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| Houston's Heart of Hospitality |
Houston First Corporation is working with the local Rida Development Corporation to develop the new hotel directly to the north of Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center. The 1,000-room hotel will connect to the convention center by skybridge. The addition takes this developing district one step closer to a “four corners” hotel concept envisioned in the city’s 2025 Master Plan, which includes a hotel on the corner of Polk Street and Chartres Avenue southeast of the center and another on the corner of Rusk Street and Chartres Avenue. The overall goal is to expand the holding capacity of the convention center district. Houston First also plans to construct a 1,800-space parking garage on the north side of the convention center with first-floor retail space later this year.
Look for these hotel ameliorations and more as the year progresses and the Houston hotel industry accommodates the ever, increasing desire to stay in the Bayou City.
Lobbying for event space
As the latest trends suggest, the hotel lobby is becoming less a pass-through space and more of a place to stay, gather and socialize. To accommodate this, newer hotels are furnishing these public areas with long tables, grouped seating, state-of-the-art audiovisual resources, accessible power strips and inviting aesthetics that encourage people to stay a while whether for an impromptu business meeting or nighttime social gathering.
At many hotel properties, even the traditional lobby can and will serve as a reception or entrance area for the main event in a ballroom or restaurant just beyond, but some hotels have lobbies that are elegantly accoutered to be the event space itself in conjunction with a nearby bar area. Particularly suited for cocktail hours or company meet-and-greets during a convention, lobby areas offer an open, accessible space that allows for fluid and informal comings and goings.
Some hotel properties even are going a step further these days with the addition of expansive windows that offer spectacular views, designer sofa seating, interesting art installations and socializing amenities, such as modular projection screens, bar or bistro areas, billiards tables and other games that complement the space and accommodate small social groupings.
The possibilities are endless, and event planners can capitalize on these public lobby spaces for the right event and group.
Luxury hotel spas
Leave the hustle and bustle of Downtown Houston behind for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation at one of the city’s premier hotel spas. Not only will your guests sleep in luxurious comfort at these high-caliber hotels, they will be whisked away to another world filled with massages, facials and other delights. Following are some of the city’s most sought-after hotel spas.
The Spa at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel Houston features a variety of massages, nail and body treatments and facials that help nurture the body, melt away tension and calm the spirit. The Spa features men’s and women’s locker rooms, dry saunas and whirlpools for before and after treatments and a private couple’s spa suite. The Spa’s massages range from soothing aromatherapy, hot stones and melting honey to vigorous deep-tissue reflexology experiences. With Spa Tapas, guests indulge in tropical sunburn, skin and scalp treatments from a chaise lounge or on the poolside patio. For a quick midday break, the Go and Glow express spa treatment fits into a typical lunch hour, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., and includes a gourmet Four Seasons lunch to go with the relaxing treatments. For longer, more indulgent experiences, The Spa offers retreat packages that range from one hour to all day.
With its “dedication to the art of wellness,” the Skyline Spa and Health Club on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Americas-Houston invites guests to indulge in various massage treatments, including hot stones and romantic retreats for two. The extensive menu of luxurious body and facial treatments includes Sea Spa Body Polish and chemical peels as well as treatments just for him, such as the Gentleman’s Facial and the Deep Tissue Massage. Skyline’s full-service salon features floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful city views to enjoy while receiving spa manicures, pedicures, gentle hair removal and other hair services. Clients also can purchase exclusive high-performance face and body products.
Guests at the Hotel Granduca can escape to the Serente Spa where old-world Italy meets tranquility and elegance amid the lush gardens of majestic palms and fountains. Spa guests indulge in complimentary chilled Prosecco then find an intimate oasis of calm and rejuvenation while receiving half-, one- and two-hour wellness treatments, such as Swedish massages, hydramemory facials and reflexology sessions. Each service is followed by a complimentary 15-minute oxygen inhalation in a zero-gravity chair.
The historic Hotel ICON in Downtown Houston offers the ultimate in personal pampering at the hands of a Personal Spa Therapist at its luxury BALANCE Urban Spa, which works to equalize the mind and body to reinvigorate the soul. Within a beautiful early 20th-century setting, this exquisite day spa on the hotel’s lower lobby level surrounds guests in tranquil and luxurious comfort while they relax with massages, body wraps, facials or specialty day spa packages. In-room services also are available to hotel guests, and spa gift certificates for specific dollar amounts can be used toward services and products.
Look for these hotel ameliorations and more as the year progresses and the Houston hotel industry accommodates the ever, increasing desire to stay in the Bayou City.
Lobbying for event space
As the latest trends suggest, the hotel lobby is becoming less a pass-through space and more of a place to stay, gather and socialize. To accommodate this, newer hotels are furnishing these public areas with long tables, grouped seating, state-of-the-art audiovisual resources, accessible power strips and inviting aesthetics that encourage people to stay a while whether for an impromptu business meeting or nighttime social gathering.
At many hotel properties, even the traditional lobby can and will serve as a reception or entrance area for the main event in a ballroom or restaurant just beyond, but some hotels have lobbies that are elegantly accoutered to be the event space itself in conjunction with a nearby bar area. Particularly suited for cocktail hours or company meet-and-greets during a convention, lobby areas offer an open, accessible space that allows for fluid and informal comings and goings.
Some hotel properties even are going a step further these days with the addition of expansive windows that offer spectacular views, designer sofa seating, interesting art installations and socializing amenities, such as modular projection screens, bar or bistro areas, billiards tables and other games that complement the space and accommodate small social groupings.
The possibilities are endless, and event planners can capitalize on these public lobby spaces for the right event and group.
Luxury hotel spas
Leave the hustle and bustle of Downtown Houston behind for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation at one of the city’s premier hotel spas. Not only will your guests sleep in luxurious comfort at these high-caliber hotels, they will be whisked away to another world filled with massages, facials and other delights. Following are some of the city’s most sought-after hotel spas.
The Spa at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel Houston features a variety of massages, nail and body treatments and facials that help nurture the body, melt away tension and calm the spirit. The Spa features men’s and women’s locker rooms, dry saunas and whirlpools for before and after treatments and a private couple’s spa suite. The Spa’s massages range from soothing aromatherapy, hot stones and melting honey to vigorous deep-tissue reflexology experiences. With Spa Tapas, guests indulge in tropical sunburn, skin and scalp treatments from a chaise lounge or on the poolside patio. For a quick midday break, the Go and Glow express spa treatment fits into a typical lunch hour, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., and includes a gourmet Four Seasons lunch to go with the relaxing treatments. For longer, more indulgent experiences, The Spa offers retreat packages that range from one hour to all day.
With its “dedication to the art of wellness,” the Skyline Spa and Health Club on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Americas-Houston invites guests to indulge in various massage treatments, including hot stones and romantic retreats for two. The extensive menu of luxurious body and facial treatments includes Sea Spa Body Polish and chemical peels as well as treatments just for him, such as the Gentleman’s Facial and the Deep Tissue Massage. Skyline’s full-service salon features floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful city views to enjoy while receiving spa manicures, pedicures, gentle hair removal and other hair services. Clients also can purchase exclusive high-performance face and body products.
Guests at the Hotel Granduca can escape to the Serente Spa where old-world Italy meets tranquility and elegance amid the lush gardens of majestic palms and fountains. Spa guests indulge in complimentary chilled Prosecco then find an intimate oasis of calm and rejuvenation while receiving half-, one- and two-hour wellness treatments, such as Swedish massages, hydramemory facials and reflexology sessions. Each service is followed by a complimentary 15-minute oxygen inhalation in a zero-gravity chair.
The historic Hotel ICON in Downtown Houston offers the ultimate in personal pampering at the hands of a Personal Spa Therapist at its luxury BALANCE Urban Spa, which works to equalize the mind and body to reinvigorate the soul. Within a beautiful early 20th-century setting, this exquisite day spa on the hotel’s lower lobby level surrounds guests in tranquil and luxurious comfort while they relax with massages, body wraps, facials or specialty day spa packages. In-room services also are available to hotel guests, and spa gift certificates for specific dollar amounts can be used toward services and products.
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Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.