EL PASO, Texas—Destination El Paso has appointed Veronica Castro as executive director of Visit El Paso, recognizing her more than two decades of leadership with the organization and her contributions to El Paso’s tourism industry.
Castro most recently served as Destination El Paso’s director of tourism development and strategic alliances, a position she held for nine years. In her new role, she will oversee the Visit El Paso team and lead efforts to strengthen the city’s visitor economy, expand strategic partnerships, elevate the destination’s profile, and grow leisure, meetings, sports, and group business.
“Veronica has dedicated her career to Destination El Paso and to sharing the very best of our community with the world,” says Brooke Underwood, president and CEO of Destination El Paso. “Her knowledge of this organization, our tourism industry, and, most importantly, our community is invaluable. Veronica understands that destination development is about more than attracting visitors; it is about creating opportunities for our local businesses, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring tourism positively contributes to the quality of life in El Paso. I am incredibly proud to have her step into this role and excited for the leadership she will bring to the entire Visit El Paso team.”
Castro has held leadership roles spanning tourism development, destination marketing, visitor services, international market development, and strategic partnerships. During her tenure, she has helped expand El Paso’s tourism presence across the United States, Mexico, and Canada while building relationships with travel trade professionals, media, tour operators, and industry organizations.
Her work also has strengthened regional collaboration with such destinations as Fort Bliss (western Texas), the Big Bend Region (southwest Texas), Las Cruces (northern New Mexico), Ciudad Juárez (northern Mexico), and Chihuahua City (northwestern Mexico), helping to position El Paso as a gateway to a broader binational and regional travel experience.
Castro holds Texas Destination Marketer and Certified Tourism Executive designations. As a result of her service and contributions to El Paso tourism, the City of El Paso proclaimed May 16 as “Veronica Castro Day.” She also was among the inaugural honorees of The Concilio’s Texas Latino Legacy Awards, recognizing Latino leaders whose work has made a meaningful impact across Texas.
“This opportunity represents more than a new title; it represents the community and organization I have had the privilege of serving for more than two decades,” says Castro. “El Paso is a destination unlike any other, and I am incredibly proud of the work our team has done to share its story. I look forward to leading Visit El Paso into its next chapter, continuing to strengthen our partnerships, and finding new opportunities to grow our visitor economy while ensuring our work benefits the community we are so proud to represent.”
