Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month 2026

Veronica Rodriguez

Room Inspector, Hotel Zephyr

My Hispanic heritage means a great deal to me. I feel proud of my roots and grateful for the freedom and independence that we celebrate. Independence Day is a very special occasion in my culture, and it is celebrated with great love, pride, joy, and unity. It is a time for me to honor our history, appreciate our traditions, and celebrate the freedom that means so much to our community. I celebrate my heritage by spending time with my family, cooking traditional Mexican dishes, and decorating with the colors of the Mexican flag. These traditions allow me to share my culture with my family and celebrate our heritage with pride and joy.

Ana Pidena

Housekeeping, Hotel Zephyr

For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is meaningful because it reminds me of the anniversary of El Salvador’s independence. It is a time to celebrate and honor my country, its history, culture, and traditions. For our Independence celebrations, we celebrate with parades, marches, and traditional Salvadoran food, such as pupusas. We also celebrate by spending time with family and friends. This year, we are celebrating 204 years of independence. I am especially happy that my country is safer now, making it easier for people to travel and visit El Salvador to enjoy our culture, traditions, and beautiful country.

Viviana Rios

Front Desk Supervsor, Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa

As a Venezuelan living in this country, Hispanic Heritage Month is very meaningful to me. It highlights the beauty and cultural diversity that this nation, which has welcomed so many of us, makes possible.

Emigrating is hard but finding spaces and people with whom to share these moments—to remember our traditions, food, tastes, and customs—makes the distance feel a little lighter. It also reminds us how fortunate we are to be able to celebrate our culture. Personally, I love celebrating with my family. We play music from my country or songs that represent it, and we cook together. One of our traditions is making Pabellón — white rice, shredded beef (carne mechada), sliced sweet plantains, and black beans. It is a very typical dish from Venezuela, especially from Maracaibo. Beyond the food, what matters most to me is being able to share moments and memories from our countries. We laugh about old jokes and stories that make everything warmer and more special.

Yolivette Zayas-ayala

Reservation Group Coordinator, Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

Being Puerto Rican is a huge part of who I am and something I am very proud of. My Hispanic heritage represents my culture, traditions, family, music, food, language, and the strong sense of community that I grew up with. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for me to celebrate where I come from and honor the generations before me who have helped shape who I am today. It also reminds me to embrace my roots, share my culture with others, and take pride in being Puerto Rican. I celebrate my Puerto Rican heritage in many ways, especially through my family, food, music, and traditions. I enjoy sharing traditional Puerto Rican foods and recipes with my family, such as arroz con gandules, pernil, pasteles, and tostones. Music is also a big part of my culture, and I love celebrating the rhythms and artists that represent Puerto Rico.

Most importantly, I celebrate my heritage by staying connected to my roots, sharing my culture with my children and others, and being proud of where I come from. Being Puerto Rican is a part of who I am every day, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ana Fernandez

Director of BT Sales, Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

When I think about Hispanic culture, I don’t think of it as something you simply learn or a place you visit. I was taught that culture is not something you only learn; it is something you feel. For me, it is in the music that makes me want to dance, the food that brings everyone to the table, the stories and laughter we share, and the traditions that remind me where I come from. It is in those simple moments that make me feel at home, no matter where I am. I was born in Puerto Rico and have called Florida home for the past 26 years. My career in the travel industry and hospitality has given me the opportunity to experience culture and people in many ways, both on domestic and international markets. I also had the privilege of serving as Director of Sales for Visit St. Pete/Clearwater for Latin America for many years. That experience took me throughout most of Latin America, where I met people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures and built relationships that I still value today. Travel taught me something I carry with me: we can be so different and so similar at the same time. Every country has its own traditions, expressions, food, music, and ways of celebrating. Yet, everywhere I went, I found familiar things—love of family, warmth and hospitality, a good sense of humor, and a genuine joy in sharing a meal, a story, or a celebration. Sometimes I would meet someone for the first time, thousands of miles from home, and feel an immediate connection. Our traditions might be different, but something felt familiar. Those experiences changed the way I look at culture. I see it in the simple things. A familiar song can take me back to a memory. The smell of a favorite dish can remind me of home. A cup of coffee can turn into an hour-long conversation. Recipes can be passed down through generations, sometimes without measurements—just a little of this, a little of that, and a lot of love. I also love how music and celebration bring people together. Whether it is salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, mariachi, flamenco, or another rhythm, music has a way of making people move, smile, and share a moment together.

Hispanic celebrate everything! Birthdays, holidays, milestones, festivals “Fiestas”, family traditions—or simply being together. Always with music, food, laughter, and someone saying, “Bienvenido”, “Come, sit down, join us, eat something.” “Mi casa es su casa.” That is the beauty of Hispanic culture for me. It is expressed in so many ways, but it always brings me back to the things I value most: family, connection, tradition, and the joy of sharing life with others. One of my favorite ways to celebrate my culture is by cooking some of my favorite recipes and sharing them around my table with family and friends. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for me to celebrate where I come from and honor the people and traditions that shaped me. I live my culture every day and carry it with me wherever I go. It is part of my story, my experiences, and the way I connect with the world around me. Culture isn’t something you visit. Es algo que vives. You feel it in the little things, you live it every day, and you carry it with you wherever life takes you.

Diana Aguilar

HR Coordinator/Payroll, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

Hispanic Heritage Month is very special to me because it is the time of year when I get to remember and value my roots. I grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, a city rich in culture, traditions, food and music. During this month, I feel the Hispanic traditions and culture more strongly. It reminds me of where I come from, the people who raised me, and all the traditions that are a part of who I am. For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is not just about celebrating our culture; it is also about remembering my roots and feeling connected to my home, even when I am far away from it.

It makes me proud to be Mexican and to share the beauty of my culture with others. It is a reminder that no matter where life takes me, Mexico will always be a part of me. Every year, I have a little tradition of learning how to make a new Mexican dish to make my abuelita proud, haha! This year, I learned how to make pozole, a traditional Mexican soup, and I’ll definitely be making a big pot to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Of course, I’ll have some mariachi playing in the background to make me feel like I’m back home celebrating!

Vanessa Acevedo

Human Resources Assistant, Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook

Hispanic Heritage Month means celebrating my Mexican heritage, honoring my family’s history, and recognizing the impact Hispanic cultures have had on shaping our communities and country. It’s an opportunity to take pride in where my parents came from and share my culture with others.

I celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by spending time with family, enjoying traditional foods like pozole, and sharing stories about our family heritage.

Pozole Rojo is a traditional Mexican stew made with pork, hominy, and a rich red chile broth, served with fresh garnishes for a festive, comforting meal.

Ingredients

For the Pork and Broth:
3–4 lbs. pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into large chunks
2 lbs. pork shank or neck bones
Optional: pig’s feet for extra richness
1–2 white onions, halved
1 whole head garlic, top trimmed
4–5 bay leaves
16 cups water (or enough to cover meat)
Kosher salt, to taste

For the Red Chile Sauce:
12 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and deseeded
3–5 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and deseeded
2–4 dried chile de árbol (optional, for heat)
4 garlic cloves
½ white onion
1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
½ tsp whole peppercorns
1 pinch ground cumin
3 cups reserved hot pork broth
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Hominy:
2–3 cans (15–29 oz each) white hominy, drained and rinsed
Optional: dried cacahuazintle corn, soaked overnight and cooked until tender

Toppings:
Shredded cabbage or lettuce
Sliced radishes
Diced white onion
Chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Dried Mexican oregano
Avocado, diced
Tostadas or tortilla chips

Instructions
1. Prepare the Pork and Broth:
Rinse pork and neck bones. Place in a large pot with water, onions, garlic, bay leaves, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil, skim foam, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 1.5–2 hours until pork is tender. If using pig’s feet, cook separately for 3–4 hours to extract collagen, then combine stock with pork broth.
2. Soften and Blend Chiles:
Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles. Soak in hot water for 20–30 minutes until soft. Blend with garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, peppercorns, and 3 cups of hot pork broth until smooth. Strain for a silky sauce.
3. Fry the Chile Sauce:
Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the strained chile sauce and cook 5–10 minutes, stirring, until it thickens slightly and deepens in color to remove raw chile taste.
4. Combine and Simmer:
Remove onions, garlic, and bay leaves from the pork pot. Add the fried chile sauce and hominy. Stir and simmer gently for 30–60 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Adjust salt as needed.
5. Serve with Toppings:
Ladle pozole into bowls and offer garnishes such as shredded cabbage, radishes, diced onion, cilantro, lime wedges, oregano, and avocado. Serve with tostadas or tortilla chips on the side.

Fabi Garcia

Human Resources Coordinator, Hotel Lincoln

My Hispanic heritage means everything to me. Growing up Hispanic was the highlight of so many of my holidays, family gatherings, and everyday moments. My culture has always been a huge part of who I am and has taught me the importance of family, pride, community, and resilience. As a first-generation Hispanic college graduate, being able to take up space in rooms and opportunities where Hispanics were once not welcomed, or where there was very little representation, means so much to me. I take great pride in everything my parents did to make sure we were always heard, seen, and proud of where we came from. Hispanic Heritage Month is a beautiful reminder to celebrate where we come from, recognize how far we have come, and honor the generations before us who created opportunities for us to succeed. For my family, we celebrate our heritage every day. My mom still cooks all of my favorite dishes and carries on my grandmother’s recipes. Food is such a special connection to my family because it allows us to keep our traditions and memories alive. I still love learning about and embracing our traditions, while also putting my own twist on them and creating new traditions that fit my family today. I love that I can pass these traditions down to my daughter while allowing her to create her own connection to our culture. September is especially meaningful to us because we celebrate Mexican Independence Day. One of our favorite traditions is attending the Grito de Dolores, which takes place on the evening of September 15. The Grito commemorates the historic call for Mexican independence and marks the beginning of the Independence Day celebrations. I love taking pictures with my mom and daughter in our traditional clothing and celebrating together across generations. On September 16, we put Mexican flags on our cars, listen to mariachi music, and drive around celebrating with everyone in the community. Seeing so many people proudly celebrating their culture, music, food, and traditions is something that makes me incredibly proud to be Mexican.

Raymond C.

Barista, The Singer Oceanfront Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the generations before me who worked so hard so I could have more opportunities. It’s about representation, resilience, and reminding the world that our cultures, histories, and voices matter. It’s a celebration of who we are an all that we bring. I celebrate my heritage by speaking Spanish with my family and keeping our traditions alive; I enjoy Puerto Rican music – especially Reggaeton; and I share my culture through food and family traditions. Mi cultura es mi raiz, mi fuerza y mi Orgullo. (My culture is my root, my strength, and my pride.

Eduardo Navarro

Senior Corporate and BT Sales Manager, Hotel Lincoln

Hispanic Heritage Month means so much to me being first generation. There is so much love, strength and culture within our communities, and I am so proud when I see that get celebrated. I believe that when celebrating our cultures we are allowed to connect with more people deeply and authentically.
My favorite way to celebrate my Heritage is through food, growing up my mom never let a day go by that she was not cooking for us. It was the way she was taught to share her love and continues to show love. My favorite tradition every year is getting together with my family around the winter holidays and making tamales. Labor is love when it comes to cooking and let me tell you, making tamales requires a lot of it, but it is worth it. Getting to spend time with your family, getting all cozy, sharing old stories and new ones. As we get older and we start appreciating life more and more, it is times like these that we will always cherish and value. I grew up in a big family (5 siblings), so I was always accustomed to large family gatherings and always expected big celebrations for birthdays and holidays. Favorite recipe of all time is Green Chile Enchiladas, if you are cool, I will share the recipe!