Guest Relations Manager
InterContinental Houston
Houston
What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
Our concierges pride themselves as being “in the know.” They are able to share the hidden gems of Houston, such as the Beer Can House or the best place to watch the sun set over the skyline. These insider tips allow visitors to return home with a unique perspective of the nation’s fourth-largest city.
What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Houston has over 5,000 restaurants representing 35 countries. At the Taste of Texas guests can choose their steak right from the butcher’s counter. Kiran’s Restaurant & Bar, for fine Indian cuisine, was named Zagat “Best New Restaurant 2006,” and Uptown Houston offers a number of fantastic dining options, such as McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants or Arturo’s Uptown Italiano.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
Belvedere is a trendy lounge perfect for sipping martinis, or if you prefer, Buddha Lounge is a cozy nightspot with an upscale casual atmosphere ideal for conversation and people-watching. Also, there are many wine bars to choose from, such as The Tasting Room in Uptown Houston.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
Less than three miles from the hotel is the 155-acre Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, which has five miles of walking trails for exploring. Across the street is Memorial Park, with a three-mile jogging trail and golf course.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
The Beer Can House is the whimsical work of the late John Milkovisch. For over 18 years he covered and decorated his home with 39,000 beer cans. Also, The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is an eclectic and wonderful collection of objects amassed by a former postman over 26 years. This 3,000-sqauare-foot architectural maze of walkways, balconies and exhibits recently entered onto the National Register of Historic Places.
What should we definitely check out nearby?
The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Formerly the private home of Miss Ima Hogg, a legendary Texas collector and philanthropist, the Bayou Bend Collection is one of the nation’s foremost assemblages of American decorative arts dating from 1620 through 1870. The 14 acres of lush gardens feature a wide variety of blooms, fountains and statues.
A delegate has one hour to spend exploring the city. What would you suggest?
Visit Williams Water Wall, a 64-foot-tall fountain that sits at the south end of Williams Tower. Approximately 11,000 gallons of water flow over both sides of the wall every minute. The semicircular fountain and surrounding park sit among 118 Texas Live Oak trees and are a well-known spot for family photographs and bridal portraits.
What’s a unique event that takes place at your property?
Guests love Thursday nights in the Lobby Lounge, where we feature sushi, sake and jazz. Sushi chefs prepare and serve a selection of the finest sushi and sashimi while guests listen to the sounds of a jazz trio.