Austin & Houston talk travel for 2016

Representatives from Texas’ tourism industry dropped by the PAX office recently to discuss what’s new for 2016 in two of the Lone Star State’s most recognizable locales.

Rosalyn Hunter of VoX International (representing Texas Tourism in Canada) was joined by Celia Morales and Lourdes Gomez, of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau respectively, to catch up with the Canadian travel trade:

Austin: the more things change...

Change is constant in a dynamic city like Austin and 2016 promises to be no different, Gomez said.

Growing by scores everyday and housing offices belonging to some of the world’s biggest tech firms (including Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Dell, the latter of which established its company headquarters there, Gomez explained), Austin is all about livability – a concept which naturally spills over into tourism.

The city, where the median age of residents is in the low 30s, provides numerous opportunities for outdoor activities both within the city limits due to the many man-made lakes from the Colorado River and more than 250 parks, as well as by serving as the gateway to the Hill Country of Texas.

Several new properties are opening across Austin in the coming years, including a new JW Marriott and the world’s largest Fairmont to be built in 2017; in keeping with Austin’s hip atmosphere, smaller boutique properties abound, including the recently-opened Kimpton Van Zandt and the Granduca Austin, a Texas-based chain with one other property in Houston.

The city’s MICE travel sector also continues to grow, with events such as the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual Convening Leaders convention taking place in Austin in 2016.

The Austin CVB is also getting some high-tech assistance in the form of WayBlazer, a new technology using IBM’s cognitive platform Watson to generate very specific information for visitors; for example, in addition to suggesting a live music venue, WayBlazer will provide the best options for travel and parking, even providing the name of the bartender working that evening, Gomez explained. Austin will be the first destination in the world to leverage the technology.

However, the more some things change, the more they stay the same.

The city’s designation as the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ has been cemented with more than 250 live music venues, and with the naming of Austin as a top barbecue destination by multiple publications, a reputation as a culinary hotspot continues to grow as fast as the number of constantly multiplying food trucks throughout the city, Gomez said.

Houston: reaching for the stars

Home of NASA’s Space Center Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S. continues to grow its tourism sector, Morales said.

While known for its ties to the aerospace industry, more earthbound attractions for the coming years include Super Bowl LI in 2017, to be held at the city’s NRG Stadium.

Hotel construction continues in the city, Morales said, with the Houston Marriott Marquis to boast 1,000 rooms when it opens next September; another five properties are undergoing construction in the city’s Convention District, she added.

Visitors can take advantage of CityPass Houston, a program offering 50 per cent savings on various attractions including the aforementioned Space Center and numerous museums, the Downtown Aquarium and more.

And much like Austin, Houston boasts a strong culinary tradition, with approximately 10,000 restaurants throughout the city, offering a wide range of cuisine from traditional Texas barbecue to international dishes.

Agents looking to learn more about Texas travel opportunities can contact Alexis Mayer, travel trade account manager for Texas Tourism with VoX International, at alexis@voxtm.ca or by telephone at 416 935-1896, ext. 235.

More about Texas travel

- Air Canada offers direct flights from Toronto to Austin and Houston, as well as a Houston-Calgary service.

- Canadians looking to do a little spending in the Lone Star State can take advantage of tax-free shopping by following the required steps at www.taxfreeshopping.com.

- Canada is the second largest tourism market for Texas, Hunter said, with 464,700 Canadian visitors in 2013.

PHOTO: Celia Morales, senior manager – international media relations, Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Rosalyn Hunter, Texas Tourism representative in Canada, VoX International; Lourdes Gomez, tourism and public relations manager, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau.