Texas Travel Alliance

Big News for Texas Foodies! 🍴 Texas is now part of the prestigious MICHELIN Guide! Our award-winning BBQ, seafood, Tex-Mex, and more have caught the eyes (and taste buds) of the anonymous Inspectors.

The first MICHELIN Guide Texas selection, featuring Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, will put our culinary scene on the global stage. 🌎

More details:

The MICHELIN Guide Makes Waves in Texas The Lone Star State becomes the 11th MICHELIN Guide destination in North America

The largest aquarium in Texas has landed a spot on the list of the top 10 best aquariums in the country by USA TODAY's Reader's Choice Awards!

Dive into marine life and get up close and personal with rehabilitated turtles, dolphins, and more at Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, TX. The attraction also features a large splash pad, stingray touch pools, and the opportunity to swim with sharks

➡ Plan your trip and save on tickets to the aquarium with our Texas Travel Deals! Visit bit.ly/texastraveldeals for more info.

📷: Texas State Aquarium

Looking for the perfect family getaway this summer? Explore all that Texas has to offer with TTA's exclusive Texas Travel Deals! Enjoy discounted rates to attractions all over the state, including:

🌊 Waterparks
🦁 Zoos & aquariums
🧩 Escape rooms
⛰ Natural wonders
+ more!

➡ Unlock exclusive discounts: https://bit.ly/texastraveldeals

📷 San Antonio Zoo, Aquatica San Antonio, Natural Bridge Caverns, Medieval Times Texas

We’re excited to welcome Texas Meetings + Events as a new member of the Texas Travel Alliance!

Their magazine is a key resource for meeting and event professionals, offering in-depth insights into local cultural events, service providers, venues, and industry resources across Texas. Their expertise helps planners create exceptional meetings and events tailored to each region.

Learn more about the magazine here: https://meetingsmags.com/texas/

As Hurricane Beryl has brought unprecedented challenges to the Houston and Gulf Coast area, we extend our heartfelt support to all those affected by this devastating event. Our thoughts are with the residents, businesses, and communities grappling with the aftermath.

Here's how you can help your fellow Texans and support relief efforts 👇

Spread the word: Houston area residents can Text SHELTER and their ZIP code to 43362 to find shelters with help from FEMA.

Contribute a monetary donation for food, water and other necessary supplies to the Houston Food Bank. https://secure.houstonfoodbank.org/site/Donation2?df_id=14371&mfc_pref=T&14371.donation=form1&s_src=O0524EM&s_subsrc=stormpage&utm_source=Texas+Tribune+Newsletters&utm_campaign=675befac9e-trib-newsletters-thebrief&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-675befac9e-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=675befac9e&mc_eid=929f8b9120

Volunteer or donate to the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast. https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/gulf-coast/about-us/news-and-events/news/texas-gulf-coast-disaster-activity.html

Share: Houston Public Media is maintaining an updated and comprehensive list of the region's cooling centers, shelters, and food/water distribution centers on their website. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2024/07/09/492978/houston-cooling-centers-shelters-hurricane-beryl-aftermath/

Texas State Parks are providing free campsites to evacuees fleeing .

➡️ Find available parks at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/parks-map

Happy 60th anniversary, Natural Bridge Caverns!

Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest cavern in Texas, has been delighting millions of visitors worldwide for six decades. Congratulations to the Wuest family and their team on this remarkable achievement.

Thank you to Senator Dr. Donna Campbell and Representative Carrie Isaac for your support and recognition of the Wuest family and their work - and for your support of the travel & tourism industry!

To commemorate their 60 years, Natural Bridge Caverns is launching a new educational partnership with the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation (TWAF). The attraction will be raising money for TWAF through its ticket round-up program and partnering to offer additional educational experiences.

Here's to many more years of discovery and adventure with this Texas gem!

Wishing y'all a Texas-sized celebration this July 4th! 🇺🇸 Independence Day is a time to celebrate freedom, honor the sacrifices made for our liberty, and enjoy the festivities all across the Lone Star State. Have a safe and memorable Fourth of July!

📷📍: Granbury, TX | Annual Fourth of July Hometown Celebration
📷📍: Midland, TX | Star-Spangled Salute
📷📍: Fredericksburg, TX | Fredericksburg 4th of July Parade
📷📍: Grapevine, TX | July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza

Register for Texas Travel Summit in Houston, TX at a discounted rate before it's too late. Early bird registration is available now until August 9 🚨

Texas Travel Summit stands as the premier conference for the Texas travel industry. It presents a unique blend of networking opportunities, cutting-edge insights, and best practices. Hear from innovative keynote speakers and experience dynamic breakout sessions at this 3-day intensive conference at The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria.

📅 October 14-16, 2024
📍 The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria
🔗 Register: bit.ly/travelsummit24

Nestled on the iconic San Antonio Riverwalk, the Westin Riverwalk is an urban oasis offers river view balconies, delectable dining at Zocca Cuisine D’Italia, and extraordinary experiences in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

Enjoy live music, river parades, and explore nearby attractions like The Alamo and the Spanish Governor’s Palace.Enjoy live music, river parades, and explore nearby attractions like The Alamo and the Spanish Governor’s Palace.

Plan your visit and experience the best of San Antonio at The Westin Riverwalk. Join us in welcoming them as a new member to the Texas Travel Alliance!

📷 Photo courtesy of Westin Riverwalk

Stay cool at a number of waterparks around the state this summer and get discounted rates on admission!

Our Texas Travel Deals program offers tickets to several top attractions in Texas—plan your summer trip and view all deals available at bit.ly/texastraveldeals ☀



📷: Typhoon Texas, Splash Kingdom, Aquatica San Antonio, Schlitterbahn

What a journey, y'all! As we wrap up the last day of Travel and Tourism College here in College Station, we hope you leave with inspiration, knowledge, and new connections.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this incredible experience possible and helping move Texas travel forward. Congratulations to our dedicated students, especially those who graduated with their CTE designation. Here's to the bright future of Texas tourism!

Join us in October for even more engaging content at Texas Travel Summit in Houston, TX!

Early bird registration: https://texastravelalliance.org/event/2024Summit

July 4th Weekend is just around the corner. 🎆 Explore top attractions across the state, like Six Flags Fiesta Texas, at exclusive discounted rates with our Texas Travel Deals!

🔗 Unlock discounts to attractions at bit.ly/texastraveldeals
📷: Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Howdy from College Station! We're kicking off day 1 of Travel & Tourism College 2024. Here’s to a week filled with fresh ideas, new connections, and a journey of learning together here in Aggieland. 🎓

If you're joining us this week, don't forget to share your adventures and tag us + .

Summer is officially here, which means Texas beaches, rivers, and springs are calling your name. 🏊‍♀️ What's your go-to spot to stay cool? ☀

Destinations pictured:
📍 Guadalupe River | San Marcos, TX
📍 South Padre Island
📍 Barton Springs Pool | Austin, TX
📍 Balmhorea State Park | Toyahvale, TX


📷: Visit San Marcos, Travel Texas

Absolute Equality Mural 📍 Old Galveston Square

Did you know the birthplace of Juneteenth is here in Texas? On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and federal soldiers arrived to Galveston, Texas to deliver the news that enslaved people had been freed, 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Juneteenth is a pivotal moment to both American and Texas history. Explore the roots of this celebration with Galveston's "Freedom Walk" Challenge, which takes visitors on a self-guided tour of monuments and landmarks that commemorate freedom for all Texans.

Visitors can redeem a prize from Galveston's Visitor Information Center for participating in the challenge. 🔗 Learn more about the challenge here: visitgalveston.com/blog/take-the-freedom-walk-in-galveston-texas

📷: Galveston Island

Congratulations to TTA member and board member, Margo Richards (Lower Colorado River Authority), who has been named by Governor Gregg Abbott to receive the 2024 Outstanding Women in Texas Government Award for Outstanding Leadership!

Your stellar leadership at the Lower Colorado River Authority has made a significant impact on our great state. As a trailblazer and role model, you’ve contributed your notable talents and skills to shape the future of Texas, as well as the travel & tourism industry.

Your dedication inspires the next generation of leaders who will follow in your footsteps, serving and making a meaningful difference in the lives of Texans. Keep up the remarkable work!

Learn how to inspire deeper connections with your audience using classic storytelling techniques for social media and best practices for creating short-form video content in our July webinar with Marissa Valentine, Head of Marketing & Promotion at Odyssey Studios, a Miles Partnership company. Details 👇
📅 July 17 | 11 AM CT
📍 Zoom
🔗 Registration: bit.ly/socialstorytelling-webinar

One more week until we convene in College Station for Travel & Tourism College 2024! Join us in Aggieland for a week filled with networking, new ideas, and industry insights.
📅 June 24-28
📍 Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center
🏨 Overflow hotel: The George
🔗 Event info: bit.ly/traveltourismcollege24



📷: City of College Station

Add this brand new paddling trail to your Texas summer bucket list! 🛶 The Ron R. Smith Memorial Paddling Trail on Oso Bay is a 2.5-mile trail in Corpus Christi with plenty of coastal bird sightings and fishing opportunities.

This trail is dedicated to Ron R. Smith, a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologist who was passionate about teaching others to appreciate the outdoors through paddling and fishing. His legacy of fostering a love for nature and attending Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi lives on through the new trail.

📷: Visit Corpus Christi and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Join us in Houston this fall for Texas Travel Summit 2024! This premier conference presents a unique blend of networking opportunities, cutting-edge insights, and best practices. Register and secure your spot at a discounted rate until August 9!

📅 Texas Travel Summit | October 14-16
📍 Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria
🐦 Early bird member rate: $499
🐦 Early bird member rate PLUS vendor table: $999

Event info and registration: bit.ly/travelsummit24

📷: Photo courtesy of our Host Sponsor, Houston First Corporation

Dive into the world of AI at Travel & Tourism College 2024! Learn how AI is revolutionizing the travel industry and enhancing workplace collaboration. 💡

AI General Sessions:
Using AI to Supercharge Your Team
Speaker: Tim Welsh, Founding Partner and President of Phrasing

Leveraging AI for Travel Planning and Engagement
Speaker: AJ Kinney, Global Director of Content & Media Partnerships at Matador Network

Join us for a week of comprehensive education, meaningful networking opportunities, and innovative ideas from industry thought leaders this month as we convene in College Station! There's still time to register for Travel & Tourism College 👇

📍: June 24-28 | Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center
🔗 Registration and event details: bit.ly/traveltourismcollege24

Discover the rich history of the Caddo people at the newly reopened Caddo Mounds Historic Site in Cherokee County near Alto, TX.

After five years of restoration following the devastating 2019 tornado, this significant prehistoric native site welcomes visitors once again. Explore the ancient village and ceremonial center, featuring three sacred earthen mounds built over 1,200 years ago.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Texas' deep-rooted history and explore the beauty of East Texas' Piney Woods region!

📍: 1649 State Hwy. 21 West, Alto, TX 75925
⌚: Open Tuesday to Sunday | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m
📷: Texas Historical Commission

3 industry visionaries will converge to share their insights on the latest trends and seismic shifts shaping the travel and hospitality landscape. Hear from these industry thought leaders at our upcoming Travel & Tourism College in College Station, Texas from June 24 - 28.

Panel speaker lineup:
🎤 Neville Bhada, Founder & CEO of Applied Strategies and Principles
🎤 Amir Eylon, President & CEO, Partner at Longwoods International
🎤 Andria Godfrey, VP of Data Science at Miles Partnership
🎤 Robert Kelly, Sales Executive at STR

🔗 Register for Travel & Tourism College: bit.ly/traveltourismcollege24

What an incredible time we had at the Women in Travel Conference on May 17 in San Antonio, Texas!

Thank you to the trailblazing women who shared their leadership journeys, led powerful discussions, and embraced each others' strengths at this inaugural event.

A heartfelt thank you to all the phenomenal women who joined us, our generous sponsors, and our gracious host, The Westin Riverwalk. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about the 2025 Women in Travel Conference!

👉 In the meantime, mark your calendars for 2 more upcoming TTA events you can attend this year!
📅 Travel & Tourism College | June 24 - 28 in College Station
📅 Texas Travel Summit | October 14 - 16 in Houston
🔗 Event info: texastravelalliance.org/events

📸: Laurie Rush Photography

Did you know the world's first kid-friendly water coaster is here in Texas? The Bow Wow Blaster is a kids version of Schlitterbahn's famous Master Blaster uphill water coaster. The new ride is located in Schlitterbahn's all-new Schatze’s Storybrook Park, an area with water activities for kids, in New Braunfels!

Schlitterbahn is a partner of the Texas Travel Alliance's Texas Travel Deals program. Save big on gate prices to a number of Texas attractions this summer through our website ☀ bit.ly/texastraveldeals

📷:

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the Texas Travel Alliance’s 34th Annual Texas Travel Industry Unity Dinner, set to take place in The Woodlands on Monday, February 12, 2024! Join us as we unite the state’s Travel Industry with policymakers to highlight its pivotal role as a key economic engine and job creator in Texas. Early bird rates end tomorrow, January 5th, so secure your spot now and join us in the celebration: https://conta.cc/46QrygT=

Cheers to the New Year from everyone at the Texas Travel Alliance! May your journey through 2024 be marked by prosperity, accomplishments, boundless joy, and the creation of beautiful new memories. Here's to a fantastic year ahead! 🎉