Annual Meeting Recap
VISIT TAMPA BAY ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIR AT ANNUAL MEETING AFTER SECOND $1 BILLION YEAR
Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting Sees New Board Officers and Members Appointed for the Year Ahead
Tampa, FL (November 4, 2024) – Visit Tampa Bay has taken the green flag for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 as Evette Torres of Schulte Hospitality Group became the new Chair of Visit Tampa Bay’s Board of Directors following back-to-back record years of over $1 Billion in Tourism Development Taxes. Torres, other Board Members, and Advisory Board Members were appointed to their positions during Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting at The Motor Enclave in Tampa Oct. 30.
Torres takes over for outgoing Chair, Ray Mathews of State Farm, who served in the position during Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Mathews will remain as a board officer as is customary, and Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, credited him for overseeing Tampa Bay’s recent string of record-breaking tourism numbers.
ABOVE: President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, Santiago C. Corrada, addresses more than 500 attendees during Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting at The Motor Enclave in Tampa, FL, Oct. 30. Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting is a yearly forum where membership of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board is approved. Both boards as well as all partners and stakeholders in attendance are provided with a review of the Hillsborough County Tourism Industry’s performance in the most recent Fiscal Year and a preview of the year ahead.
“We just completed one of our most successful tourism years in Hillsborough County’s history and I want to thank Ray Mathews for his leadership and unwavering commitment in that endeavor,” Corrada said. “His steadfast support, along with that of Hillsborough County and the Cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City, have been instrumental in our unprecedented string of success. We’re fortunate to have such a seasoned hospitality professional like Evette at the helm of our board as we move forward. I know Evette’s leadership will help us sustain our momentum and further enhance Tampa Bay’s reputation as a world-class destination of choice.”
Mathews and Corrada were joined by Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and more than 500 community partners and stakeholders to welcome the new appointees and celebrate another successful year of tourism in Hillsborough County.
ABOVE: Visit Tampa Bay’s new board chair, Evette Torres, is welcomed by more than 500 partners and stakeholders during Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting at The Motor Enclave in Tampa, FL, Oct. 30. Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting is a yearly forum where membership of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board is approved. Both boards as well as all partners and stakeholders in attendance are provided with a review of the Hillsborough County Tourism Industry’s performance in the most recent Fiscal Year and a preview of the year ahead.
2025-2026 New/Returning Board Officers:
- Evette Torres, Chair – Schulte Hospitality Group
- Pam Barber, Chair-Elect – MOR
- Patrick Sorge, Secretary / Treasurer – Hyatt Place / Hyatt House Tampa Downtown
- Ray Mathews, Immediate Past Chair – State Farm
- Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO – Visit Tampa Bay
2025-2026 New Board Members:
- Raul Alfonso – Port Tampa Bay
- Thomas Huggins, III – Ariel Business Group
- Bemetra Simmons – Tampa Bay Partnership
- Scott Ward – Hilton Tampa Downtown / Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center
2025-2026 New Advisory Board Members:
- Ferrell Alvarez – Proper House Group
- Margaret Anderson – Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa-Riverview-Brandon
- Jessica Cain – Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
- Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges – Tampa Downtown Partnership
- Aaron Hoefen – Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel
- Laura Maldonado – Hotel Haya
- Raj Mohan – Saddlebrook Resort
- Greg Rice – Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center / Hilton Tampa Downtown
- Shawn Routten – Epicurean Hotel
The full list of board members and advisory board members can be viewed here.
As Torres and the rest of the new appointees assume their new roles for the year ahead, Visit Tampa Bay is ready to build on the 27 million visitors to the destination who generated an economic impact of $8.9 billion last year. Tampa Bay’s strength and resilience were on full display during recent storms, and its hospitality infrastructure is fully open, ready to host leisure travelers and convention goers, and poised for another great year in FY 2025.
”Tampa Bay continues to thrive despite the challenges thrown our way,” said Corrada. “We invite the world to come unlock our treasures in 2025 because we’re ready to play in Tampa Bay.”
Thank You, Ray! President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, Santiago C. Corrada, thanks outgoing Board Chair, Ray Mathews, for his leadership of the Board of Directors during Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting at The Motor Enclave in Tampa, FL, Oct. 30. Visit Tampa Bay’s Annual Meeting is a yearly forum where membership of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board is approved. Both boards as well as all partners and stakeholders in attendance are provided with a review of the Hillsborough County Tourism Industry’s performance in the most recent Fiscal Year and a preview of the year ahead.
ABOUT VISIT TAMPA BAY
The heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast beats in Tampa Bay. Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventure with a relaxing vibe to create vacation experiences that are authentically Tampa Bay. As a not-for-profit corporation certified by Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), we work with hundreds of partners to tell the world the story of Tampa Bay. Treasure awaits. For more information, visit our website.