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B M & T ••• November/December 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 AREA GUIDES WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Dallas (800) 232-5527 www.visitdallas.com ••HOUSTON•• Whether you're traveling there for a meeting, a family reunion or weekend getaway, you'll find there's something for everyone in Houston. Houston not only offers world-class convention facilities and accommodations, it also serves up nationally recognized dining, shopping , entertainment and nightlife. At 1.2 million usable sq. ft., the George R. Brown Convention Center ranks among the 10 largest convention centers in the nation. Convention-goers in Houston will appreciate the excitement and convenience afforded by the George R. Brown's downtown location. The GRB is flanked by the Toyota Center, home of the Rockets, to the south and Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros, to the north. Connected via two skybridges is the 1,200 room Hilton-Americas and coming in 2017 and also connecting via skybridge is the 1,000 room Marriot Marquis. The facility features 550,000 contigu- ous sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 99,000-sq. ft. Outdoor Plaza, a 31,500-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, a 3,600-seat theater and 88 meeting rooms. History buffs should be sure to visit the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, dedicated to educating the public and preserving, promoting and perpetuating the history, tradition and outstanding contributions of America's Buffalo Soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the present. The area is served by George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston, 23 miles north of downtown Houston. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Houston (713) 853-8100 www.visithouston.com ••SAN ANTONIO•• Networking can happen anywhere that people are gathered, and it's so easy to come together in San Antonio's compact downtown. With more than 14,000 downtown hotel rooms and the Henry B. González Convention Center located on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk, attendees move seamlessly from thou- sands of nearby hotels to the 1.6 million- sq. ft. Convention Center, all without sacrificing valuable time. All of this plus 300 days of sunshine a year make meet- ing here easier than ever. The Convention Center highlights include four exhibit halls with 514,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, 86,500 sq. ft. of column-free multipurpose space, 40,000-sq. ft. Hemisfair Ballroom, 54,000-sq. ft. Stars at Night Ballroom – the largest in Texas, and 72 breakout meeting rooms. San Antonio is steeped in deep Latino roots, as well as a fusion of other cul- tures that have shaped the city's diversi- ty. This blending is omnipresent in cui- sine, architecture, music, special events, plazas, presidios, museums and mis- sions. With its colorful history, Texas hospitality, cultural diversity, contempo- rary art and historic architecture, San Antonio offers endless opportunities for exploration by attendees during pre- and post conference activities. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit San Antonio (800) 447-3372 www.visitsanantonio.com ••AUSTIN•• Austin offers amenities groups need for work and play - including two new 1,000+ room hotels on the horizon, growing nonstop flight options and some of the most unique meeting spaces in the country. When the work is done, your meeting attendees will enjoy our more than 250 live music venues and distinct downtown entertainment districts just steps from one of the most technologi- cally advanced convention centers in the nation. Need more persuasion? Citywide hotel room inventory totals 36,000, with 11,000 in downtown, all of which are close by the Austin Convention Center. The Center offers 246,000 sq. ft. of contiguous, column-free exhibit space; two ballrooms of 43,000 and 23,000 sq. ft. each; and 54 meeting rooms. Known as the Live Music Capital of the World®, Austin offers world- renowned festivals such as SXSW® and the Austin City Limits Music Festival – along with more than 250 venues featuring rock, blues, jazz, hip hop and other genres nightly. However, Austin's universal appeal extends well beyond music – with outstanding dining experiences, world-class sporting events, an oasis of outdoor activities and other unique happenings to satisfy any itinerary. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Austin (800) GO-AUSTIN www.austintexas.org "Avenida" Houston is an area of diverse restaurants, art and other events, and were you can watch the Astros dazzle at Minute Maid Park, or catch a concert under the Downtown Houston skyline. Photo Credit Huston C.C .