INSIDE THIS EDITION THE BUZZ NEXT UP

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1 INSIDE THIS EDITION THE BUZZ NEXT UP A Word from the Chairman Board Member Honored Trolley Expansion The Holidays Are Here Upcoming Events The Woodlands is full of excitement this holiday season! From ice skating, to photos with Santa, to New Year s Eve parties, everyone is sure to find holiday cheer. Visit The Woodlands invites you to join us in 2018! Mark your calendars and plan to attend these award winning events, including The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. CURRENT Winter 2017

2 A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN Hello and Happy Holidays, As 2018 approaches, we naturally reflect on This past year, Visit The Woodlands worked diligently to position our beautiful destination amongst the best places in Texas, the U.S. and internationally. With 14 hotels and millions of square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, Visit The Woodlands team was busy promoting The Woodlands to meeting and leisure travel planners, as well as travel writers and media from around the world. I m also excited to announce the staff of Visit The Woodlands has moved to a new home inside Township Hall, where they will begin welcoming visitors. Located so close to two major airports, boasting excellent hotel accommodations and meeting space, The Woodlands is a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers. The team at Visit The Woodlands can provide complimentary assistance and servicing to book that event or meeting in The Woodlands. It is the role of Visit The Woodlands to offer support and drive business to our hotels, shopping districts, restaurants and encourage attendance to our year-round events. I invite you to reach out to the staff or visit our website to learn how we can assist you. It is important that we acknowledge the strength of our community during and after Hurricane Harvey. Once the storm passed and we were fortunate to remain operational; hotels in The Woodlands sheltered displaced families and first responders, local restaurants fed volunteers around the clock and our shopping districts opened their doors to provide supplies and clean clothes to those effected. The outpouring of support and financial generosity shown by the hotel and hospitality industries in The Woodlands was incredible. On behalf of our board and staff, Happy Holidays and we look forward to seeing you in The Woodlands. Bruce Rieser, Chairman, Visit The Woodlands John Anthony Brown Vice Chairman Fred Domenick Secretary/Treasurer Bruce Rieser Gordy Bunch Chairman JohnLong Anthony Brown Jeff Vice Chairman FredAnn Domenick Dr. Snyder Secretary/Treasurer 2 Brian Boniface BrianDomenick Boniface Fred J. J. Hollie Don Norrell KevinParsons Viteri Greg J.J. Hollie Don Norrell Kevin Viteri Nick Wolda President Amber Molly Redus George Marketing Specialist Elizabeth Eddins Emilie Harris Assistant Brand Development Ashley White Manager Brand Development Manager Alie Broussard Alie Broussard Convention Development Convention Development Manager Manager Josie Lewis Danielle Gatlin Convention Development Administrative Assistant Specialist Danielle Gatlin Mariana Almanza Administrative Assistant Intern Mariana Almanza Intern

3 AN UPDATE FROM VISIT THE WOODLANDS BOARD DIRECTOR VITERI RECEIVES TOP HONOR Top 10 Worldwide Newly appointed Visit The Woodlands Board and General Manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton The Woodlands Hughes Landing, Kevin Viteri, receives top honor. Viteri was selected from 236 Worldwide Embassy Suites as one of the TOP 10 in Highest Guest Service satisfaction. The Hilton brand invited Viteri to participate in The Future of Service Summit to represent Embassy TTIA APPOINTS PRESIDENT NICK WOLDA TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Leadership at the State Level Suites from all over the world. In 2015, Viteri successfully opened the Hughes Landing Embassy Suites on schedule, and by year-end 2016, under his leadership, the Hughes Landing Embassy Suites led its competitive set in occupancy and revenue per available room. Congrats Viteri! We are lucky to have someone so dedicated to superior service and hospitality in The Woodlands. The Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA) has elected new officers and new members to its board of directors for the term. The board of directors is comprised of individuals representing many different segments of the travel and tourism industry within Texas. The new chair of the association is Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit San Antonio. The immediate past chair, Jim Brothers, director of marketing for Six Flags Over Texas, will continue to serve on the board s executive committee. Brandon Steinmann, principal of Steinmann Strategies, is now chairelect. John Osborne, CEO of Visit Lubbock, will serve as treasurer and Mike Waterman, president of Visit Houston, will serve as secretary. David Teel, president and CEO of TTIA, also sits on the executive committee. Three new members join the board of directors to serve three-year terms as at-large members including, Nick Wolda, President of Visit The Woodlands. This distinguished group of leaders elected to serve on TTIA s executive committee and board of directors are well-respected in the industry, said TTIA President and CEO David Teel, following the association s 32nd Annual Texas Travel Summit. We are honored to have the guidance and leadership of these new board members. TTIA improves the quality of life in Texas by strengthening travel and tourism and this new board will direct the future of our association accordingly. 1 3

4 MEETINGS MEAN BUSINESS VISIT THE WOODLANDS RECEIVES CONVENTION SOUTH S READERS CHOICE AWARD Bringing Home the Gold In October, the publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, presented The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau with a 2017 Readers Choice Award. ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau has been selected to receive our annual Readers Choice Award, said ConventionSouth Publisher J. Talty O Connor. The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require. Visit The Woodlands is among 300 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this year s Readers Choice Award. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated sites are then compiled into an online ballot where over 6,000 meeting professionals and fans voted for the best of the best. Since creation in 2001, this is the third time that Visit The Woodlands has received the award. COPA INTERNACIONAL RETURNS TO THE WOODLANDS Big Games, Bigger Competition The Woodlands, Texas hosted the Copa Rayados Internacional Soccer Tournament for a second year in a row in November. The soccer tournament is internationally recognized and produced by the Club de Fútbol Monterrey Rayados, a Mexican football club from Monterrey Nuevo León and Premier Soccer Services Incorporated, an events and consulting service organization specializing in youth soccer tournaments. The Copa Rayados Internacional Soccer Tournament brought many international travelers to The Woodlands area not only to play soccer, but to experience The Woodlands and all of the amenities the area has to offer. The tournament brought in over 150 elite teams from Mexico, the United States and Canada with many staying in The Woodlands hotels. The Copa Rayados Tournament will return again next year to The Woodlands over the same time frame. VISIT THE WOODLANDS ATTENDS IMEX Marketing Beyond the Grid President Nick Wolda, Assistant Elizabeth Eddins and Convention Development Manager Alie Broussard promoted The Woodlands at IMEX America, the largest trade show for meeting and incentive travel planners from across the world. Visit The Woodlands had a 10x20 booth near Texas Tourism where staff met with over 50 meeting planners throughout the three-day trade show. IMEX America brought in over 3,000 meeting and incentive planners from over 60 countries and had over 3,000 exhibiting companies representing 150 different countries. Visit The Woodlands handed out collateral and travel bags to trade show attendees and planners. James Coumbe with The Woodlands Resort was a participating partner for IMEX America with Visit The Woodlands staff to assist in promoting The Woodlands. 4

5 WHAT S NEW THE WOODLANDS TO EXPAND TROLLEY SERVICE New Hughes Landing Route Park once and go! The Woodlands Town Center Trolleys provide easy transportation along a 3.2-mile route connecting The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, businesses and residences along The Woodlands Waterway. Currently, three trolleys operate seven days a week and circulate approximately every 10 minutes during peak operating hours around retail and office locations throughout the Town Center area. A fourth trolley is coming soon with a route extension to include Hughes Landing. The full trolley route will be nearly 5 miles in length, with five new stops, including Restaurant Row and Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing. With the addition of a new trolley car to the route, tourists near Hughes Landing will soon have more direct access to The Woodlands Town Center, without having to get in their cars. The Woodlands Town Center Trolleys are a free service provided by The Woodlands Township. View the most current trolley map online at DOSEY DOE: LIVE MUSIC & GOOD FOOD 3 Locations to Satisfy When it comes to good food and live music, no one does it like Dosey Doe. Known for their award-winning coffees, fresh-made BBQ sauce and specialty items like honey, pickles and marmalades, they have everything you could want plus live music! Dosey Doe has three locations to choose from and we re thrilled they choose to call The Woodlands home. Located in the heart of The Woodlands, Dosey Doe Breakfast & BBQ is lovingly referred to as the DDBBQ and features favorites like huevos rancheros, biscuits and gravy, gumbo and, of course, roasted coffees. You can also enjoy sixteen-hour hickory and red oak smoked brisket, smoked and jalapeno sausages, pulled pork and smoked (pickled brine) chicken. For entertainment, the venue showcases live acoustic artists Thursday through Saturday. Dosey Doe Breakfast & BBQ is located at 2626 Research Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX Originally built as a tobacco barn in Kentucky, Dosey Doe BIG BARN features massive oak and birch beams that range from 300 to 600 years old. Not only do they serve as the foundation for a beautiful room, but they also provide great acoustics for live music. The 165-year-old structure was Voted Texas Country Music Association s Live Music Venue of the Year and features nationally recognized artists from contemporary to country, from jazz to bluegrass and everything in between. Enjoy live music and dinner with entrees cooked from scratch including bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, ginormous chicken fried steak and more. Dosey Doe BIG BARN is located at I-45 North, The Woodlands, TX Located within Alden Bridge Village in the back of The Woodlands, Dosey Doe Coffee Shop is perfect for a hot breakfast or lunch. The quiet and convenient atmosphere and the delicious classic breakfast menu will make you feel right at home. Dosey Doe Coffee Shop is located at 8021 Research Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX

6 THE BUZZ EXPERIENCE HOLIDAY MAGIC IN THE WOODLANDS Holiday Cheer for Everyone Treat yourself to a getaway to The Woodlands. Experience a masterfully planned winter wonderland featuring ice skating, photos with Santa and more. While you re visiting, check off that last minute Christmas list! The Woodlands is home to over 70 boutique shops at Market Street as well as iconic retailers inside The Woodlands Mall. The Woodlands Ice Rink Through January 15, 2018 The Woodlands Ice Rink season is here! Lace up your skates, drink some hot chocolate and enjoy holiday cheer in the state-of-the-art ice rink located in The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion multi-purpose building. The Woodlands Ice Rink is open through January 15, Click here for operation hours and pricing. Photos with Santa Through December 24, 2017 This holiday season, snap a memorable photo while your child sits on Santa s lap to share his or her wish list. Everyone needs a photo with Santa, right?! Photos with Jolly St. Nick are available daily at Market Street in suite 683 or outside of Macy s in The Woodlands Mall. New Year s Eve Gatsby Celebration December 31, 2017 Ring in the New Year Gatsby style. Revel in the 20s at The Woodlands Resort themed New Year s Eve celebration complete with dinner buffet and a roaring good time with live band, open house bar and fireworks show at midnight. 6 New Year s Eve Bash December 31, 2017 Ring in the New Year at The Westin at The Woodlands. The New Year s Eve extravaganza is complete with live entertainment and DJ, complimentary whiskey and wine tasting, small plate and action stations, photo booth, oyster bar, cash bar and champagne toast at midnight. High Noon Countdown December 31, 2017 The Woodlands Children s Museum is bringing the excitement and glitter of New Year s Eve to little ones this holiday season in a safe, family-friendly setting. During the museum s High Noon Countdown parties, children can count down the seconds leading up to a balloon and confetti drop once at the stroke of noon and again at 3:00 p.m. The two parties also will feature music, New Year s hat-making and other special activities. Polar Bear Plunge January 1, 2018 Plunge into the New Year at The Woodlands Resort where you can enjoy complimentary bloody marys, screwdrivers and mimosas. Breakfast tacos available. After a day of shopping and holiday festivities, relax at one of The Woodlands many award-winning hotels where you ll enjoy fresh baked cookies, egg nog and hot cocoa. (Dreaming of sugar plum fairies and Santa s sleigh optional.)

7 NEXT UP MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS Make 2018 a Year to Remember We invite you to explore The Woodlands in 2018 savor a beautifullycrafted culinary bite, be uplifted by a touching film, discover an artistic masterpiece, or achieve a lifelong goal. Here are just of few of our favorite events you don t want to miss in Taste of the Town January 18, 2018 Taste of the Town is a foodie s dream come true with over 80 area restaurants and beverage distributors showcasing their culinary specialties each year. Restaurants compete for the 2018 Best of Taste competition for titles while attendees sample food and enjoy live entertainment. Inspire Film Festival February 15-19, 2018 The Inspire Film Festival is a five-day cinematic event dedicated to entertaining and inspiring audiences with films and stories that celebrate the human spirit. The films are selected based on their ability to enlighten and entertain audiences. Awe-inspiring films beautifully shot in fascinating locations from around the world. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival April 7-8, 2018 Ranked one of the top in the nation, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is an annual fundraiser for The Woodlands Arts Council s education and outreach programs in the community. Over 200 extraordinary artists come from across the globe to exhibit a broad range of styles and media. IRONMAN North American Championship April 28, 2018 Race with champions in the Lone Star State. The IRONMAN North American Championship returns to The Woodlands on April 28, Athletes will swim in Lake Woodlands, bike through the rolling farmlands of east Texas and run through The Woodlands for their chance at one of 80 qualifying slots to the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. 7

8 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Through January 15th The Woodlands Ice Rink Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion December 15th - 17th A Christmas Carol 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm Nancy Bock Center for Performing Arts 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. The Woodlands, Texas December 16th Mrs. Claus Gingerbread House Workshop 10:00 am - 2:00 pm The Woodlands Children s Museum December 16th The Woodlands Farmer s Market 8:00 am - Noon Grogan s Mill December 16th Scuderia Exotic Car Show 8:00 am - 11:00 am Market Street December 18th Christmas Classics 7:00 pm Sidebar, The Westin at The Woodlands December 21st Throwback Thursday Centric Cinema 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Hyatt Centric The Woodlands December 23rd The Woodlands Farmer s Market 8:00 am - Noon Grogan s Mill December 27th Monty the Magician 10:00 am - 5:00 pm The Woodlands Children s Museum December 28th Throwback Thursday Centric Cinema 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Hyatt Centric The Woodlands December 29th Storybook Theatre 11:00 am The Woodlands Children s Museum December 30th The Woodlands Farmer s Market 8:00 am - Noon Grogan s Mill December 31st Noon - 3:00 pm High Noon Countdown The Woodlands Children s Museum December 31st New Year s Eve Gatsby Celebration 6:00 pm - 2:00 am The Woodlands Resort December 31st Midnight Toast to the New Year Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing January 1st Polar Bear Plunge 11:00 am The Woodlands Resort January 18th Taste of the Town 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center January 20th Arbor Day in The Woodlands 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Hughes Landing February 15th - 19th Inspire Film Festival Throughout The Woodlands April 7th TWFG Muddy Trails Bash 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Rob Fleming Park April 7th - 8th April 28th May 12th The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival The Woodlands Waterway IRONMAN North American Championship Throughout The Woodlands CB&I Tri Throughout The Woodlands CONNECT WITH US Request our free Visitor Guide by going to VisitTheWoodlands.com. Keep up with all the exciting things happening in The Woodlands by following us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.