Tag Archives: Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

The history of SOB laws in Houston

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From strip clubs to robot brothels, we’ve come a long way. Somewhat sheepishly, the city official tried to explain why he had spent more than $2,000 in public funds entertaining out-of-town clients at a topless bar. “They wanted to go … Continue reading →

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Houston’s tourism business

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

People like to spend money here. In particular, people from Mexico like to spend money here. Mexicans are the largest group of international tourists who visit Houston – and recently, their numbers have grown. In 2015, Houston received 2.5 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Space City” fight escalates

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting real. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau is asking a federal judge to stop a rival comic convention from using the phrase “Space City” for its three-day festival scheduled for NRG Center over Memorial Day weekend. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Space City” trademark lawsuit

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating. Houston’s convention bureau is suing the operators of a popular local convention over the use of “Space City” in its name, claiming it infringes on a 12-year-old trademark. The convention in question, Space City Comic Con, also happens to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Back to the business angle

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure we’ll hear more of this in the next few weeks. Business and tourism leaders worried Wednesday that voters’ rejection of a citywide anti-discrimination ordinance has hurt what had been one of their best recruiting tools: Houston’s emerging reputation … Continue reading →

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Business groups get into the HERO campaign

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to the table, fellas. Three major local business and hospitality groups are warning voters that the city’s economy could take a hit if Houston’s embattled equal rights ordinance is repealed in November, boosting supporters’ attempts to cast the law … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We’ve got slogans, yes we do

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve also got No Limits, apparently. Alex Tonelli, a 2011 graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a San Francisco entrepreneur, has never visited Houston. But he has impressions: Extreme heat, strip clubs, NASA and an oil-dominated economy. … Continue reading →

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Here come the hotels

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of downtown hotel construction going on, or about to go on. The area around the George R. Brown Convention Center is about to see a burst of hotel construction as developers plan several new projects, two of which will … Continue reading →

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Hooray for the hotels

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re going to have a lot of people coming into town for Super Bowl LI. We’re going to have to put them somewhere. Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday that hosting the 2017 Super Bowl will be another step in Houston’s … Continue reading →

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Feeling good about the Super Bowl bid

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston has submitted its bid to host Super Bowl LI in 2017, and they feel pretty good about their chances. Houston’s competition will be San Francisco or Miami – the city that fails to get the coveted … Continue reading →

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Welcome to Houston, Lisa

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Remember that promotional advertising campaign for Houston that’s running right now in various national publications? The New York Times lets us know who the intended audience for those ads is. The new tack was prompted by the results of a … Continue reading →

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Are you ready for the hipness?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Because ready or not, here it comes. A rapper, a ballerina and a host of top chefs are among the locals who will be featured in a new Houston image campaign launching next month. The $425,000 promotional blitz targeting readers … Continue reading →

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Keep Houston hip

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Y’all ready for this? 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the GHCVB and the fifth anniversary of the MyHouston campaign, which according to vice president of marketing Holly Clapham, is “the most successful image campaign in Houston’s history.” As part … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Maybe the fourth time will be the charm

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston is once again bidding for a Super Bowl. If everything goes according to an ambitious plan devised by city and county leaders, Houston will host its third Super Bowl in 2017. The NFL informed the Texans … Continue reading →

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Mayor to announce Hobby expansion deal

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. Houston Mayor Annise Parker is planning to announce Wednesday morning that the city and Southwest Airlines have come to an agreement on how to finance a $100 million expansion of Hobby Airport to accommodate international flights, according … Continue reading →

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We’re #9!

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Number Nine on The Street’s list of “10 Cities Poised For Greatness In 2012”. Which places us one behind Austin, and one ahead of…Rochester, NY? Whatever. Here’s what they say about our fair city. Houston Throughout the economic crisis, Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Airport Direct on the way out

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You can’t say they didn’t try. Metropolitan Transit Authority officials have decided to eliminate express bus service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Canceling the airport service was one of a dozen suggested route changes that were discussed at a public … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The anti-gay stuff has already started

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For the most part, we didn’t see any nasty homophobia in the 2009 Mayoral election until the runoff, at which point it oozed out from several locations. This time around, the gay bashers aren’t wasting any time. First, usual suspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Time for another “What to do with the Astrodome?” study

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been two years since we had one of these. The Astrodome’s next incarnation — planetarium? hotel? heap of dynamited rubble? – will be the subject of yet another study ordered up by Harris County Commissioners Court this week. What … Continue reading →

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Happy birthday, Discovery Green!

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Two years old now. Two years after it opened, downtown’s Discovery Green park has drawn 55 percent more visitors than projected and has emerged as a key asset to Houston’s convention business, officials say. The 12-acre, $122 million park has … Continue reading →

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If there’s a big sporting event in town…

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Then it must be time for a story about the economic impact of that big sporting event. For a city that has hosted the Super Bowl, the World Series and NBA and MLB All-Star games in the past decade, the … Continue reading →

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Houston food tours

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a fabulous idea. [Monica Pope, chef of t’afia] — along with fellow chefs Bryan Caswell of Reef; Marcus Davis of the breakfast klub; Mark Holley of Pesce; Randy Evans of Haven; Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s; Chris Shepherd of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Here come the gay tourists

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The election of Annise Parker as Mayor has put Houston on the map as a travel destination for gay groups. Houston historically has not been a popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers, according to U.S. Travel Association data. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments