from staff
Visit Jacksonville named the four recipients of its National Tourism Week hospitality awards at a ceremony Wednesday at the Touchdown Club of EverBank Field.
The top prize, the Visit Jacksonville Hall of Fame Award, was given to Peter Bragan Jr. and the Jacksonville Suns.
The award honors individuals whose vision, creativity and passion have had a positive impact on the development and growth of Jacksonville’s hospitality and tourism industry.
The Bragan family and the Double-A Jacksonville Suns have been a part of Jacksonville since 1962. The Suns offer entertainment such as Friday fireworks displays and post-game concerts and also won consecutive Southern League titles in 2009 and 2010.
Ed Burr received the Margo Dundon Leadership Award. Named for the past Visit Jacksonville chair, the award recognizes an individual who portrays Dundon’s vision and commitment to enhancing local tourism.
A local business leader, Burr was honored for showing leadership as chair of the Downtown Revitalization Committee of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Jacksonville Civic Council.
Bistro Aix Restaurant and Lounge received the Visit Jacksonville Partner of the Year Award for its support of Visit Jacksonville, participating in media and sales visits, marketing promotions and partner events. It is locally owned and operated.
Chef Tom Gray’s dishes and partnership with local farms for ingredients have garnered national recognition from the James Beard Foundation.
Sergio Lopez is the recipient of the Hometown Ambassador Award. The head swim coach and aquatics director for The Bolles School has demonstrated a passion for tourism, increased destination awareness and visitor demand.
Lopez was instrumental in securing events that accounted for more than 1,700 attendees with an estimated economic impact of $2.7 million in visitor spending.
He assisted in booking the U.S. Aquatics Sports National Convention in 2011, 2014 and 2018 and is paving the way for Jacksonville to be the potential host city for the future Olympic swim trials.
Visit Jacksonville is contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council as the marketing organization for business and leisure tourism in Northeast Florida. It works with almost 400 tourism partners.