[ON LOCATION] LISA SIMUNDSON
Houston, we have a problem.” That famous line—uttered by Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13”—is now a catchall phrase for any challenging situation. But as our recent visit to Houston confirmed, this NASA city boasts the technology and know-how to stage events both small and astronomical. No problem.
In fact, Houston hosted one of the event industry’s largest gatherings in January—PCMA’s Convening Leaders 2025—whose 3,800 in-person attendees and VIP speakers enjoyed a streamlined experience at the 1.8M-sf George R. Brown Convention Center. Not only were thousands easily accommodated, the center’s multi-level campus of spacious meeting rooms, ballrooms and exhibit halls—including a massive trade show floor—felt completely uncrowded, comfortable and accessible.
Myriad breakout sessions tackled the issues event planners are facing, from AI to DEI, while big-name speakers, including Liz Cheney and Amal Clooney, offered their views on the social and political issues everyone is facing.
A Convention Center District of sports/entertainment venues and hotels includes Prevue’s host property, the 1,000-room Marriott Marquis Houston, famed for its Texas-sized and -shaped lazy river, which is part of the Altitude Rooftop pool complex of water fun, dining at the High Dive alfresco grill and concerts under the stars.
Connected by walkway to the convention center, the Marriott Marquis invites planners to “think big,” with 153,000 sf of total event space including 52 event rooms, 37 breakout rooms and the city’s largest ballroom.
Attendees can unwind before or after sessions with 1:1 personal training or a workout in the 24-hour fitness center, featuring top-tier Matrix equipment, Peloton bikes and more. Wellness experiences also include rooftop yoga, visits to the sauna and rejuvenating treatments at PURE Spa.
Afterwards, the hotel’s Curator of Culture can point the way to great dining and cultural attractions; but for groups staying onsite, the upscale Xochi Mexican restaurant is helmed by James Beard Award-winning Chef Hugo Ortega.
Great group experiences also await at Prevue’s second host property, the Thompson Houston, by Hyatt, a shimmering tower set in scenic Buffalo Bayou Park steps from downtown. This new boutique hotel not only has a heliport, but boasts one of the city’s largest pool decks while also offering 172 rooms decked out in mid-century accents.
The Thompson was built for meetings and events, with more than 17,000 sf of flexible space including the lovely Vesper Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 800 reception-style. Other options include a boardroom and a junior ballroom, hosting everything from workshops to gala dinners.
Speaking of dining, the hotel just unveiled the Chardon French bistro on Feb. 21, 2025, featuring French cuisine with Houston touches. If you can’t quite imagine that fusion, here’s an example—duck cassoulet with black eyed peas and andouille sausage (instead of white beans and garlic sausage).
No visit to “Space City” is complete without a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which since 1964 has designed, developed and tested the nation’s spacecraft as well as selected and trained the flight crews for space travel.
The adventure starts in the parking lot, where just on the other side of the fence stands the enormous 747-100 plane that flew shuttles—piggyback-style—from the Johnson Space Center to Cape Canaveral, FL, for launching.
Once inside the center, you enter the cosmos via exhibits spanning the Gemini and Apollo missions through Skylab and the Space Shuttle program, with re-created and actual settings and equipment—flight deck, crew compartments and artifacts galore. Tram tours access the iconic Mission Control room, where NASA led the early spaceflights that included the momentous first lunar landing.
With 250,000+ sf of indoor/outdoor space, groups can enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres inside a historic shuttle carrier aircraft; revel in a reception under the stars surrounded by moonrocks and flown spacecraft; and get hands-on with tons of space and science exhibits. Individual galleries, theaters and conference rooms—or the entire center—are available for private rentals.
Back on terra firma, your groups will want to stroll the tree-lined streets of Houston’s Museum District, home to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of African American Culture, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Houston Zoo, where you can plan “Meet the Keeper Chats” for your group.
In the Museum District, don’t miss the Rothko Chapel, an inter-faith, meditative space designed by artist Mark Rothko, whose works hang on the chapel walls. Guided visits for groups are offered, and events are held on the chapel lawn.
Houston’s ethnically diverse cuisine includes the flavors of 70 countries along with the Tex-Mex tang you might expect to find here.
Check out POST Houston, set in the heart of downtown. With its global food court of dining choices—curated by the James Beard Foundation—it’s a great way for groups to mingle and sample a variety of flavors.
But don’t stop till you reach the top of the building, where the 5-acre SkyLawn and SkyFarm—largest rooftop garden and urban farm in the state—offer sweeping views of the city and are a popular spot for private events.
Save a night for Toca Madera—the Spanish phrase for “knock on wood”—a Mexican steakhouse located outside the Thompson Hotel, where the outdoors come indoors with trees and lush foliage complementing the decor, and the menu includes farm-to-glass cocktails and an array of savory steaks but also vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian choices.
visithoustontexas.com; marriott.com/en-us/hotels/houmq-marriott-marquis-houston; hyatt.com/thompson-hotels/iahth-thompson-houston
