GHCVB 2006-2007 Annual Meeting: The Best is Yet to ComeAugust 2, 2007
Contact Information: Doug Horn, GHCVB outgoing chairman, and Don Henderson, chairman emeritus, and have run day to day operations at the GHCVB since Jordy Tollett resigned in late December. Each spoke about major successes during a year of transformation, as the executive search for a new president continues. "Over the last year, your Bureau has undergone a transformation building on past foundations," said Horn. "Accountability has [also] been the watchword over the last year." Some of the GHCVB's accomplishments of the 2006-2007 fiscal year include: *The Convention Sales department secured 564,000 room nights for future years. 62 percent of those room nights come from new business—meetings and conventions that have never been to Houston. *The sales team has focused on elevating the quality of business they target. As a result, the average hotel room rate for convention bookings increased $14 over last year. *The Tourism department helped secure more than 300,000 room nights with visitors from Latin America, with an economic impact of more than $29 million. *The GHCVB won numerous local, national and international awards, including an Odyssey Award from the Travel Industry Association of America and a Platinum Remi Award from the WorldFest International Film Festival. *The Houston Film Commission assisted the Texas Association of Film Commissions and the Texas Motion Picture Alliance in successfully lobbying for a Texas Film incentive program. *The Houston International Protocol Alliance added the Consulate of Namibia, bringing Houston's consular corps total to 87. The award-winning Houston documentary, One Day in Houston, was shown during lunch. The film features local celebrities touting their favorite aspects of the city. This theme was taken one step further. Before Mayor Bill White and Judge Ed Emmett gave brief remarks, a film was shown of both Mayor White and Judge Emmett talking about their favorite things to do in Houston, a spin-off of the GHCVB's new print campaign, My Houston. "Houston is a great city of opportunity where good things are happening quickly," said Mayor Bill White. "But, we got that way by continuing to push hard and build upon our successes. One of the best tools we have to do that is working together through the GHCVB to keep our momentum strong." "Houston and Harris County were built by dreamers," said Judge Emmett. "Whether that dream is to explore and understand space, to treat and defeat cancer or just to live with our families in a safe and friendly community, Houstonians turn dreams into reality every day of the year." Incoming chairman Thomas Jones spoke of upcoming high profile events in Houston: *88 boxers will compete for 11 slots on the USA Boxing team during the Olympic Trials at the George R. Brown Convention Center in August. *2,000 meeting planners will visit Houston in February for the Meeting Professionals International convention. Each meeting planner represents numerous potential conventions for Houston. *More than 300 travel writers will travel to Houston in October 2008 for the Society of American Travel Writers international convention. The American Association of Sunday and Features Editors and the Association of Food Journalists will be in Houston at the same time, making it the largest media fam in Houston history. He also discussed initiatives he plans to spearhead during his tenure as chairman, including increasing downtown Houston's hotel inventory. "Imagine for a moment having a Hilton America's-like hotel with more than 1,000 rooms anchoring the north side of the George R Brown Convention Center," said Jones. "My goal is for the Bureau to act as a catalyst and assist with bringing the developers, hotel operators and other city officials necessary to make this a reality." The meeting closed with a film created by the George R. Brown Convention Center that celebrates its 20th anniversary. The GHCVB continues to move forward to elevate Houston's status as a global leader. To request a copy of the 2006-2007 Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Report, please contact Lindsey Brown at (713) 437-5275 or lbrown@ghcvb.org or Holly Clapham at (713) 437-5208 or hclapham@ghcvb.org. ### Houston is a space of infinite possibilities. As a top convention and tourism destination you'll enjoy the very best hotels, convention facilities, sports, entertainment, dining, outdoor recreation and attractions. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and its partner, Continental Airlines, encourage you to make Houston your choice for business or pleasure. For more information on Houston attractions, log on to www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1-800-4HOUSTON. |
Special Offers | Media | Events Calendar | Members | Video
Stay connected!
Green Houston 
