San Antonio, TX (February 3, 2025)—Centro San Antonio, Visit San Antonio and greater:SATX are coming together to launch Impact SA, an economic forum spotlighting how Downtown San Antonio drives the city’s economy. As the heartbeat of business, tourism and community life, downtown plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's economic future. This event will explore key metrics, visitor analytics and actionable insights that directly impact local businesses, offering a comprehensive look at downtown’s economic influence.

 

Formerly known as the State of Downtown, Impact SA is Tuesday, February 11, 2025, in the Hemisfair Ballroom at the Henry B. González Convention Center, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Host of KLRN’s On the Record, Randy Beamer, will serve as the emcee. This highly anticipated event will welcome nearly 500 guests and feature insights from some of the leading data and economic experts from San Antonio and beyond.

 

Dedicated to highlighting the vital role downtown plays in driving economic growth and enhancing the city's appeal for both residents and visitors, Impact SA will include presentations from key leaders of the hosting organizations: Trish DeBerry, President and CEO of Centro San Antonio; Marc Anderson, President and CEO of Visit San Antonio; and Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, President and CEO of greater:SATX.

 

The event will also feature an engaging panel discussion with esteemed panelists, offering deeper perspectives on economic impact and opportunities tied to Downtown San Antonio. Panelists include:

 

 

“There are so many catalytic projects in progress and on the drawing board within downtown that we felt we needed to highlight the total ecosystem story, rather than just focusing on the State of Downtown from solely Centro’s perspective” said Trish DeBerry,

President and CEO of Centro San Antonio. “This year, by partnering with Visit San Antonio and greater:SATX, we aim to build on the narrative by providing valuable analytics and data that indicate how important a great downtown is to citizens, global tourism and the corporate world.”

 

“Downtown San Antonio is the engine of business and growth of our city and with Impact SA, attendees are invited to share in first-hand knowledge of its future direction,” said Marc Anderson, President and CEO of Visit San Antonio. “Tourism plays an integral part of Downtown and the City as a whole, being one of the top four economic generators with more than $21.5 billion in annual economic impact. The future growth trajectory of tourism is incredible, and Impact SA will showcase the many opportunities for more local participation and prosperity.” 

 

“Downtown San Antonio is the economic heartbeat of our region, fueling innovation, job creation, and a thriving business ecosystem,” said Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, President & CEO of greater:SATX. “A strong and vibrant downtown attracts investment, fosters entrepreneurship, and enhances our region’s global competitiveness. As we look ahead, it’s critical that we work together—business leaders, policymakers, and the community—to shape a future that ensures downtown remains a dynamic economic engine. This discussion is a pivotal opportunity to chart a bold path forward for the growth and prosperity of our urban core.”

 

Following the event, leaders and panelists will be available for interviews. For registration details, please visit the Impact SA registration site. 

 

# # #

 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our title sponsor, Baptist Health System, whose generous support has been instrumental in making Impact SA possible.

 

Media Contacts

 

Centro San Antonio
Chris Cortez
C: 210.849.9762
E: ccortez@centrosa.org 

 

Visit San Antonio
Ja’Nise Solitaire
O: 210.244.2084
E: janise.solitaire@visitsanantonio.com

 

greater:SATX
Adrian Castillo
E: adrian@greatersatx.com 

 

About Centro San Antonio

Centro San Antonio is a nonprofit placemaking organization that manages the Downtown public improvement district (PID). Centro’s purpose is to create a more beautiful, playful, welcoming, and prosperous Downtown in the spirit of San Antonio. Learn more at centrosanantonio.org.

 

About Visit San Antonio

Visit San Antonio is a 501(c)6 and serves as the sales and marketing arm of San Antonio as a leading leisure and meetings destination. In 2023, San Antonio welcomed approximately 35.6 million visitors. Hospitality is one of the top five industries in the city, contributing $21.5 billion to the local economy annually and employing more than 147,000. More information about Visit San Antonio and the city’s vast offerings can be found at VisitSanAntonio.com. 

 

About greater:SATX 

greater:SATX is the economic development partnership leading the San Antonio region's transformative growth through global corporate recruitment, local business advancement, and workforce development. The San Antonio region, or SATX, is the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, which is the 24th largest MSA in the nation (2023). At the core of greater:SATX's mission is attracting, retaining, and growing quality jobs for all San Antonians that provide pathways to economic mobility. This work is guided by greater:SATX, supported by regional businesses, regional economic development partners, and by the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, CPS Energy, and SAWS. The organization is responsible for assisting over 500 companies to relocate or expand in the region, which collectively employ more than 120,000 San Antonians. For more information on San Antonio's industry growth and economic opportunity, visit greatersatx.com and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @greater_SATX, LinkedIn, and Facebook.