Visit Dallas Annual Meeting Celebrates Record Growth and Visionary Initiatives for the Future

Winners of the Inaugural Can-Do Spirit Awards Announced

DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2024 — Yesterday, Visit Dallas hosted its annual meeting, bringing together city leaders, tourism stakeholders and community members to celebrate a record-breaking year for Dallas tourism and to offer a glimpse at 2025 and beyond.


The event highlighted Dallas’ growth as a top travel destination, the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, the city’s new “Maverick, Can-Do Spirit” brand identity, and the winners of the Can-Do Spirit Awards.


According to a recent study by Tourism Economics, in 2023, Dallas welcomed more than 27 million visitors, resulting in an astounding $10.5 billion in economic impact. The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the ten largest industries in Dallas, supporting over 59,000 jobs and generating over $625 million in state and local tax revenues.


In fiscal year 2024, the Visit Dallas team booked over 2.4 million room nights, resulting in over $2 billion in economic impact.


“There’s so much on the horizon for our city - the expanding convention center, airport developments, hotel growth and the MICHELIN Guide Texas,” said Craig Davis, President and CEO of Visit Dallas. “Dallas truly is an emerging global city, and these developments hold incredible promise for our future.”


The meeting featured Michael Lockwood of Populous as a keynote speaker. Earlier this year, Populous was awarded architectural, engineering and design services for the new and expanded Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. The firm is a foremost authority in designing world-class facilities around the globe, including recent projects in San Antonio and Sydney.


“Dallas is an amazing American city,” said Lockwood. “We want to build an international convention center to amplify Dallas on the global stage. These are projects that have a lasting impact for generations.


To date, the Visit Dallas sales team has already booked 59 definite conventions, representing $1.56 billion in future economic impact, for 2029 and beyond.


Another highlight of the meeting was the recognition of the winners of the inaugural Can-Do Spirit Awards.


“Based on the success of our brand launch earlier this spring, we introduced the Can-Do Spirit Awards, which celebrates local visionaries who embody a Maverick, Can-Do Spirit,” said Davis. “The community identified over 100 nominations and submitted more than 1,600 votes.”


The awards build on the success of the new destination brand and each of the five brand pillars:

  • A diverse community of people - a rich tapestry of cultures
  • Creative culinary influence - our unique recipe
  • Arts and entertainment - an unwavering commitment
  • Future-facing innovative audacity - a bold city that takes big swings
  • Iconic sports culture - locally revered, globally recognized


The following Can-Do Spirit Award winners were recognized at the annual meeting:

  • Anga L. Sanders, FEED Oak Cliff
  • Chef Amber Williams, Le Rouge Cuisine Food Co.
  • Jess Garland, Swan Strings
  • Elizabeth Wattley, Forest Forward
  • The Neil Family, Dallas Trinity FC


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About Visit Dallas
Visit Dallas is an independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization contracted with the City of Dallas to promote Dallas as a premier business and leisure travel destination. The organization’s collective efforts generate positive economic impact, diverse jobs and state and local tax revenues, benefiting the community and improving the quality of life for all residents.

Media Contact
Zane Harrington
Director of Communications
zane.harrington@visitdallas.com