Carl Miniex serves as a prime example of what it means to be an ambassador for your city. Miniex, who works at both the city marina and the downtown Stripes convenience store, greets everyone with a smile and a warm welcome. Staff Photo
Whether working search-and-rescue at the city marina or helping customers at a downtown Stripes convenience story, Carl Miniex never forgets to smile or offer a warm welcome to visitors to his beloved city.
This is a beautiful city," he told Corpus Christi Business News when asked why he is considered an ambassador for the area by the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). "People come here from all over the world. I've talked to people from Norway, France, England, even Napal. I want them to love it, too."
The CVB recently spotlighted Miniex's friendly, caring persona at his two jobs during a Tourism 101 presentation to Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce members. Miniex "thinks, speaks and acts with positivity," said CVB communications director Ashley Higson at the meeting. "He's a prime example of what it means to be an ambassador for the city."
Higson and CVB brand management director Elvia Aguilar encouraged attendees to "recognize the impact of one smile, one kind word, one warm welcome" to the more than 8 million visitors to the Corpus Christi area every year. Whether here for vacation or business, those visitors spend about $1.2 billion a year, making tourism a major industry in the Coastal Bend.
"Tourism touches every single life in town," Higson said. "We want people who do not work in the industry to know the impact tourism makes on their lives."
And the CVB wants to recruit each and every resident to represent the city with the same positive attitude as Miniex. "It's not just the convention bureau's responsibility to make sure that visitors to our city have an awesome experience," Higson said, urging those using social media to "think before you post" to Facebook, Twitter or other communication platforms.
"Don't be a complainer," she said. "Be a solution finder."
Miniex, who came to Corpus Christi as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1984, takes his role as ambassador seriously — without any prodding.
"Anything in life, regardless of what you do, remember that you should be treating people the way you want to be treated," he told Corpus Christi Business News. "We have to set the tone from the very beginning. Don't be an automaton. Be friendly. People will respond in kind."
And when they feel welcome to a place, they come back, Aguliar said. "And that puts heads in beds," she said, referring to overnight stays in hotels, condos and other local rentals.
Every visitor to the area brings in new money that is spent in the community, boosting the economy, Higson said. A welcome from the locals will boost the return rate and the positive word of mouth that encourages new visitors to the area.
"Recognize the impact you yourself have every single day," she said. "Make sure you are asking our visitors how their visits are going. Encourage them to come back."
