Visit Lake Charles Director of Communications Candy Rodriguez has been recognized as a 2025 eTourism Emerging Tourism Star, a prestigious national honor awarded to innovative professionals shaping the future of travel and tourism.
Rodriguez leads Visit Lake Charles’ communications efforts through local media relations, partner and stakeholder engagement, and storytelling across printed and digital platforms. She also manages social media strategies and communications for Just Imagine SWLA, shaping messaging, content, and engagement initiatives to inform the community about the region’s long-term resilience projects.
“Candy’s storytelling expertise and ability to connect with audiences have been instrumental in promoting Southwest Louisiana,” said Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “I am so proud of Candy and what she has accomplished in a very short period of time. Her creativity and dedication to the industry make her truly deserving of this recognition.”
“I can’t imagine this team without Candy,” said Kathryn Shea Duncan, senior director of social media/communications. “From day one, she’s brought an incredible amount of passion, creativity, and heart to everything she does. Watching her thrive and receive the recognition she deserves is such a rewarding experience. I’m beyond proud of her.”
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to blend my background in broadcast journalism with my passion for sharing Southwest Louisiana’s story is truly rewarding.”
Rodriguez will be recognized at the 2025 eTourism Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada in April. During the summit, Candy will engage in high-impact networking with top leaders in destination marketing, offering her a platform to explore the latest trends, tools, and technologies that are set to revolutionize tourism marketing strategies. She will join the Emerging Tourism Star panel allowing her to share insights with peers and fellow industry professionals.
Download Rodriguez’s headshot here.
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About Visit Lake Charles:
Visit Lake Charles, the official destination marketing organization for Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana, is the only organization in Southwest Louisiana providing advocacy, promotion, and education for the tourism industry. For more information on Visit Lake Charles and things to see and do in Louisiana’s Playground, log on to www.visitlakecharles.org.
