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Visit Austin Foundation Scholarships

Heart of Hospitality Award & Scholarship

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The Visit Austin Foundation invests in individuals and organizations who take pride in delivering exceptional hospitality and contributing to Austin’s vibrant community. We provide funding to support those pursuing careers in tourism and hospitality, empowering current industry professionals of all ages to strengthen their skills, leadership, and career advancement through certifications, continuing education, and professional development. Since its inception in 2020, the Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship has awarded $30,000 to individuals who represent the care, service, creativity, and community spirit that make Austin’s tourism and hospitality industry so special.

Congratulations to our previous Heart of Hospitality Award & Scholarship Recipients:

  • 2025 - Alex Cogburn, Jordan Hedley & Lisbete Olvera
  • 2024 - Victor Fioreze & James Randall
  • 2023 - Nicholas Pattillo & Mackenzie Yandell
  • 2022 - Joshalyn Walker
  • 2021 - Samantha Anderson & Paxton Knies


Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship 

The Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship honors the people who make Austin’s tourism and hospitality industry extraordinary through the way they show up for others. This award recognizes individuals whose work has a meantingful impact on guests, customers, colleagues, teams, organizations and the broader Austin community. If you receive, witness, or work alongside someone in Austin’s tourism and hospitality industry who makes people’s lives better through their service, leadership, creativity, or commitment to others, we invite you to nominate them for the Visit Austin Foundation Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship.

This year, the Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship has expanded to recognize individuals across the following categories:

  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Arts, Culture + Legacy
  • Sports + Leisure

Criteria for nominations (please provide examples of each of the following):Helping Hands

  • Exceptional hospitality, service, or care for others
  • A positive and professional attitude
  • Initiative and commitment that goes beyond their regular responsibilities
  • Meaningful impact on customers, guests, team members, their organization, or the Austin community
  • A demonstrated interest in growing their career in tourism, hospitality, arts and culture, sports, leisure, or a related field

Eligibility for nomination:

  • Nominee must currently work in one of the eligible Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship categories: Hotels; Restaurants; Arts, Culture + Legacy; or Sports + Leisure. Nominees may work in any role within these areas.
  • Nominee must be interested in advancing their career through certification, continuing education, professional development, or other growth opportunities. This may be verified during the review process if it is not included in the nomination.
  • Self-nominations are allowed.

 

Procedure:
Deadline for nominations is June 24, 2026. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee to determine the 2026 scholarship recipients. The Visit Austin Foundation scholarship award will be announced at our Visit Austin Annual Meeting on September 16, 2026.

Nomination

Please describe how the nominee demonstrates exceptional hospitality, service, care, leadership, or community impact through their work. Share specific examples of how they show up for guests, customers, team members, their organization, or the broader Austin community. Please also explain how receiving the Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship would support their continued growth, professional development, or career advancement within Austin’s tourism and hospitality industry. (Minimum 150 words)

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2025 Heart of Hospitality Recipient

Receiving this award from the Visit Austin Foundation has meant the world to me. I love Austin and am proud to be a citizen of this town and to be a part of its artistic community and hospitality industry. The praise I’ve received from everyone in regard to this award has really made me look at my career here in Austin as a whole. I can’t help but think of all the milestones that have led to this moment. The recognition has made my heart sing and makes me blush with gratefulness. It’s presented a tangible standard for myself, and it makes me proud to be a part of a city that honors hospitality and all that are a part of the industry. It paints a picture of a real part of Austin that touches those who visit in an unforgettable way.

Alex Cogburn

2025 Heart of Hospitality Recipient

I am absolutely honored to receive the 2025 Heart of Hospitality Award and Scholarship. I’ve been a hotel, resort, and theme park person for as long as I can remember, and working in this industry now feels completely natural, especially knowing I get to help create a true home away from home for others. This recognition reassures me that I’m on the right path and provides meaningful support as I continue to move forward in my hospitality career. I cannot thank the Visit Austin Foundation team enough—not only for what they have done for me, but for the continued impact they make on our entire industry.

Jordan Hedley

2024 Heart of Hospitality Recipient

I'm honored to receive the Heart of Hospitality Award & Scholarship...This recognition reflects my commitment to creating memorable guest experiences and strengthening our community through hospitality. This scholarship is a meaningful step forward in my career. I'm grateful for this support as I work toward making an even bigger impact in our community.

Victor Fioreze

2024 Heart of Hospitality Recipient

I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of the 2024 Heart of Hospitality Award & Scholarship from the Visit Austin Foundation. This recognition means so much to me as I continue to grow within the hospitality and events industry. The scholarship will directly support my pursuit of the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) certification, an essential step toward my goal of becoming a Certified Venue Executive (CVE). This award…serves as a driving force to enhance my skills and contribute even more to the vibrant Austin hospitality community. I am deeply thankful to Visit Austin for believing in my potential and providing me with the opportunity to advance my career.

James Randall

2023 Heart of Hospitality Recipient

The Austin Heart of Hospitality scholarship holds special significance as it provides a tangible means to advance my skills and knowledge in the hospitality industry. I'm excited to share that I plan to use the scholarship to pursue my Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification, a key milestone in my career journey...I look forward to sharing my progress and experiences. Once again, thank you for this incredible opportunity. I am eager to make the most of it and pay it back by contributing to the vibrant hospitality community in Austin.

Mackenzie Yandell
Heart of Hospitality Scholarship is proudly supported by

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