In your company, are you responsible for booking venues, facilities, restaurants and organizing transportation for meetings and events?
| Getting Around the Greater Houston Region |
Transportation is an essential part of meetings and events across the Greater Houston Region. In this issue of Meetings and Events Houston, we have included detailed transportation listings in our resource directory, complete with contact information. The listings are sorted by service and should provide a comprehensive look at providers in the Houston region.
Improvements to Infrastructure
There are several new developments in Houston’s transportation sector that are making travel to and around Houston more efficient.
The Houston Airport System and Continental Airlines, announced details of a $1.2 billion renovation project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in April of this year. The new renovations will result in the expansion of the airport’s Terminal B to 1.7 million square feet. Renovations are scheduled to be completed over the next seven to 10 years and will increase the size of IAH’s Terminal B from 360,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet.
Open Air, a Maryland-based company that relocated to Houston six months ago, is now offering private charters to Houstonians who want an alternative to commercial air traffic. These air taxis are primarily used by business travelers and offer a solution to avoid the long lines and busy terminals of airports.
METRO Solutions is a large transportation and infrastructure plan that will be complete by 2020. METRO Solutions includes plans for the development of nearly 30 miles of Light Rail Transit from the Uptown/Galleria and Greenway Plaza areas to the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, and a one-half-mile extension of the existing Red Line North to a proposed Intermodal Facility. The plan also calls for the conversion of high occupancy vehicle lanes to two-way high occupancy toll lanes.
“The initial seven and one-half North/South rail line is a great asset for hotels and other properties located along it – primarily downtown properties,” notes Stuart Rosenberg of Studio Communications. “New light rail extensions will hopefully serve areas such as Uptown the same way.”
The 2035 Plan is a joint project between METRO, TX DOT and the Houston-Galveston Area Council. This plan calls for new bicycle routes, new bus routes, signature bus service, light rail expansion and commuter rail expansion. The 2035 Plan also includes a new Intermodel Station. The Intermodel Station, Houston’s version of Union Station, will connect two commuter rail lines, two light rail lines and multiple bus routes.
Developments to Houston’s infrastructure impact the way that meetings and events are planned in the city. Each of these expansions will greatly increase the mobility of meeting attendees and ultimately encourage record attendance at events.
Spotlight On: The Effect of Rising Gas Prices on Meetings and Events
The growing cost of fuel has had a dramatic effect on meeting attendance, convention site-selection and numerous other details in the meeting and event planning process across the nation. After speaking with several Houston transportation companies, the overall consensus seems to be that while transportation costs have dramatically increased, meeting and event attendance has not radically suffered.
Like the general public, meeting planners are feeling extra pressure from the rising cost of fuel. However, according to Sandra Reid of Sierra Trailways, meeting planner’s complaints about the increased rates for motorcoach service have diminished. This may due to the fact that meeting planners have developed a tolerance and acceptance for today’s increased costs or it could be the effect of living in a city that is educated on the gas and energy industries.
While meeting planners may not be able to control increased fuel rates, Reid offers tips for planners who are finding that gas prices are limiting meeting capabilities:
Fuel is a necessary part of every meeting or event. While the pain that many are feeling at the pump may affect attendance in the future, currently meeting planners and transportation suppliers are doing a great job of working together to create manageable budgets and schedules.
“Rising fuel costs have affected every transportation provider and every group needing transportation for meetings and events,” notes Reid. “Open discussion between the meeting planner and transportation sales representative concerning the amount of equipment needed is essential.”
It is important to note that many Houston transportation companies are doing their part to help save meeting planner’s money. For instance, Sierra Trailways has begun using green diesel engines that reduce particulates and NOx by 90 percent. They have also tinted windows to increase the ease of cooling the motorcoaches and routine inspections ensure that each vessel is running at maximum efficiency.
Improvements to Infrastructure
There are several new developments in Houston’s transportation sector that are making travel to and around Houston more efficient.
The Houston Airport System and Continental Airlines, announced details of a $1.2 billion renovation project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in April of this year. The new renovations will result in the expansion of the airport’s Terminal B to 1.7 million square feet. Renovations are scheduled to be completed over the next seven to 10 years and will increase the size of IAH’s Terminal B from 360,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet.
Open Air, a Maryland-based company that relocated to Houston six months ago, is now offering private charters to Houstonians who want an alternative to commercial air traffic. These air taxis are primarily used by business travelers and offer a solution to avoid the long lines and busy terminals of airports.
METRO Solutions is a large transportation and infrastructure plan that will be complete by 2020. METRO Solutions includes plans for the development of nearly 30 miles of Light Rail Transit from the Uptown/Galleria and Greenway Plaza areas to the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, and a one-half-mile extension of the existing Red Line North to a proposed Intermodal Facility. The plan also calls for the conversion of high occupancy vehicle lanes to two-way high occupancy toll lanes.
“The initial seven and one-half North/South rail line is a great asset for hotels and other properties located along it – primarily downtown properties,” notes Stuart Rosenberg of Studio Communications. “New light rail extensions will hopefully serve areas such as Uptown the same way.”
The 2035 Plan is a joint project between METRO, TX DOT and the Houston-Galveston Area Council. This plan calls for new bicycle routes, new bus routes, signature bus service, light rail expansion and commuter rail expansion. The 2035 Plan also includes a new Intermodel Station. The Intermodel Station, Houston’s version of Union Station, will connect two commuter rail lines, two light rail lines and multiple bus routes.
Developments to Houston’s infrastructure impact the way that meetings and events are planned in the city. Each of these expansions will greatly increase the mobility of meeting attendees and ultimately encourage record attendance at events.
Spotlight On: The Effect of Rising Gas Prices on Meetings and Events
The growing cost of fuel has had a dramatic effect on meeting attendance, convention site-selection and numerous other details in the meeting and event planning process across the nation. After speaking with several Houston transportation companies, the overall consensus seems to be that while transportation costs have dramatically increased, meeting and event attendance has not radically suffered.
Like the general public, meeting planners are feeling extra pressure from the rising cost of fuel. However, according to Sandra Reid of Sierra Trailways, meeting planner’s complaints about the increased rates for motorcoach service have diminished. This may due to the fact that meeting planners have developed a tolerance and acceptance for today’s increased costs or it could be the effect of living in a city that is educated on the gas and energy industries.
While meeting planners may not be able to control increased fuel rates, Reid offers tips for planners who are finding that gas prices are limiting meeting capabilities:
- When possible meetings and conventions should be planned during off-peak times of the year, including December through February and July through August. Companies like Sierra usually offer discounted prices during these months and will often be more willing to make deals for Monday through Wednesday events.
- Meeting planners should carefully select the location of meeting facilities, host hotels and social venues. Extended travel time to and from destinations creates additional costs for the provider and the meeting planner.
- Ask your transportation company if they offer hourly base rates and adjustable fuel charges. Many companies, including Sierra, will adjust costs at the time that the group utilizes services.
Fuel is a necessary part of every meeting or event. While the pain that many are feeling at the pump may affect attendance in the future, currently meeting planners and transportation suppliers are doing a great job of working together to create manageable budgets and schedules.
“Rising fuel costs have affected every transportation provider and every group needing transportation for meetings and events,” notes Reid. “Open discussion between the meeting planner and transportation sales representative concerning the amount of equipment needed is essential.”
It is important to note that many Houston transportation companies are doing their part to help save meeting planner’s money. For instance, Sierra Trailways has begun using green diesel engines that reduce particulates and NOx by 90 percent. They have also tinted windows to increase the ease of cooling the motorcoaches and routine inspections ensure that each vessel is running at maximum efficiency.
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If you have expertise in a particular area relevant to planning meetings and or events, you may submit a 400 to 750 word "how-to" article for possible inclusion in any of our magazines and/or our websites.
If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.
If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.