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As spring's vibrant hues colorize the landscape, Houston, Texas comes alive with some of its most spectacular annual events and marquee arts happenings. From Houston theater and ballet classics to baseball greats and golden treasures, from art cars to azaleas and from cowboy culture to cultures from around the world, Houston is a springtime traveler's delight. You will feel right at home when you come to Houston. It is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Walking down any street you are likely to hear any of the more than 90 languages spoken by Houston’s residents. Houston’s port is the reason why the city is an international crossroads. The Port of Houston is the tenth largest port in the world. As the leading port in the United States for foreign tonnage, we welcome more than 7,000 vessels and 150,000 barges at the port each year. Longer than the Panama Canal, the 52-mile long Houston Ship Channel connects our city to the Gulf of Mexico. It was dredged during the same time period as the Panama Canal, and transformed a town of about 45,000 people in 1900 into the U.S.’s fourth largest city populated by more than four million. More than 200 million tons of cargo move through the Port of Houston each year. Much of the cargo is destined for the more than 150 businesses along the channel in one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes. Houston is a vibrant city that thrives on doing business throughout the world, and enjoying itself when the workday is done. We are an attractive place to live because the cost of living is lower than the national average, and half of the world’s major companies have offices in Houston. Those businesses are supported by 85 foreign consulates located in Houston who link their nations to this global business center. Houston’s weather is moderate year round, and in May you can expect temperatures ranging from a high of 78 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of 64 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s a high of 26 degrees Celsius and a low of 18 degrees Celsius. The magnificent 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston convention center hotel in downtown Houston will be our headquarters in 2007, bringing together all IAPH conference attendees in one spectacular location. The hotel is surrounded by Houston convention center facilities, Minute Maid Baseball Park, and the Toyota Center, which is home to the Houston Rockets and its international susperstar, Yao Ming. Houston’s downtown offers visitors a wide variety of entertainment choices. The 17-block Theater District is home to the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Symphony, and the Alley Theatre. Houston is second only to New York in the number of theater seats available in a concentrated downtown area. Houston is the foremost restaurant city in the U.S., leading the nation in number of restaurants and number of meals served per capita. You can select from more than 5,000 restaurants with culinary choices from more than 35 countries. If you prefer to go dancing, just follow the sound of music to any of the many downtown nightclubs. The Museum District is just a short 10-minute Metro light rail ride away. Home to 15 exceptional museums, the Museum District the internationally celebrated Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Contemporary Arts Museum, and many others. If you like to shop, one of the world’s most elegant shopping areas is often a favorite destination of visitors. The Galleria includes Neiman Marcus and hundreds of exclusive boutiques and department stores in the heart of one of Houston’s many business areas. Houston is simply the best – we offer the best accommodations, the best attractions, the best restaurants and the best port. |
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