Marissa Abboud
The Woodlands Resort
The Woodlands, Texas
What service does your property provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
Most top-rated resorts charge resort fees—we don’t. So in addition to being an IACC-approved conference facility, attendees meeting here will enjoy all the amenities of a resort getaway, including on-property golf, a spa and the Forest Oasis Waterscape, without the fees commonly charged by many resorts.
What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Brio Tuscan Grille overlooks the Woodlands Waterway and offers homemade flatbreads prepared in an authentic Italian wood-burning oven. The Glass is another great option, with its floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Harrison and The Oaks golf course. The Glass serves regional American cuisine with strong Latin and Asian influences.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
Cru wine bar is a wonderful place to explore wines, with over 300 wine selections. There’s also the outdoor patio at Jasper’s, with its great martinis and live music on the weekends. Most guests take advantage of our Lobby Bar’s activity room for a quick game of pool, foosball or shuffleboard before heading out.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
With 108 forested parks and over 145 miles of nature trails, guests can grab a guided map and stroll, jog or bike through the piney woods of The Woodlands. The area is home to several lakes and bird-watching spots along the way. In fact, nature enthusiasts have sighted over 200 species of birds in The Woodlands.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
The Woodlands is filled with over 40 public art pieces, including “Rise of Midgard Serpent.” The green serpent is 35 feet long and six feet high and can be seen “swimming” in Lake Woodlands. The welded structure was gifted to the community when the 200-acre lake was completed in 1985.
What should we definitely check out nearby?
The Woodlands Waterway features six air-conditioned water taxis, which navigate along a 1¼-mile-long route. The taxis make several stops at points of interest along the way, including The Woodlands Mall. Or, just minutes from the resort is Lake Conroe, which covers 22,000 acres of surface land. It is a great place for attendees to enjoy water recreation such as boating or fishing.
A delegate has one hour to spend exploring the city. What would you suggest?
Stop by Market Street, an open-air, Main Street-styled town center perfect for strolling, dining and shopping. At the center of it all is Central Park, a Wi-Fi-enabled plaza framed by the outdoor seating of neighboring restaurants and cafes. Fun events are staged at Market Street throughout the year.
What has been an unusual request from a group?
We once hosted a major corporation that was merging with another, and during the transition period the client requested a casket to “bury” the old way of conducting business.
