Houston First Corporation is a local government corporation that operates performing arts and convention facilities in Houston, the largest city in U.S. state of

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. These venues include the

George R. Brown Convention Center The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB), opened on September 26, 1987, is located on the east side of Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The center was named for internationally recognized entrepreneur, engineer, civic leader, philan ...

Wortham Theater Center The Wortham Theater Center is a performing arts center located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The Wortham Theater Center, designed by Eugene Aubry of Morris Architects, was built out of private funds totaling over $66 Million. The ...

, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. Houston First also owns the city's largest hotel, the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston. Houston First represents the consolidation of the former City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation. Houston First was established by

Houston City Council The Houston City Council is a city council for the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. The Council has sixteen members: eleven from council districts and five elected at-large. The members of the Council are elected every four years, wi ...

on June 1, 2011, and launched on July 1, 2011.

History

After Houston City Council approved the creation of Houston First, Mayor

Annise D. Parker Annise Danette Parker (born May 17, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Texas. A Democrat, Parker served as the 61st Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 until 2016. She also served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council ...

said the consolidation was undertaken to create operational efficiencies and to take advantage of “business practices that will make it easier to maintain and improve the GRB and ensure it stays in cutting-edge condition.” In January 2012, Houston First unveiled a new 2025 master plan for the convention center that called for expansion to the north and south of the building along with at least one additional convention center hotel. Houston First entered into an agreement with RIDA Development Corporation to develop a 1,000-room

Marriott Marquis Marriott Marquis is a hotel brand owned by Marriott International and denotes flagship, large-format hotels similar to Hyatt's Hyatt Regency brand. Notable hotels using this branding include: United States * New York Marriott Marquis in Times Squar ...

near the north end of the convention center. In June 2014, Houston First and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau officially joined forces as a single, clear voice for the City of Houston. The alignment was designed to create a central, one-stop organization for promoting Houston as a prime convention and tourism destination. Today, Houston First serves as the official destination marketing organization for Houston. Construction of the connected Marriott Marquis was completed in December 2016, just in time for Houston to host

Super Bowl LI Super Bowl LI was an American football game played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Houston, Texas, on February 5, 2017, to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2016 NFL season, 2016 season. The American Football Confe ...

in February 2017. The master 2025 plan also called for the boulevard in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center to be converted into a pedestrian plaza. The new Avenida Plaza opened on December 16, 2016.

Assets and Responsibilities

In addition to the downtown convention center and the 1,200-room Hilton Americas, properties falling under the management of Houston First include

, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Jones Plaza, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Theater District Parking,

Sesquicentennial Park Sesquicentennial Park is an urban park in downtown Houston, Texas. Established in 1989 along the banks of Buffalo Bayou, the park was established in 1986 to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the founding of the city of Houston and of the ...

, Root Memorial Square, Talento Bilingue de Houston and several other smaller park and performing arts facilities.

Governance

David Mincberg David H. Mincberg is a lawyer and sports executive that has worked for the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies (National Basketball Association), and D.C. United (Major League Soccer). Biography Mincberg was Vice President of Bask ...

chairs Houston First's Board of Directors
He was appointed
by Houston Mayor

Sylvester Turner Sylvester Turner (September 27, 1954 – March 5, 2025) was an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from January 2025 until his death in March 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democra ...

to succeed Ric Campo in July 2016. Mincberg is CEO of Houston-based Flagship Properties Corporation. Michael Heckman is president and chief executive officer of the organization.

Board Members

''(Houston's mayor appoints and City Council confirms Houston First's board members.)'' * David Mincberg, chairman, Flagship Properties Corporation * Sofia Adrogué, Diamond & McCarthy LLP * Alex Brennan-Martin, Brennan's of Houston * Elizabeth Gonzales Brock, CenterPoint Energy * Nicki Keenan, Landry's, Inc. * Desrye M. Morgan, Wells Fargo Securities * Reginald L. Martin Jr., Executive Chef * Ryan Martin, LDR Investment Group * Paul Puente, Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council * Tom Segesta, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel - Houston * Bobby Singh, Isani Consultants * Gerald Womack, Womack Development and Investment * Jay Zeidman, Altitude Ventures

City Council Advisory Members (Non-Voting)

* Dave Martin, District E * Robert Gallegos, District I

Senior Staff

* Michael Heckman, president & CEO * Paul Casso, vice president of event service * Alfred Cervantes, senior vice president - film * Holly Clapham-Rosenow, chief marketing officer * Jorge Franz, senior vice president - tourism * John Gonzalez, senior vice president and general manager - facilities * Lisa Hargrove, general counsel * Roksan Okan-Vick, senior vice president - regional product development * John Solis, senior vice president - sales * Luther Villagomez, chief operating officer - convention center * Karen Williams, senior vice president, finance * Frank Wilson, chief financial officer

References

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