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About GHCVB

The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GHCVB) is the primary sales and marketing arm of the city of Houston and Harris County.

 

The mission of the GHCVB is to improve the economy of Greater Houston by attracting conventions, tourists and international government officials to the area through sales and marketing efforts.

Click here to view the 2010/2011 GHCVB Annual Report video.

 

The GHCVB is located at:
4 Houston Center
1331 Lamar Street, Suite 700
Houston, TX 77010
Toll Free: 800-4-HOUSTON

 

DEPARTMENTS

CONVENTION SALES

The role of the department is to book the greatest possible number of hotel room nights generated from tradeshows, conventions and meetings.

Sales tactics include direct sales and meeting planner education via advertising, industry events, tradeshows, direct mail, relationship marketing, networking, distribution of collateral and city orientation visits.

Contact:
John Solis
Vice President of Sales
(713) 437-5215

Nathan Tollett
Director of Convention Sales
(713) 437-5259

View Convention Sales Staff »

CONVENTION SERVICES

Works with meeting planners to provide a wide range of services once a meeting is booked.

Services include site visits to hotels and facilities, itinerary building, housing and room block consultation, distribution of collateral materials, creation of custom collateral and customized attendance-generating promotions.

Works as a liaison between the meeting planner and GHCVB members.

Contact:
Sara McPhillips
Vice President of Convention Services
(713) 437-5241

View Convention Services Staff »


MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS

Promotes the Greater Houston area through advertising, public and media relations, sponsorship, special events, promotions, Web site and collateral development.

Contacts:
Holly Clapham-Rosenow
Vice President of Marketing
(713) 437-5208

Lindsey Brown
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
(713) 437-5275

View Marketing Staff »

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Support mechanism for day-to-day business operations of the GHCVB.

Responsibilities include financial management, human resources, office management and technological resources.

95 percent of GHCVB’s budget is funded through public sources: the city and county; 5 percent is funded through membership dues and other miscellaneous sources.

Contact:
Karen Williams
Vice President of Finance and
General Manager of GHCVB & HIG
(713) 437-5264

View Finance and Administration Staff »


HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION

Promotes Houston, Harris County and the Eastern Gulf Coast region of Texas as a destination for film production.

Coordinates all marketing, advertising and sales efforts. Provides professional location services to film, video and print industries.

Contact:
Rick Ferguson
Vice President/Executive Director of the Film Commission
(713) 437-5248

View Film Commission Staff »

MEMBERSHIP

Responsible for maintaining and retaining GHCVB members.

Plans ongoing member events such as monthly membership mixers, business-to-business networking events, seminars and member orientations.

Contact:
Regina R. Drake
CTC, Director, Membership Services
(713) 437-5259

View Membership Staff »


HOUSTON VISITORS CENTER

Offices include the Visitors Center at City Hall, the satellite kiosk at Katy Mills Mall and the Bay Area Houston Visitors Center in Webster, Texas.

Department includes the information phone bank, the GHCVB receptionist area and the promotional procurement department.

Contacts:
Cherry Eno
Executive Director of Visitors Center
(713) 437-5286

Veronica Nielsen
Senior Manager
(713) 437-5560

View Visitors Center Staff »

TRAVEL TRADE

Charged with increasing travel to the Greater Houston area by individuals and tour groups, as well as increasing attendance to area hotels, attractions and restaurants.

Directs solicitation to domestic and international travel trade, including wholesale and retail agencies, tour operators and direct consumer outreach.

Participates in trade shows, sales missions, targeted sales calls and familiarization trips to generate leads or business prospects for GHCVB partners.

Contact:
Jorge Franz
Vice President of Tourism
(713) 437-5267

View Travel Trade Staff »


ADMINISTRATION

Consisting of the President/CEO and his immediate staff, this department is responsible for overseeing the execution of the approved business plan, liasing with the Officers, Executive Committee and Board as well as day-to-day operations of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Reports directly to the GHCVB's board of directors.

Ensures the GHCVB upholds its core mission and meets its contractual obligations.

Contact:
Greg Ortale
President and CEO
(713) 437-5201

View Administration Staff »