Visit McKinney reports group bookings, upcoming events and staff changes; recognizes two Texas Travel Award winners

Assistant Director Alicia Holmberg told the Visit McKinney board on Oct. 28 that recent incentive-funded bookings included the Nigerian Soccer Federation of the USA event at Craig Ranch, which generated nearly 500 room nights, and a corporate group for Omnia Exterior Solutions that produced about 70 room nights after Visit McKinney provided transportation funding.

Holmberg reviewed upcoming events and deadlines: State of the City (Nov. 6), a hotelier meeting (Nov. 10), the next Visit McKinney board meeting (Nov. 25), a holiday party (Dec. 4), and NCAA Division II fan fest and championship events (fan fest the night before Dec. 20; championship Dec. 20). She asked board members to RSVP for events and said committee invites and fiscal-year meeting schedules would be emailed by staff.

Holmberg said Sales Manager Marie Woodard is currently remote and will retire in mid-January; Visit McKinney will wait until after the holidays to post the in-house replacement position. The board was invited to nominate recipients for the Visit McKinney "Tourism Partner of the Year" award by emailing nominations to staff before Nov. 14; staff will compile nominations and the board will vote by blind (ABC) ballot at the November meeting.

The board recognized two local winners of the 2025 Texas Travel Awards: the Bingham Estate (Unique Lodging) and Tufts Brewery (Best Brewery). Erica McWilliams, owner of the Bingham Estate, accepted the award and said the property opened fully in April 2025. A Tufts representative said the award has increased out-of-area inquiries to the brewery.