Houston First Corporation is a local government corporation that operates performing arts and convention facilities in Houston, the largest city in U.S. state of Texas. These venues include the

George R. Brown Convention Center The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB), opened on September 26, 1987, is located on the east side of Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The center was named for internationally recognized entrepreneur, engineer, civic leader, philan ...

Jones Hall for the Performing Arts The Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts (commonly known as Jones Hall) is a performance venue in Houston, Texas, and the permanent home of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Society for the Performing Arts. Jones Hall is also frequently re ...

, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. Houston First also owns the city's largest hotel, the 1,200-room

Hilton Hilton or Hylton may refer to: Companies * Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc., a global hospitality company based in the United States that owns several hotel chains and subsidiary companies containing the Hilton name ** Hilton Hotels & Resorts, fla ...

Americas-Houston. Houston First represents the consolidation of the former City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation. Houston First was established by Houston City Council on June 1, 2011, and went into effect on July 1, 2011.

History

After Houston City Council approved the creation of Houston First, Mayor Annise D. Parker said the consolidation was undertaken to create operational efficiencies and to take advantage of “business practices that will make it easier to maintain and improve the GRB and ensure it stays in cutting-edge condition.” In January 2012, Houston First unveiled a new 2025 master plan for the convention center that called for expansion to the north and south of the building along with at least one additional convention center hotel. Houston First entered into an agreement with RIDA Development Corporation to develop a 1,000-room

Marriott Marquis Marriott Marquis is a hotel brand owned by Marriott International and denotes flagship, large-format hotels similar to Hyatt's Hyatt Regency brand. Notable hotels using this branding include: * New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York ...

near the north end of the convention center. In June 2014, Houston First and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau officially joined forces as a single, clear voice for the City of Houston. The alignment was designed to create a central, one-stop organization for promoting Houston as a prime convention and tourism destination. The unified entity now operates out of Partnership Tower, which opened on September 12, 2016, adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Construction was completed and the hotel opened on December 26, 2016, just in time for Houston to host Super Bowl LI in February 2017. The master 2025 plan also called for the boulevard in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center to be converted into a pedestrian plaza. The new Avenida Plaza opened on December 16, 2016.

Assets and Responsibilities

In addition to the downtown convention center and the 1,200-room Hilton Americas, properties falling under the auspices of Houston First include Wortham Theater Center,

, Jones Plaza, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Theater District Parking,

Sesquicentennial Park Sesquicentennial Park is an urban park in downtown Houston, Texas. Established in 1989 along the banks of Buffalo Bayou, the park was established in 1986 to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the founding of the city of Houston and of the Re ...

, Root Memorial Square, Talento Bilingue de Houston and several other smaller park and performing arts facilities.

Governance

David Mincberg David H. Mincberg is a lawyer and former executive that has worked for the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies (National Basketball Association), and D.C. United (Major League Soccer). Biography Mincberg spent one season as Assist ...

chairs Houston First's Board of Directors
He was appointed
by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to succeed Ric Campo in July 2016. Mincberg is CEO of Houston-based Flagship Properties Corporation. Brenda Bazan is president and chief executive officer of the organization.

Board Members

''(Houston's mayor appoints and City Council confirms Houston First's board members.)'' * David Mincberg, chairman, Flagship Properties Corporation * Sofia Adrogué, Diamond & McCarthy LLP * Alex Brennan-Martin, Brennan's of Houston * Elizabeth Gonzales Brock, CenterPoint Energy * Nicki Keenan, Landry's, Inc. * Desrye M. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities * Reginald L. Martin Jr., Executive Chef * Ryan Martin, LDR Investment Group * Paul Puente, Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council * Tom Segesta, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel - Houston * Bobby Singh, Isani Consultants * Gerald Womack, Womack Development and Investment * Jay Zeidman, Altitude Ventures

City Council Advisory Members (Non-Voting)

* Dave Martin, District E * David W. Robinson, At-Large Position 2

Senior Staff

* Brenda Bazan, president & CEO * Frank Wilson, chief financial officer * Paul Casso, vice president of event service * Holly Clapham-Rosenow, chief marketing officer * Rick Ferguson, senior vice president - film * Jorge Franz, senior vice president - tourism * Julie Gorte, senior adviser, tourism development * Lisa Hargrove, general counsel * Robert Jackson, senior vice president - public policy * Peter McStravick, chief development officer * Roksan Okan-Vick, senior vice president - regional product development * John Solis, senior vice president - sales * Luther Villagomez, chief operating officer - convention center * Pamela Walko, senior executive assistant

References

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