Houston: amazing growth throughout city.

Houston is experiencing an unprecedented boom in new and expanded facilities related to the meetings industry. The biggest recent news story is last summers groundbreaking for the long-awaited headquarters hotel attached to the expanded George R. Brown Convention Center. The 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston is expected to open in late 2003 with 93,000 square feet of meeting space, 40,000-square-foot and 26,000-square-foot ballrooms, spa, and fitness center.

"This hotel is being carefully constructed to showcase the very best the hospitality industry can offer its guests," says Janice O'Neill-Cox, director of sales and marketing for the new Hilton. "By blending a perfect combination of cosmopolitan destination and comfortable rooms with all of the right amenities and services, the Hilton Americas--Houston will fast become a landmark in downtown Houston."

The Brown Convention Center expansion, which also will open in late 2003, is doubling its exhibit space to more than 1 million square feet. Opening in 2003 downtown as well is a $175 million, multipurpose indoor arena with 19,000 seats for sports and other events. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts opens this spring with theaters seating 2,650 and 500.

RELIANT PARK: TEXAS-SIZED SPACE

Perhaps the most impressive area of Houston's recent building boom is Reliant Park, a mind-boggling mix of exhibit halls and sports stadiums that collectively make up one of the most versatile meetings and events complexes in the United States. Reliant Park offers an amazing 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space in adjacent facilities, delivering maximum convenience and flexibility for any group.

The 1.4 million-square-foot Reliant Center opened this spring with a 706,213-square-foot exhibit hall that can be divided into 11 halts ranging from 40,000 to 168,000 square feet. All exhibit space at the $190 million Reliant Center is contiguous and located at street level. More than 72 meeting rooms are available, with the two largest being 17,000 and 22,000 square feet.

"Reliant Center's size and flexible space make it the ultimate exposition facility," says Shea Gunn, president and general manager of Reliant Park. "Its ability to accommodate the needs of any event from a small meeting to large-scale exposition will make it a prime choice for trade show organizers and meeting planners."

Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on neighboring Reliant Stadium, the new home of the expansion NFL Houston Texans come this fall when the team begins its inaugural season. Site of the 2004 Super Bowl, Reliant Stadium is a 69,590-seat stadium with a retractable roof that measures 500' x 385' and opens in just 10 minutes. The convertible roof allows for a natural grass playing field--a combination that is an NFL first.

Reliant Park is home to yet another sports stadium, the Reliant Astrodome. Hailed as the "eighth wonder of the world" when it opened as the world's first domed stadium in 1965, the Reliant Astrodome can accommodate trade shows that need up to 131,000 square feet or general sessions with seating requirements up to 70,000.

Reliant Arena features an 8,000-seat arena, 2,000-seat pavilion, and nearly 250,000 square feet of exhibit space. Reliant Hall, the fifth facility in the 300-acre Reliant Park complex, offers more than 640,000 square feet of space. With Reliant Center's opening, Reliant Hall will be razed for additional parking. When construction is complete, approximately 25,000 parking spaces will be on site.

With more than 11,000 restaurants to choose from in Houston, finding a great meal is as easy as finding a comfortable and convenient place to stay near Reliant Park.