Chamber News
McAllen Chamber awards 1st "Team McAllen Award of Excellence"
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce salutes Mr. Tom Weekly as the first recipient of the “Team McAllen Annual Award of Excellence.” This award is given in recognition for Tom’s leadership and personal efforts in bringing conventions and conferences to the McAllen Convention Center and McAllen hotels. Tom will be presented with this award at the next “Good Day McAllen” luncheon on Wednesday, September 1st.
Tom’s efforts on behalf of McAllen’s convention tourism extend back to 1983 when the American Legion, of which Tom is a past post 37 Commander and current member of the executive committee, first held their annual State convention in McAllen. Tom brought the Legion back to McAllen in 1993 and again in 2009. “We had a dry spell there from ’93 until just last year,” notes, Tom. “But once we had the new Convention Center, it was not hard to convince the Legionnaires to come back to McAllen.”
Tom, a long-time football official, was also instrumental in 2009 in bringing the Texas Association of Sports Officials to McAllen for their annual conference as well. Already noted for his various civic and charitable contributions to McAllen, Tom continues in his efforts on behalf of the community he loves. He has already initiated the process of bringing the Legion to McAllen again within two to three years. “It’s a long process,” he says, “but we already have the support of my post and the next step is to invite the State leadership to accept our bid for 2014.”
Tom invites other business and community leaders, who belong to State and National organizations, to join him in helping to bring their annual conferences and conventions to our town. “There are very few cities that offer the superior convention center facilities that we have,” notes Nancy Millar. Nancy adds that the feedback received from convention visitors has all been positive. “People tell us over and over that they love coming to McAllen. They love the service they receive from the CVB and Convention Center staff especially the student “concierges” that staff the information booth, serve as guides on the shuttle buses, and generally ‘take good care’ of our visitors.”