TONYA HOPE

Public Relations Manager/Film Coordinator, City of San Antonio – Aviation

SAN ANTONIO

WIFT TEXAS Member, Est. 2024

Tonya Hope is an accomplished public relations and marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience in the tourism and aviation industry. Tonya is currently the public relations manager for San Antonio International Airport and the Stinson Municipal Airport, the second oldest continually operating general aviation airport in the United States. She is also the coordinator for film and commercial production at the airports.

In 2023, Tonya was honored with the PRSA La Plata Award, highlighting a project she’s passionate about recruitment of women and minorities in the airport industry.

Prior to working for the City of San Antonio Aviation Department, Tonya was a public relations and marketing manager for Visit San Antonio. She traveled the globe promoting San Antonio as a top tourism destination. She has a proven track record for successfully managing multiple high profile campaigns and projects. Some of her favorites include working with media covering the first Spurs Championship Parade, HBO’s Hard Knocks, Miss America Pageant, Texas Open, CNN’s New Year’s Eve, Real Housewives of New Jersey, New York Fashion Week, Today Show, Good Morning America, Despierta America and Top Chef. She’s also hosted hundreds of media and editorial groups such as Public Relations Society of America’s Travel & Tourism National Conference, Society of American Travel Writers, Arts writers, golf writers and many more.

Tonya is a former television producer and radio reporter/producer. She spent almost 15 years producing newscasts before making the transition to produce, Four San Antonio Living, San Antonio’s long running lifestyle show. Tonya is credited with being the first African American to produce a top rated lifestyle show in San Antonio. Tonya has also worked as freelance field producer or CNN, NBC and is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

A native of San Antonio, Tonya was born into a military family and spent most of her childhood abroad living in the Philippines and Turkey. Tonya says she always knew she wanted to work in television since her days of watching newscasts, sitcoms and talk show reruns on Air Force Television. Tonya is a movie expert in her head, she loves movies and has even watched On Golden Pond at least 20 times.

Tonya is a graduate of Texas Lutheran University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications. Interestingly, she used her acting and voice-over skills to help support her education.

She thrives on creativity, positivity and giving back to the community. She’s an advocate for empowering women, heart health and arts education and supports the American Heart Association, Say Si, Women in Aviation and Girls in Aviation.