Meeting News - February 16, 2009 - (Page 34)

Destination Insider: Houston Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com CVB Looks to Associations, Public Events To Counter Drop in Corporate Business While early economic figures released by the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau indicate that the city is on pace for a slower year than 2008, the city remains poised to seize market share in 2009 by stressing its accessibility, affordability, and strong hotel and entertainment products. “We have known for some time that 2009 is going to be a soft year for Houston,” said Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the GHCVB. “But I think we are addressing it and turning it around as best as we can in a very difficult economy.” In the first two months of 2009, the GHCVB estimates that over 55,000 convention delegates will provide $43.8 million in economic impact to the city. In 2008, Houston hosted 256 conventions, events, and shows, drawing over 564,000 delegates for an impact of $550 million—down from 294 events, 614,000 delegates, and $598 million in 2007. While this year’s start is slow and full-year projections are unavailable, large month-tomonth swings factor into year-end totals, as evidenced by the $102 million brought in by 104,000 delegates last October alone—$48 million alone from the International Quilt Festival & Market. April 1 Construction Start Eyed for Embassy Suites American Liberty Hospitality plans to break ground on April 1 on a 262-room Embassy Suites hotel adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center and the 1,203-room Hilton Americas. It is expected to open in fall 2010. The property will have 6,000 sf of flexible event space, a rooftop swimming pool, a spa and fitness center, a restaurant, a street-level cafe, and a wine bar. Event Report Group Finds Writer’s Inspiration in Annual Meeting Destination The Society of American Travel Writers last October hosted its five-day international convention in Houston so that 400 travel journalists and public relations professionals could experience a new locale while taking care of business but most importantly find the next big story. “What attracts us to any destination are the story and photo opportunities presented to us,” said Laura Daily, an SATW member and immediate past president.“In other words, we don’t go somewhere where we can’t write about it, photograph it, broadcast about it.” For Daily and her attendees, opportunities consisted of trips to Houston’s diverse mix of arts festivals and museums, a baseball-themed breakfast at Minute Maid Park, an awards banquet broadcast on the big arena screen of the 34 MeetingNews February 16, 2009 Among the headline events in store for 2009 is World Wrestling Entertainment’s largest annual event, WrestleMania. It is the second time Houston is hosting the show since 2001. “We have the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania in early April,” said Ortale, of the four-day event that features fan activities and live matches. “That brings a smile to a lot of people’s faces— 75,000 people, half from [beyond] 150 miles.” Ortale and his team are hoping a steady stream of association business will offset an observed increase in corporate cancellations. During the first week of May, the city will play host to the Offshore Technology Conference, a gathering of energy professionals from 110 countries, which last year registered more than 73,000 people for an estimated economic impact of $65.2 million. Meanwhile, Ortale remains optimistic about infrastructure development, spurred in part by a city council vote last October that gives new hotel projects within walking distance of the George R. Brown Convention Center a full rebate of the city’s portion of occupancy taxes they would collect for seven years. Houston makes up 7 percent of the 17-percent bed tax in the city (the rest are state and county taxes). “Despite the recession, we have two or three hotel projects in the downtown area that are moving forward,” said Ortale (see sidebar). Toyota Center, and a night at the Houston Rodeo, where some adventurous attendees took turns sitting on a live bull— “the nice bull,” Daily quipped, “the one that doesn’t put up a fuss when we put it in the freight elevator.” “I think Houston surprised our delegates,” said Daily.“What they knew of Houston was very limited for most of them; they either thought it was a cow town or thought there was nothing there.” The group was based at the 1,203-room Hilton Americas, the city’s largest convention hotel, where it held most of its meetings and professional development sessions. For 2009, the group is off to Guadalajara, Mexico. It has spent recent years spanning the globe, from Las Vegas to Manchester, England, to Santiago, Chile. The Derek Finishes Room Work The 314-room Hotel Derek completed a $2.5 million guest room renovation in January. The boutique hotel, which has over 10,000 sf of event space, is located near the upscale Galleria mixeduse development in the Uptown District. The renovation work, which took four months to complete, involved a host of additions to each guest room aimed at creating a warm, residential tone, including pillow-top mattresses, custom drapes, and 37-inch flat-screen televisions. Further planned work on the property includes a new restaurant concept, which will be introduced later this year. H —Section by Phillip Hennessey www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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