody Gardens, the island’s resilience doubled down on efforts to bring more people to Galveston and invest in an offseason marketing campaign to help make up for what was lost because of the hurricane. By most accounts, the plan worked. Drone shows in downtown Galveston, a new partnership with the organizers of the Galveston Sandcastle Competition, and an extra $600,000 in a marketing campaign extended Galveston’s summer. The “shoulder” seasons of the fall and winter have seen an uptick in off-season visitors and people staying in hotels and short-term rentals. "This designation is a way to celebrate the efforts of our community,” said Tony Lyle, the Executive Director of Visit Galveston, the marketing and promotions arm of the Park Board. “It’s a recognition of the friendliness of our residents, the hard work of our city officials, and the ability of Galveston to stay resilient and relevant for nearly 200 years." Kimberly Danesi, the CEO of the Galveston Park Board, said the recognition as only the eighth city in the state to receive it was shared, not just by tourism's higher-ups. The front-line tourism workers, the wait staff, bartenders, hotel desk clerks, and other staff members of tourism-centric businesses are an integral part of the island’s tourism success.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2024-12-17 16:40:39 UTC