Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton McAllen celebrated its 40th anniversary with a ceremony attended by city officials, longtime employees, former staff, and community partners, recognizing the hotel’s four decades of contributions to hospitality, workforce development, and the local economy.
During her welcome, Director of Sales and Marketing Andrea Rodriguez thanked attendees for their support and helped lead several raffle drawings. The event also featured remarks from McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Elizabeth Suarez, who highlighted the hotel’s long-standing presence in the region. “We celebrate the greatness at the McAllen DoubleTree,” Suarez said. “Ownership has invested over $40 million into this hotel and into the belief that McAllen deserves excellence.” She noted the property’s consistent occupancy rate of more than 90 percent, often ranking first among the ownership’s hotel portfolios.
Suarez also emphasized the hotel’s workplace culture and its influence on the community. “This hotel is filled with people who build careers, not just jobs,” she said, recognizing employees with tenures ranging from five to more than 20 years. She credited the McAllen ISD CTE Hospitality Internship Program, now in its tenth year, for helping develop future industry professionals. “This is not just a hotel,” she said. “It’s a community leader.”
General Manager Eddie Lopez, who began at the property in 2007 as a bellman before rising through multiple positions, reflected on the hotel’s history and resilience. He acknowledged former employees in attendance, many of whom have advanced to careers in law, business, and public service. Lopez recognized the challenges the hotel has weathered, including natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. “We persevered with the grace of God,” he said, recalling when 200 traveling nurses requested rooms during the height of the health crisis. “That saved everybody.”
Lopez credited the hotel’s ownership for its long-term stability. “The ownership has been the best anyone could have,” he said, noting more than three decades of continuous investment, including the addition of new floors, a parking garage, and numerous renovations. “The ownership is the foundation for any success.”
Property owner Greg Greenstein expressed his appreciation for the hotel team and the city. “We have so much confidence in him,” he said of Lopez. “He’s earned our respect, and he’s earned everything.” Greenstein also acknowledged the employees’ longevity, saying, “This one worked here for 20 years, this one for 30. That’s why we’re able to hand him the keys every day.”
City Commissioner Pepe Cabeza de Vaca presented a proclamation declaring November 18, 2025 as DoubleTree Suites – 40 Years of Excellence Day in McAllen. He thanked ownership for “believing in McAllen” and added, “There have been a lot of memories here in this hotel.” Commissioner Samora followed with an official recognition from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, noting that the hotel exemplifies “the pioneering spirit” of Texas entrepreneurship. A Texas State Capitol flag, flown on November 12, was presented on behalf of Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.
The hotel also recognized employees with decades of service. Two staff members, Danny Rocha and Mina, were honored for 40 years at the property. Lopez described Rocha as “the most loyal, hardworking individual” and praised Mina as “the rock of housekeeping.” Both delivered brief remarks expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the hotel for four decades.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of a donation to the region’s food bank, an organization Rodriguez previously served as a board member. Attendees gathered for photos as the celebration closed, marking a milestone for one of McAllen’s longstanding hospitality institutions.
