Association Leadership - March/April 2008 - (Page 45)

in focus: Houston Houston: With a booming downtown, expanded facilities and a multitude of leisure activities, there has never been a better time to book a convention in Houston. “We ﬁnally have the infrastructure in place that we have been looking forward to for so long,” said Ken Middleton, vice president of sales for the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The convention center expansion is complete. The stadiums are built. We’ve added hotels. Downtown’s nightlife has resurged. METRORail is running. This is the absolute best time to be in Houston.” Improved infrastructure completes city’s makeover center hotel, and the resurgence in Houston’s boutique hotels. Attached to the George R. Brown Convention Center by a doubledeck pedestrian skybridge, the Hilton Americas-Houston is a 1,200-room hotel that was built in conjunction with the expansion of the convention center in 2003. The Galleria area, or Uptown, is Houston’s second largest business district, with more than 6,200 hotel rooms. Midtown Going through a recent urban renewal, Midtown is home to many young Houstonians and their cosmopolitan vibe. Red Door offers a martini lounge, a dance club and its own rooftop terrace all in one, just a few blocks from the rail. Sammy’s, located on Main Street, offers soulful live music every weekend. For good old rock and roll, try the Continental Club, a great live music venue. And don’t forget to visit Specs Liquor Warehouse, about four blocks off the rail, offering the largest selection of beer, wine and liquor, more than 900 cigars and a 5,000-square-foot deli and specialty foods shop. HOUSTON WITHOUT A CAR Both convention facilities and many hotels are located along the 7.5-mile METRORail, along with many of the city’s biggest attractions. This makes it easy for convention attendees to visit Houston and see the sights without having to rent a car. FACILITIES Completed in December 2003, a $165 million expansion project virtually doubled the size of the George R. Brown Convention Center to nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibition, meeting and registration space, in addition to a variety of wireless capabilities. Within one mile, visitors will ﬁnd 15 hotels and more than 5,000 hotel rooms, bringing the total number of hotel rooms in the Greater Houston area to more than 60,000. Lose Yourself in the Museum District Make a stop at the Museum District and take a stroll through Hermann Park’s 445 green acres. Things to see within the park include the Japanese Garden and the not-to-be-missed Miller Outdoor Theatre, with free performances, events and festivals April through October. Or visit the Houston Zoo for a wild journey into exotic habitats with more than 3,100 animals. There are 17 museums within walking distance, offering everything from ﬁne art to folk art. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents more than 30 changing exhibitions each year, and the Children’s Museum of Houston offers stimulating out-of-this-world fun, all just walking distance from the rail. The trendy Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is an art fan’s favorite, showcasing innovative works from established and upand-coming artists. The Menil Collection, also in the Museum District, is regarded as having one of the world’s foremost Surrealist compilations of its kind, as well offering regular exhibitions and programs. Downtown Get your culture ﬁx in Houston’s 17-block Theater District, just blocks from the rail. The district is home to resident companies in theater, ballet, symphony and opera. Catch a hit musical, experience Houston’s progressive vision of American opera and witness true star power during each performance in the Theater District. If sports are your interest, then Houston will be your new favorite city. The Houston Astros, 2005 National League Champions, play at Minute Maid Park, and the red-hot Houston Rockets, Comets and Aeros all play at Toyota Center, both just blocks from the rail. With the state-of-the-art sports venues and some of the best teams in the nation, you’ll see why Houston is the ultimate sports city. Restaurants on the rail include Mia Bella Trattoria, offering delectable Italian cuisine, and 17 at the Alden Hotel, for out-of-this-world short ribs. Other great options include Yatra for incredible Indian food and Zula. Or if you decide to sleep late and then do brunch, Quattro in The Four Seasons near the convention center offers delicious food with some of the best Sunday mingling. Houston’s new 7.5-mile light rail system connects downtown to Houston’s other major event facility, Reliant Park, which consists of Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center, Reliant Arena and the Reliant Astrodome. The 1.4 million square foot Reliant Center and the 71,500-seat Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans and the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, make Reliant Park one of the most versatile complexes in the world. Texas Medical Center The Texas Medical Center attracts its share of out of town visitors. With 42-plus member institutions, 5 million patients annually, more than 63,000 employees and a combined operating budget of $6 billion, it’s no wonder it’s the largest medical center in the world. The Texas Medical Center covers more than 1,100 acres. ◆ HOTELS Downtown Houston has more than doubled its number of hotel rooms since 2001, with the opening of the Hilton Americas-Houston, the ofﬁcial convention March/April 2008 | Association LEADERSHIP 45

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Association Leadership - March/April 2008

Association Leadership - March/April 2008 Contents Chairman's Column Homepage 60-Second Solutions Southwest Showcase Highlights Feature: Succession Plans Interim Executives Job Documentation Coaching: A Walk in the Park Perspectives Technology Column Association Case Study Government Affairs: Focus On Electronic Resources New Members Community Spotlight Houston Index to Advertisers Advertiser.com Board of Directors

Association Leadership - March/April 2008

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