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NRA enjoys record attendance at George R. Brown
Thursday, May 09, 2013142nd annual convention attracts 86,228 to downtown Houston
HOUSTON – The National Rifle Association has announced record attendance of more than 85,000 for the 142nd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits held over the weekend of May 3-5 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
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Agreement gives new convention center hotel OK to proceed
Tuesday, April 09, 2013Marriott Marquis developers target groundbreaking in 2014, opening in 2016
HOUSTON – Progress on Houston’s second convention center hotel has reached new milestones with the completion of the development agreement to build a 1,000-room Marriott Marquis next to the George R. Brown Convention Center.
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Sepulveda to head F&B operations at George R. Brown
Friday, March 15, 2013New man at Houston’s downtown convention center comes from Miami
HOUSTON – Luis Sepulveda has been appointed general manager for food and beverage operations at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
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Mayor Annise Parker Announces Major Sponsorship for Houston Bike SHARE Program
Thursday, January 10, 2013March 2013 Launch of Houston B-cycle Expansion
Mayor Annise Parker today announced Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has committed $750,000 to expand Houston B-cycle, sharing the City’s commitment to provide healthy transportation alternatives to residents.
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Ring In 2013 at New Year’s Eve Houston
Wednesday, December 19, 2012Put on your boogie shoes and ring in 2013 at New Year’s Eve Houston with Grammy® Award winner KC and the Sunshine Band. Celebrating his 40th anniversary, the “king of disco groove” will bring his infectious party music to the city’s annual fun-filled, FREE and family-friendly night for some booty shakin’ and gettin’ down in Discovery Green’s “disco lawn.”
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CITY COUNCIL GIVES GO-AHEAD TO RIDA DEVELOPMENT, HOUSTON FIRST FOR MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL
Wednesday, December 12, 2012HOUSTON (December 12, 2012) – The Houston City Council today moved forward with a proposal by RIDA Development Corporation and Houston First Corporation for a 1,000-room convention center hotel connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston.
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Houston First to market sale of prime downtown block
Wednesday, November 14, 2012Houston First Corporation is offering a premier downtown block next to the future hotel development near the George R. Brown Convention Center for residential and retail use. Houston First has engaged Holliday Fenoglio Fowler to market this site.
The local government corporation, which manages the George R. Brown and several other downtown properties owned by the City of Houston, has control of the 110,000-square-foot tract bounded by Capitol, Rusk and Crawford streets and Avenida de las Americas.
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Houston First Corporation and John L. Nau, III Announce Plans for The Center for Texas Cultural Heri
Friday, October 05, 2012Nau launches capital campaign with $8 million personal gift
HOUSTON, Oct. 4, 2012 – Mayor Annise Parker, Houston First Corporation and John L. Nau, III, Chairman of the Board, The Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, are proud to announce the newest vision for downtown Houston, The Center for Texas Cultural Heritage – an educational and inspirational venue where visitors will be invited to explore and experience the history and culture that built and continue to define this city, region and state.
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Houston First to Negotiate with Rida Development on Convention Center Hotel Project
Tuesday, September 25, 2012Houston First has selected Rida Development Corporation to enter into exclusive negotiations to build a 1,000-room convention center hotel near the George R. Brown Convention Center. The hotel is to be developed on the block immediately north of Discovery Green and attached via a skybridge to the convention center.
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Free Greenlink Bus Service now in Operation
Friday, June 15, 2012Houston, TX (June 15, 2012) – Free and convenient transportation in downtown is now available, with the Greenlink buses officially on the streets. Running Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., the buses will span a 2.5 mile route with 18 stops, connecting major office buildings along Smith and Louisiana streets to METRO transit stops, the convention corridor, hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
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Girl Scouts hail partnership with George R. Brown CC
Friday, May 25, 2012Mayor accepts Community Award from local San Jacinto Council
HOUSTON – The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council on Thursday presented its Community Award to the George R. Brown Convention Center for continuing support of the organization’s initiatives.
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Free Downtown Transportation One Step Closer with Announcement of Greenlink Operator
Tuesday, May 15, 2012Houston, TX (April 26, 2012) – Free and convenient downtown transportation is another step closer with the announcement that the Downtown District’s Greenlink service will be operated under an inter-local agreement with METRO.
11 Teams Answer the Call for Hotel Development
Tuesday, April 24, 2012Houston First to evaluate RFQ respondents for project near George R. Brown
HOUSTON – Houston First Corporation has received 11 responses to a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a developer and design team to build a second convention center hotel near the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB).
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Hotels are Key Component for GRB 2025 Master Plan
Thursday, January 26, 2012Development hinges on best proposals for enhancing convention business
HOUSTON – An increased number of downtown hotel rooms is the most immediate objective of the George R. Brown Convention Center’s newly released 2025 master plan, which calls for an expanded Convention District with more retail and residential development to attract more convention business to Houston.
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You could spend 365 days in Houston and not experience everything this city has to offer. It’s a great food town. It has art and culture in world-class museums and theaters. It’s diverse. It’s quirky. There’s plenty to do in the nation’s fourth-largest city. Find out more at www.VisitHouston.com.
In downtown Houston’s east end, the George R. Brown Convention Center spans more than five blocks. The GRB anchors a neighborhood bustling with fabulous hotels, at least 90 restaurants, Broadway-style entertainment, concerts, sporting events and nightlife.
Learn more about downtown
here. But here’s a sample of what you’ll find in five blocks or five minutes of the GRB:
- Discovery Green: Located across the street, this 12-acre downtown park has restaurants, an amphitheater, picnic areas, model boat pond and vibrant green spaces that are perfect for special events.
- Houston Pavilions: This retail, dining and entertainment hub encompasses three city blocks and nearly 700,000 square feet. A central courtyard and streetscapes allow for al fresco dining, live entertainment and window shopping.
- The Shops at Houston Center: Three short blocks from the GRB, The Shops includes a large food court with walk-up lunch selections and full-fledged restaurants.
- Minute Maid Park: The downtown ballpark is home to Houston Astros baseball and more, just one block north of the GRB.
- Toyota Center is home to Houston Rockets basketball, Aeros hockey and concerts. It’s a block away, behind the Hilton Americas-Houston, our convention center hotel.
- BBVA Compass Stadium is a few blocks behind the GRB and home of the Houston Dynamo professional soccer team.
- Main Street, the downtown dining and entertainment area, is six short blocks away.
- Houston Theater District has the symphony, theater, ballet, opera and more – in nine short blocks or a five-minute cab ride.
- Bayou Place entertainment complex is 10 blocks or a five-minute cab ride away and includes Sundance Cinemas, Hard Rock Café and more.
- Downtown Aquarium has dining, a midway, white tigers and 500,000 gallons of marine life. It’s a five-minute cab ride.
Ride the Metro light rail from downtown to these destinations, all of them about a five-minute trip:
- The Houston Museum District includes 18 museums in one part of town. To quote Houston native Jim Parsons from TV’s "The Big-Bang Theory:" "I saw more horses in New York than I ever saw in Houston, and I saw more art in Houston than I ever saw in New York."
- The Houston Zoo , in beautiful Hermann Park next to the Texas Medical Center, is home to more than 4,500 animals from 800-plus species.
- The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world.
- Hermann Park is one of Houston’s oldest and most popular city parks with 445 acres. It’s home to the Houston Zoo, Houston Garden Center, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Hermann Park Golf Course and more. Located between Fannin and Cambridge streets, the park is within walking distance of the Texas Medical Center, Rice University and the Museum District.