As planners are well aware, Texas—whose state slogan is “It’s Like a Whole Other Country”—is jam-packed with unique meetings destinations, and Houston is no exception. Aside from its growing landscape of group venues, hotels and shopping, retail, dining, and entertainment developments, Houston is a hole-in-one choice for groups wishing to incorporate sports into the agenda.
When planners are in town with a meeting or convention they are encouraged to put attendees on the sidelines at any one of a variety of sporting events and get them into the game by booking an area golf course for a networking tournament or taking in the variety of active diversions available in and around the city.
“Houston is a second-to-none sports destination,” says Ken Middleton, vice president of sales at the Greater Houston CVB. “We tout the availability of sporting event tickets here, as well as the option, due to our great weather, to play golf most of the year.”
Spectator Sports
Since 2000, Houston has invested some $4 billion in development that has boosted the destination’s appeal for an increasing number of residents and for meeting attendees.
Major projects have included the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center to more than 1 million square feet; the opening of the adjoining 1,200-room Hilton Americas–Houston, featuring more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space; and the debut of several new sports venues.
Minute Maid Park, the new home of the Houston Astros baseball team, was unveiled in 2000; Toyota Center, home of the NBA’s Rockets, opened in 2003; and Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans football team, was developed to host the Super Bowl in 2004. The stadium is part of Reliant Park, which includes three other venues that also host sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, and trade shows: Reliant Center, Reliant Arena and Reliant Astrodome.
“Soccer has also had quite an impact on Houston over the past couple of years,” Middleton says, citing another popular spectator sporting option in town, the MLS Cup-winning Houston Dynamo soccer team. “We’ve brought in as many as 60,000 people for a soccer game.”
As host to sporting events ranging from professional football, basketball, baseball, and soccer to rodeo games and boxing, Houston is a destination where attendees can count on a seat to witness the action, according to Middleton, who says group ticket sales are readily available.
Play Ball
With more golf courses per capita than any other city in the country and good weather on most days of the year, Houston is an ideal destination for hitting the links.
“We want folks coming in for a business convention or meeting to bring their sticks for play,” Middleton says. “We golf 12 months a year here, including when it’s cold up north.”
Of the many golf courses scattered about the greater Houston area, including public clubs situated right downtown, Middleton recommends a few favorites for group play.
Ranked among the top 10 in “America’s 100 Best Courses for $100 or Less” by Travel and Leisure Golf magazine, BlackHorse Golf Club also boasts Houston’s top-rated teaching center. Facilitated by PGA touring professional and NCAA champion Marty Fleckman, the center is available for business people struggling at any level of the game, either beginners who need to learn some fundamental techniques before a team-building tournament or advanced players in need of a brushup.
Conveniently located inside downtown Houston’s Hermann Park, Hermann Park Golf Course opened in 1922 and underwent an extensive restoration project about 10 years ago. The course is available for group bookings.
“And Cypresswood is gorgeous,” Middleton says of the 54-hole golf club that includes the award-winning, Keith Foster-designed Tradition course, which opened in 1997.
With two major airports—Bush Intercontinental Airport is 20 minutes from downtown and William P. Hobby Airport is 12 minutes away—Houston also hosts major sporting competitions that welcome attendees from far and wide. The Senior Olympics, for instance, which is on the books for summer 2011, will utilize some of the sports-capable venues already mentioned as well as facilities situated on the local Baylor and Rice university campuses.
Houston Environs
Complete with a variety of golf courses as well as some of the most popular resort names in Texas, the communities surrounding Houston proper offer a fine alternative to hosting meetings inside the bustle of the big city.
“Houston is definitely the hub of those communities, but we’re all on the same page and we’re one big happy family,” Middleton says.
Tucked in a forested area north of Houston, Lake Conroe is home to two main meetings players: the Del Lago Golf Resort and Conference Center; and the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center, which is located just 40 minutes from Houston and features a 56,000-square-foot convention facility and an equestrian center.
For off-session frolic, Lake Conroe adds water activities to the sports mix, as it’s home to the 22,000-acre Lake Conroe, where visitors are invited to enjoy boating, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming, and fishing.
The Woodlands, also located to the north of Houston, features The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center, which boasts two 18-hole golf courses and 60,000 square feet of meeting space in 32 meeting rooms; and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, with more than 70,000 square feet of function space.
In order to further market the area to both business and leisure travelers, the Town Center Improvement District announced the creation of The Woodlands CVB in January. Nick Wolda was named the bureau’s president and says meeting planners should take note of this growing community.
“Planners can find everything right here in The Woodlands, whether they are bringing in a small group of executives or a large conference or trade show,” he says.
Heading southeast of Houston toward the Gulf of Mexico is Bay Area Houston, where the water sports trend continues on Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. Visitors often enjoy sailing, wind surfing and parasailing, in addition to popular attractions such as Space Center Houston.
A major player in the bay area is League City, where planners seeking a remote group venue will find the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center, with a 27-hole golf course, a marina and more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
For More Info
Bay Area Houston CVB 281.338.0333
www.visitbayareahouston.com
Greater Houston CVB 713.437.5200
www.visithoustontexas.com
Lake Conroe Area CVB 936.538.7112
www.lakeconroecvb.org
League City Convention and Visitors Corp. 281.338.7339
www.visitleaguecity.com
The Woodlands CVB 281.363.2447
www.town-center.com
