Houston First recently hosted a forum for area hotels to provide information and insight for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Houston is one of 16 cities across North America hosting World Cup matches, with local games beginning June 14 and ending on July 4. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world to Houston, which will host marquee teams including Germany, Portugal and The Netherlands among others. 

Representatives from Houston First and the World Cup Houston Host Committee provided an overview of the event and guidance for the hotel community, including how best to leverage the opportunity.

Part of the presentation focused on ways to enhance the on-property guest experience. Some of the ideas included:

Arrival & Lobby Experiences

• “Houston Welcomes the World” lobby displays (flags, global art, neighborhood storytelling)
• International playlists and immersive arrival moments
• Passport walls or digital signage 

Culinary & Social Programming

• Country-inspired menus aligned with match days
• Regional food nights (Portugal, Germany, Netherlands)
• Global/International happy hours or tasting flight

Cultural Energy & Engagement  

• International DJ residencies or themed music nights
• Front-line staff engagement (team jerseys, themed attire)
• Curate match-day viewing experiences in lobby or bar spaces with regionally inspired ambiance

Hotels and other stakeholders are able to download and use videos, ads and other components of a newly launched marketing campaign called "A World in a City." The campaign leverages the opportunity of upcoming international events, including World Cup, to showcase the diverse culture and global flavor of Houston. 

Hotel partners were also reminded about opportunities offered through the Houston Marketplace, an online portal through the Visit Houston website where visitors can find attraction tickets, tour options, and much more that can be packaged.

Written by staff