Press Releases

HOUSTON (October 27, 2020) - Houston: we have a winner!  Houston First Corporation received the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) top honor, the 2020 “Silver Anvil Award” for delivering the nation’s best public relations campaign.  Think back… more than a year ago, Houston was the epicenter of the ...

HOUSTON (September 14, 2020) - Houston First Corporation (HFC) is excited to announce its new Cullen Live! Studio at Wortham Theater Center. This fully equipped, audio/visual and live streaming recording studio will offer local performing arts groups a way to connect with their audiences during a time when in-person events ...

**MEDIA ADVISORY** WHAT:                          On Tuesday, September 1, Houston is joining cities from coast to coast and turning                                       its entertainment ...

HOUSTON (Aug. 20, 2020) -- In response to the changing meetings and event landscape, Houston First Corporation (HFC) announces the opening of The Avenida Houston Virtual Studio, a permanent broadcast facility with several new innovative solutions (details below) that is capable of hosting both virtual and hybrid events. AVENIDA HOUSTON VIRTUAL ...

HOUSTON (8-5-2020) – The Houston First Corporation announced today that Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed Michael Heckman to the position of Acting President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective August 6, 2020. The Acting President & CEO will serve in this role until a permanent replacement is named.  Mr ...

Community-Wide Standards & Protocols Establish Commitment to Health & Safety HOUSTON (Aug. 6, 2020) – The Houston Venues & Events Task Force along with the hospitality, tourism and transportation industries are committed to the health and safety of residents and visitors. As the area prepares to safely reopen, industry partners ...

HOUSTON (August 6, 2020) – Every big city across America has wrestled with the challenges brought by the global pandemic. That is why Houston First is especially pleased to share that Houston is the top ranking Texas city, coming in at number 11 out of 100 cities across the country ...

HOUSTON (June 11, 2020) - Houston First Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the Do Something New, #Explore HOU staycation campaign, inviting locals to unwind, relax, and enjoy the perks of vacation without the concern of travel.  The largely digital campaign (ad creative here) is designed to jump-start ...

New mural unveiled at upcoming celebration  Houston (June 4, 2020) – A new mural celebrating the Houston area class of 2020 has been added to the iconic collection of murals in Graffiti Park, 2102 Leeland St. in East Downtown (EaDo). Internationally recognized Houston artist, Gonzo247 collaborated with artists Nicky Davis ...

Live event program information and updates to video tribute celebrity lineup Houston (June 2, 2020) – Now just days away, Houston area high school seniors will soon celebrate their achievements at a series of special outdoor events created by their respective school districts at the urging of Houston Mayor Sylvester ...

Star-studded lineup announced for virtual video tribute Houston (May 27, 2020) – Houston area high school seniors will celebrate and be celebrated for their achievements at a series of special outdoor events, Friday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. Five area school districts: Aldine, Alief, HISD, Spring Branch, and ...

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within the United States. Houston First will celebrate this month of significance by highlighting our culinary industry, arts and culture, and locations of worship. During the month of May, go to the Visit Houston ...

HOUSTON (May 1, 2020) - Houston First Corporation is pleased to join others around the country in celebrating the “Spirit of Travel” during National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9, 2020.   Now, more than ever, it is important to recognize not only the contributions of the travel industry to our ...

HOUSTON (April 23, 2020) – Houston First Corporation is pleased to announce the return of the iconic Houston concert, Party On The Plaza, Saturday, May 2, but this time audiences can experience the musical performances at home and give to those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. KHOU 11 and ...

HOUSTON (April 13, 2020) – To support local businesses during COVID-19, Houston First Corporation has launched several initiatives and programs including a comprehensive landing page called, A New Way To HOU, dedicated to sharing information, opportunities and collaboration. The organization is also rolling out a #MissingHOU campaign, encouraging community engagement. “Houston’s ...

HOUSTON (April 9, 2020) - Houston First Corporation (HFC) is pleased to announce all employees are back on the job and drawing on all of the organization’s resources to support Houston during the pandemic crisis. The COVID-19 outbreak has taken its toll on the travel and hospitality industry nationwide and certainly ...

ORDER PROHIBITING CERTAIN LARGE GATHERINGS AND EVENTS AND IMPOSING TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS ON BARS, FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, AND CERTAIN CITY PREMISES BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON   WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the Mayor of the City of Houston, pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, as amended ...

HOUSTON (March 7, 2020) - Due to the evolving situation surrounding the coronavirus, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) announced today it is postponing its annual 2020 CORROSION conference until June 14-18, 2020 in Houston. The meeting was scheduled for March at the George R. Brown Convention Center. “We have ...

HOUSTON (March 1, 2020) - Houston First has been in ongoing communication with organizers of CERAWeek and has been informed that due to an advisory by the World Health Organization of the growing threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus and the number of international people planning to attend the conference, the group ...

HOUSTON (February 19, 2020) – Houston’s ultimate destination for live music and outdoor entertainment, Avenida Houston, is proud to announce its spring concert lineup of world-renowned artists as diverse as the city itself. The ‘Party on the Plaza’ concert series kicks off on select Thursday evenings, 6-10 p.m., March ...

HOUSTON (February 11, 2020) – Houston First, the city’s official destination management organization is proud to announce its partnership with the James Beard Foundation to present the 2020 James Beard Media Awards, sponsored by Capitol One. The exclusive event honors the nation’s top food authors, broadcast producers and hosts, and ...

Houston (January 30, 2020) – Houston First Corporation is proud to celebrate Black History Month with a number of events and activities, all of which are free and open to the public. As the destination management organization for the city, part of our mission is to promote the Houston region ...

Houston (January 7, 2020) – “Smart, skilled and soulful, Houston is the American city of the future.” That is the description of Houston by Resonance Consultancy, a strategic business marketing, development and research company, which recently released its 2020 World’s Best Cities Ranking. Houston is ranked number 32 out ...