Houston
- In October, the 135-room Hotel Icon (713.223.3223; www.hotelicon.com), which features nearly 7,000 square feet of meeting space, relaunched as Texas’ first property in the Marriott Autograph Collection.
- Asia Society Texas Center (212.288.6400; www.asiasociety.org/centers/texas) is scheduled to open in April with a three-room classroom and conference suite, an art gallery, a theater and public reception spaces.
- Dynamo Stadium (713.276.7500; www.houstondynamo.com/stadium) is on track to open in May and will host soccer matches as well as additional sporting and concert events. The neighborhood surrounding the stadium is being reinvigorated with new restaurants, markets and entertainment venues.
- The Paleontology Hall expansion at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (713.639.4629; www.hmns.org) is scheduled to open next summer. The 200,000-square-foot addition will roughly double exhibition space and triple classroom space.
Galveston
- The new beachfront Four Points by Sheraton Galveston (409.974.4796; www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints) opened last spring with event space for up to 150 people.
- Earlier this year, Hotel Galvez and Spa, A Wyndham Grand Hotel (409.765.7721; www.wyndham.com), wrapped up an $11 million renovation featuring updates to all guest rooms and the addition of a new outdoor event space.
- The Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center (409.741.8484; www.moodygardenshotel.com) upgraded its hotel pool this year, adding an adult area with lounge seating, cabanas and new furniture. They also added a new stage area on the poolside terrace.
- In summer 2012, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (www.pleasure-pier.com) will open on the pier where the Flagship Hotel once stood. The amusement park will include 16 rides, several restaurants and entertainment.
Beaumont
- Compro Event Center (409.840.6338; www.comproevent.com) recently opened with a banquet hall and reception center designed for events accommodating 50 to 1,000 guests. The venue offers three ballrooms, and services include valet parking, state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities and free Wi-Fi throughout the facility.
- Beaumont Event Center and Plaza (409.880.3749; www.beaumontcvb.com), scheduled for completion next summer, will include a 16,000-square-foot event hall and a 14,000-square-foot roof canopy overlooking the lake.
- The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Beaumont (409.892.3600; www.hiexpress.com) recently opened with 81 guest rooms.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Beaumont (409.842.9990; www.homewoodsuites.com) opened in late January with 80 suites and meeting space ideal for small board meetings.
Corpus Christi
- In May, the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Bayfront Tower (361.887.1600; www.omnihotels.com) completed an $8 million guest room renovation.
- Best Western Marina Grand Hotel (361.883.5111; www.marinagrandhotel.net) recently renovated its guest rooms and the 11th floor Grandview Ballroom and meeting space overlooking the Corpus Christi Marina.
- Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Emerald Beach (361.883.5731; www.holidayinn.com) announced a multimillion-dollar renovation project in 2011, including new upgraded designer carpeting and wall texturing throughout the hotel, as well as meeting space and guest room upgrades.