GALVESTON, TX, Feb. 4, 2020 – Galveston Wharves was honored with two major awards for its long-time economic contributions at the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce 175th annual meeting on Jan. 31.
The port received the Large Business of the Year Award for its exceptional contributions to the community and maritime industry, as well as the Legacy Award for being one of the first members of the chamber. The port has been a thriving maritime commercial center for almost 200 years.
Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees said, “2019 was a record year for the port in terms of cruise growth, ship calls and revenues. With continued support by our board, staff, our business partners, the chamber and the community, we expect to set new records this year. It’s a great honor to be recognized by the chamber for our contributions.”
As the fourth busiest cruise port in North America, Galveston Wharves welcomed more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2019 and expects to exceed that record this year.
One of the busiest ports in Texas, the port of Galveston moved approximately 4 million tons of cargo in 2019 and has an estimated annual state economic impact of $2.1 billion.
Galveston Chamber President and CEO Gina Spagnola said, “The port is a huge economic engine that generates jobs, wages, sales tax revenue and spending in the Galveston region. We’re proud to support the port in its mission to benefit the Galveston community through economic growth.”
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About the Port of Galveston
Perfectly situated at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Wharves has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 30 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses. As the fourth busiest U.S. cruise port, it welcomed over 1 million cruise passengers in 2019. One of the top 20 ports in the U.S and one of the busiest in Texas, the port moved 4 million tons of cargo in 2019 and has an estimated annual state economic impact of $2.1 billion.