Stretching a slender 32 miles long by two-and-a-half miles wide, Galveston Island exemplifies the many stereotype-busting surprises of Texas.
Lapped by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this tropical barrier island some 50 minutes south of Houston attracts around 5 million visitors annually with its sandy beaches, consistently mild climate and rich mix of diversions. Ranked the state’s top attraction in a new survey commissioned by the Texas Governor’s office, Galveston Island is also ready-made for meeting planners, with a full package of attractive convention, hotel and off-agenda products.
"You can bring practically any group to Galveston and find something to do," says Meg Winchester, director of the Galveston Island CVB. "We are an incredibly well-rounded destination, with all local partners committed to working together to deliver a first-class experience for our conventioneers and leisure visitors."
There is a genuine celebration of life in Galveston, reflected in the city’s community pride, signature Texas hospitality and singular architectural, cultural and maritime heritage. As much an American as a Texan treasure, laid-back Galveston loves a party, such as its famed Mardi Gras celebration, which celebrated its centennial in March. To revel in this annual festival of pageantry, costumes, bead-throwing and umbrella-twirling is to experience the soul of the city—but to know Galveston’s beating heart, you first have to know its past.
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The recent completion of a $12 million project that replenished the area’s beaches with nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sand fittingly symbolizes the spirit of Galveston. Revitalization and renewal, infused with Texas-sized optimism, are time-honored themes here.
Powered by its then-mighty seaport, 19th century Galveston became a pivotal American center, dubbed both the "Ellis Island" and "Wall Street" of the Southwest. Then, on the literal verge of 20th century greatness, the thriving city was devastated by the Great Storm of 1900, to this day America’s greatest natural disaster. With the second-highest income per capita in the U.S. at the time, Galveston was suddenly ruined and would never be as prosperous again. Yet, the people of Galveston salvaged something precious and vital from this tragic turning point: a resilient determination to shine through calamity. Passed down through the generations, this characteristic alone defines Galveston’s modern-day appeal and success as a group and leisure destination. When Hurricane Ike hit the island hard in 2008, Galveston answered right back.
"The plan was simple, really," Winchester says. "We just went straight to the business of recovery, moving forward and continuing to enhance the story of our historic seaside destination."
For planners and delegates, it’s a story that starts with accessibility and affordability. Hundreds of daily direct flights come into Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, a 90-minute drive away, and Houston’s Hobby Airport, just 30 minutes away, with shuttle service from both airports via I-45 and additional flight options into Galveston’s Scholes International Airport. Once on the island, the built-in savings include complimentary convention parking and free transportation to and from contracted hotels, plus the central proximity of Galveston’s main congressional facilities and hotels.
Facing the Gulf from its perch on historic Seawall Boulevard, the 140,000-square-foot Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort’s credentials include a column-free, 43,100-square-foot exhibition hall; 15,500-square-foot grand ballroom, 12,000 square feet of breakout space and 29,000 square feet of prefunction space. Set on 30 acres, the AAA Four Diamond resort puts 700 hotel rooms immediately adjacent to the convention center, including the 242-room San Luis Hotel, with its 40,000-square-foot, fully accredited IACC conference center, and the 240-room Hilton Galveston Island, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
With another 1,400 rooms located within two miles of the center, the resort and its environs account for nearly half of the island’s 5,000 sleeping rooms. Among several brand-name properties is the Four Points by Sheraton, newly reflagged from Ramada.
Roughly two miles farther along Seawall Boulevard is the 242-room Hotel Galvez & Spa: A Wyndham Grand Hotel. Built as a symbol of Galveston’s resilience following the 1900 hurricane, the "Queen of the Gulf," opened in 1911, is commemorating her 100th anniversary in style.
"This is an exciting time for Hotel Galvez & Spa," says Patty Rouse, director of sales and marketing. "Proud to be the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and a constant symbol of Galveston’s ongoing resilience, we are unveiling a new look to our guest rooms, a new outdoor space called Centennial Green and new permanent Hall of History exhibit as part of our year-long centennial celebration."
Also flying the Wyndham flag is the recently restored, 119–room Tremont House in the heart of the Strand Historic District, offering more than 14,000 square feet of space in nine meeting rooms, and Harbor House at Pier 21, with 42 newly restored nautical-style guest rooms.
2011 also stands to be a hallmark year for Galveston’s famed AAA Four Diamond, 428-room Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center, as it readies to reopen its stunning 10-story Rainforest Pyramid this May following a $25 million renovation.
"With 242 lush, tropical acres of enchantment, our versatile property is the ideal destination for an event of any stature," says Jamie Weir, director of sales and marketing.
Providing over 103,000 square feet of combined meeting and convention space, Moody Gardens’ drawing power includes 60,000 square feet of ballroom-quality exposition space and on-site attractions including its spectacular Rainforest, Discovery and Aquarium glass pyramids, the last home to one of the world’s largest aquariums.
"We have had a strong start to 2011 and expect to return to our 2007 business level, which was a great year," Weir says.
Indeed, with yet more milestones and renewals at hand, optimism is the watchword for the entire island.
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With the century-old Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant joining Galveston’s Mardi Gras festival and Hotel Galvez on the centennial stage in 2011, another local landmark is being updated. Jutting over the Gulf on a 1,000-foot pier since 1965, the hurricane-battered Flagship Hotel is being demolished as part of the Historic Pleasure Pier project. Plans for the pier, scheduled to open by Memorial Day 2012, include a Ferris wheel and other family-style attractions, though no official details have been released by the developer. On the port side of the island, meanwhile, three new cruise ships will base out of Galveston starting in November 2011, including Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Magic and Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.
According to Winchester, Galveston’s beachside setting and wealth of cultural, historic and other amenities make for an irresistible pre- and post-agenda planning package.
"With so many leisure and entertainment options for business groups and families, many people use Galveston to combine events with vacations and other escapes," she says.
The booty (pirating is an early Galveston legacy) includes one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country, along with myriad other styles from across the decades. Counting close to 2,000 historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and three National Historic Landmarks, including the Elissa, a tall ship from 1877. Galveston’s four historic areas include the 36-block Strand District. Horse-drawn carriages still travel the streets of this absorbing downtown gem on the port side of the island, where groups can shop, dine and stroll in an authentic atmosphere.
Several historic properties are available for event rental, including the circa-1892 Bishop’s Palace and the circa-1859 Ashton Villa, the first of Galveston’s Broadway "palaces." Culture-seeking groups can learn about Texas’ oil history at the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum or Galveston’s maritime heritage at the Texas Seaport Museum. There’s family fun at the family-friendly Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, golf at Moody Gardens’ recently redesigned par-72 public course, and much more besides, including outdoor options that take full advantage of Galveston’s natural assets.
Certain to keep optimism high and the party going is Galveston’s unvanquished, resilient spirit, which always manages to rise higher than the sea’s worst tides.
"After Ike, the talk was more about the economy than the hurricane," Winchester says. "By banding together and making sales and service our strategic priorities, we put Galveston right back on track."
Regular Meetings Focus South contributor Jeff Heilman will be checking back in with Galveston for the upcoming Meetings Focus Texas supplement, coming out this fall.
