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B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 ccc H OU STON ccc Houston doesn't just accommodate your meeting, it amplifies it. At the George R. Brown Convention Center, more than 1.8 M sq. ft. of space sets the stage for intentional scale. With 700,000+ sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space and flexible, column-free halls, your program achieves high level expansion and performance. The Hilton Americas-Houston connects directly via skybridge, while the Marriott Marquis Houston and other nearby properties build out a dense, high-capacity footprint that eases navigation between sessions, rooms, and events. The Houston Museum District includes 19 institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, spaces that give your programming a creative edge. Step into neighborhoods like EaDo and Midtown, and the spirit shifts, ready-made for authentic off-site moments. The Houston Museum of African American Culture, Project Row Houses in the Third Ward, and Emancipation Park offer program-ready connections to Black history, art, and community. Events like the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Juneteenth celebrations reinforce a layered and deeply embedded cultural identity. Houston also gives you build-out range. Host a large-scale activation at Discovery Green, design culinary program- ming around one of the most diverse food scenes in the country, or create high-energy evenings across rooftop lounges, live music venues, and destination dining. For large associations, corporate conventions, and multicultural organizations, Houston is a true power player. You get the scale you need, the infrastructure to support it, and a cultural landscape that completes a memorable meeting. www.visithoustontexas.com or (713) 853-8300 ccc P LA NO ccc Plano keeps your meeting sharp, focused, and moving forward. At the Plano Event Center, 86,400 sq. ft. of flexible space is designed for precision, clean sight- lines, a column-free exhibit hall, and a ball- room that supports multi-track program- ming without complication. Pair that with the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel, where more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 300+ guestrooms sit within a walkable, high-design district, and your event operates with clarity from start to finish. Positioned within reach of two major airports, Plano offers frictionless access. Once your attendees arrive, dis- tricts like Legacy West and The Shops at Legacy keep everything connected. Meetings flow into dinners, network- ing extends into nightlife, and every transition feels natural. While Legacy West delivers a sleek, modern backdrop, the Downtown Plano Arts District brings in more local texture. Galleries, performance spaces, and open-air venues like McCall Plaza give you programming range. For planners seeking cultural connection, regional history and Juneteenth programming across North Texas provide layered meaning to the experience. Host a dine-around or private event in Legacy West, plan an outdoor reception in Plano's Arts District, or take your group to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve for team building, wellness sessions, or a respite between meetings. George R. Brown Convertion Center ccc Aerial View of Downtown, Plano photo credit: Jacob Boomsma ccc ccc T E X A S G O L D S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N ccc