INSIDE THIS EDITION THE BUZZ NEXT UP. Update from the Chairman CVB Welcomes a New Teammate The Pavilion Remodels The Buzz Calendar of Events CURRENT

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1 INSIDE THIS EDITION THE BUZZ NEXT UP Update from the Chairman CVB Welcomes a New Teammate The Pavilion Remodels The Buzz Calendar of Events The Woodlands is thrilled about the holiday season! Read about the rapid growth occurring in the community, the favorite holiday events you won t want to miss and see what s currently trending in The Woodlands all in the winter edition of Current. As the 2016 chapter closes, The Woodlands celebrates all that has been accomplished this year. Looking forward, the community and its leaders are eager to market the destination at the next level in the upcoming year. CURRENT Winter 2016

2 A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN Friends and families of The Woodlands, As Chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, I am privileged to serve the entire community. I m pleased to welcome you to the winter edition of Current. The Woodlands is in an exciting state of growth, and we are certain visitors searching for memorable experiences will find them within The Woodlands this winter. As we begin to close another successful year in The Woodlands, we look forward to the exciting things that lie ahead for our community. According to a recent study conducted on behalf of The Woodlands, many coming to The Woodlands for a meeting or conference have been pleasantly surprised and consider it more of a destination than they had anticipated. When the study asked leisure travelers to describe our community, terms such as oasis, its own world and hidden were used. We are proud of the quality destination The Woodlands embodies, which is why we gladly extend the welcome of guests and visitors! Within the winter issue, you will be informed with the latest news, activities and celebrations offered throughout the holiday season. New seasons can bring new additions, and we have a few around The Woodlands recently. The Pavilion s makeover, Hughes Landing newest retail and the mall s latest additions are both featured within this edition. Be sure to catch the details throughout the publication and mark your calendars for the various activities and events you won t want to miss. I encourage you to follow The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau on social media to receive further updates. Have a safe and happy holiday season. Gordy Bunch Chairman of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of s Jeff Long Vice Chairman Dr. Ann Snyder Secretary/Treasurer Fred Domenick J.J. Hollie Don Norrell Greg Parsons Gordy Bunch Chairman Jeff Long Vice Chairman Dr. Ann Snyder Secretary/Treasurer Fred Domenick J. J. Hollie Don Norrell Greg Parsons Nick Wolda President Emilie Harris Brand Development Manager Alie Broussard Convention Development Manager Molly Jennings Redus Marketing Specialist Josie Lewis Danielle Convention Gatlin Development Administrative Specialist Assistant Mariana Danielle Gatlin Almanza Intern Administrative Assistant Mariana Almanza Intern 2

3 CVB HIRES NEW CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST The Team Expands Josie Lewis has been named Convention Development Specialist for The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau. In her new role, Lewis will promote The Woodlands to businesses, associations, and various groups for meetings and events in The Woodlands. She also assists with the coordination of meeting details and services before, during and after a meeting/convention, works within the Customer Relationship Management program and assists with The Woodlands CVB Convention Development program. Josie s background working in hotels is a great asset to the team and the position, says Nick Wolda, President of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau. We look forward to her enthusiastic attitude and service to groups and meeting planners. We know she ll do a great job continuing to position The Woodlands as a great place to hold world class meetings and conventions. Lewis received her Bachelors of Science in Restaurant and Hotel Management from The Hilton School of Hospitality Management within The University of Houston. Lewis started her career in front office operations within the Downtown Houston market and most recently gained experience in hotel sales as the Sales Coordinator at The JW Downtown Houston. To learn about the rest of The Woodlands CVB staff visit com/about-the-cvb. CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ATTENDS CONNECT TEXAS Growing and Learning The Woodlands Convention & Visitor s Bureau Convention Development Manager, Alie Broussard represents The Woodlands at numerous conferences and trade shows each year. Her mission is to market The Woodlands to businesses, meeting planners, associations and groups for conventions, meetings and events to be held in The Woodlands. This quarter, Mrs. Broussard will be attending Connect Texas in Galveston, TX. Connect Texas, in partnership with the Texas Society of Association Executives, is a hosted buyer, appointment-only, reverse trade show. Connect Texas will consist of Texas association planners, suppliers and experts in the industry for three days of general sessions, workshops, pre-scheduled appointments and networking. Alie Broussard will meet with meeting planners one-on-one over the course of the conference. Mrs. Broussard said, Attending Connect Texas will allow me to make connections with several meeting planners as well as provide them with extensive information about The Woodlands and everything that we have to offer for meetings and conventions. The Woodlands CVB is also sponsoring an element of the conference by providing planners with a special gift! 1 3

4 THE PAVILION REMODELS Fresh, New Look In May 2016, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Board of s unanimously approved a major construction plan that will touch nearly every part of the venue. The projects include a newly constructed VIP Club and operations building, new canopies at the concessions and entrance gates as well as a refresh to the dressing rooms. The new VIP club will replace the original structure and boast two floors of expansive seating, a catering kitchen and an outdoor patio overlooking the North Plaza. Additionally, the new operations building will provide more office and storage space for Pavilion staff. Fresh and modern canopies will become the face of The Pavilion as guests enter the venue. This construction plan is exciting for our team as it impacts some piece of the entire venue, says Jeff Young, vice president of operations for The Pavilion. The updates will modernize The Pavilion and provide an exceptional backdrop for future concerts and events. Whenever we have the opportunity to take our venue to the next level we are able to grab the attention of popular artists, added Jerry MacDonald CEO and president of The Pavilion. When we sell out shows, our true Mission of providing performing arts and educational outreach programs truly benefits. Construction will begin in late October and is planned to be completed over the next 9 months. The construction team is under the leadership of Fred Grona, senior vice president of Mission Constructors and Jeff Gerber, chief executive officer of PGAL Architects. Grona has been involved with every construction project at the venue since Due to the planned construction, this year s Holly Jolly Jingle holiday performance will be cancelled. Most of the projects will be completed in time for the start of the 2017 concert season. MARKET STREET IN LIGHTS Welcoming the Holidays For more information visit Market Street-The Woodlands will kick off the holiday season when its soaring, 70-foot Christmas tree, synchronized to twinkling lights and holiday music, debuts Thursday, November 17 at 6 p.m. as part of the shopping, dining and entertainment destination s Market Street in Lights tree lighting celebration. Hundreds once again will gather to witness the first performance of Market Street s Christmas tree and the more than 25,000 multicolored lights adorning the destination s Central Park. Market Street in Lights presentation will continue nightly throughout the holiday season. As part of the evening s festivities, which take place until 9 p.m., one deserving family or individual, nominated as the 2016 Official Lighting Luminary, will light the tree in front of the cheering crowd. Kicking off a holiday season of events, the celebration continues with live musical performances, entertainers and holiday carriage rides. 4 Traditional horse-drawn carriage rides will be available in front of the Cinemark Theater and will operate from 6 9 pm. Rides are $10 per person; children ages 12 and under are $5.

5 HUGHES LANDING ADDS TO RETAIL ROW Shop More The Howard Hughes Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary The Woodlands Development Company, have announced the addition of nine new retailers, occupying 17,198 square feet of additional space, in Hughes Landing - a 66-acre mixed-use development on Lake Woodlands. Blo Blow Dry Bar, which opened in late September; Fleet Feet Sports, opening early December; Focus Optical, opened early October; and Fred Astaire Dance Studio, opened mid-october are joining Whole Foods Market, 18 8 Fine Men s Salons, Cadence Bank, Kriser s Natural Pet, Norton Ditto and Pier 1 Imports in Retail Row at Hughes Landing. Retail Row represents 75,788 square feet of space in which 96% is currently leased. Opening on the ground level of One Lakes Edge luxury apartments are Beauty Statement, which recently began construction; Broken Barrel, opening fourth quarter 2016; VOM FASS Oils & Vinegars, opening fourth quarter 2016; and L Atelier de Beaute, opened late October. Ivivva, founded by Lululemon athletica, recently celebrated its Grand Opening in Hughes Landing. These retailers join CUPS Frozen Yogurt, KB Kasuals, Macaron by Patisse, Pure Barre, RIDE Indoor Cycling, Starbucks, Venetian Nail Spa and Willa Boutique. Retail at One Lakes Edge in Hughes Landing totals 22,960 square feet of space and is 100% leased. We are proud of the great lineup of unique retailers and restaurants that we have assembled in one of the most prominent mixed-use developments in the South, said Rip Reynolds, Vice President, Leasing & Commercial Land for The Howard Hughes Corporation. We have national and local brands that offer a variety of dining and shopping opportunities within a beautiful, walkable setting with views of 200- acre Lake Woodlands. THE WOODLANDS MALL ADDITIONS New Shopping, New Parking DICK S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), the largest U.S.-based, full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer, opened its first stores in the Houston area on Friday, October 21. The new locations include an 83,000 square-foot store at The Woodlands Mall. In conjunction with Dicks Sporting Goods, The Woodlands Mall has also added two new parking decks with state of the art technology such as the ability to display the number of parking spaces available. The new decks add an additional 300 parking spaces to the mall combined. The decks are located near the Forever 21 entrance and the east side of Dillard s. The Woodlands Mall is owned and managed by General Growth Properties. General Growth Properties, Inc. is an S&P 500 company focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing and redeveloping high-quality properties throughout the United States. GGP is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol GGP. 5

6 GE RUN THRU THE WOODS Benefitting Non-Profits for 27 Years On Thanksgiving morning, thousands of people will make their way through The Woodlands communities as participants of GE Run Thru The Woods. Directed by the YMCA, the event has been a source of fundraising for local charities for 27 years. The event is designed for a wide variety of participants and offers walkers and runners the choice of a 5-mile run, 3-mile run, 3-mile walk and a 1-mile kid s race for children ages 12 and younger. GE Run Thru The Woods is a great way to begin Thanksgiving Day, said Roxanne Davis, community liaison of The Woodlands Family YMCAs at Shadowbend and Branch Crossing. There s excitement of thousands of people pulling together with purpose, and it s a great way to spend time with family and friends, to encourage each other, and give thanks and support local nonprofits, including the YMCA. This year, in particular, is extra special as we celebrate GE s 20-year anniversary supporting Running for a Cause, , and the dedication of the 3-mile race/walk in memory of Lou Wilson, co-founder of The Woodlands Running Club, who lost his battle to cancer earlier in the year. To learn more and register for GE Run Thru The Woods, visit runthruthewoods.org. For more information about The Woodlands Family YMCA Annual Campaign, which ensures that everyone, regardless of age, income or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y, visit ymcahouston.org. LIGHTING OF THE DOVES Hope and Peace On November 19, 2016, the longstanding tradition in The Woodlands continues. The Lighting of The Doves Festival signifies the start of the holiday season in the community. The doves illuminate The Woodlands Town Center, symbolizing hope and peace for the holidays. The Lighting of the Doves Festival features snow play areas, vendor booths, children s activities and live performances, with the highlight of the events being a special appearance by Santa Claus arriving by sleigh down The Woodlands Waterway and a fireworks display, weather permitting, at Town Green Park. The festival will take place in Town Green Park from 3 pm to 9 pm. This event is produced by The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department, and is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Texas Children s Hospital, Service King, The Woodlands Development Company and Waste Management. CVB HOSTS THE WOODLANDS HOTEL SUMMIT Teamwork Makes the Dream Work The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted an All-Township Hotel Summit last quarter at The Woodlands Township. The CVB Chairman, Gordy Bunch, and the CVB President, Nick Wolda, led the meeting to discuss important topics regarding The Woodlands hotel industry with Township hoteliers. The various topics included The Woodlands CVB 2017 outlook, discussion of upcoming tradeshows and hotel participation, current industry trends as well as marketing efforts that are geared towards conventions and meetings. The Hotel Summit gave the CVB staff and Board of s a good insight for the upcoming year. All in all, the summit was a huge success! 6

7 21ST ANNUAL CHILDREN S FESTIVAL All for the Kids Children are invited to come out and play as The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is transformed into a giant playground filled with fun and adventure. The 21st Annual Children s Festival, presented by ExxonMobil takes place November 12 & 13, Experiment with science-related activities in the South Plaza where you can visit with Janet s Planet to learn about the solar system and create your own lunar lander. Or if you have a little Picasso, The Villager s Arts Alley might be for you. Take a walk to the Anadarko Adventure Zone and get your sports on with some of Houston s hometown teams! If your child has been struck by a bolt of energy, then stop by the Texas Children s Hospital Healthy KidZone Tent or the Activity Center in the new Pavilion Event Center for hands-on activities and games. Don t forget a stop at the top of The Pavilion hill where you can build your own kite and participate in parachute races. Be a part of the fun! Admission is $8 per person in advance or $10 per person at the door. All activities are included in the price of admission. Picnics are welcome, but beverages cannot be brought into the venue. If you would like more information about The Pavilion, please visit or look for The Pavilion on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and Blogger. Or download The Pavilion s ios or Android app. TRENDING IN THE WOODLANDS: Adventure Out, Adventure On madsencycles Oh the places we will go! Family memories in the making! It s finally cool enough to pull the little ones out of the house and enjoy hours outdoors! Did you know The Woodlands is home to more than 200 miles of hike-and-bike trails? Whether you re a biker or a hiker, jump on one of the several trails today. aggiebeerguy Another Sunday 9 hole game with the girls! Golfing throughout The Woodlands is another great outdoor activity to enjoy this winter. Tee up at Panther Trail for a great day with friends or family. The course is highlighted with an 18th hole which has been named as the Best Par 4 in Houston. ironjillironwill So blessed to have that friend who is my equal in training, who pushes me to be better and faster, and who I have a positive, healthy, competitive relationship with, and on top of everything else makes me feel so good about myself! Are you training for Ironman 2017? If not, now s your chance! Take advantage of the cooler weather and do something you ve always wanted to do. If it s not Ironman training, train for the next 10k or 5k on the various running trails intertwined throughout The Woodlands. 7

8 CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 11th The Woodlands Township Veterans Day Tribute 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Town Green Park 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. The Woodlands, Texas November 11th Kid s Night Out - Turkey Tribute 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm The Woodlands Township Recreation Center November 12th November 12 13th Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sun: Noon - 5:00 pm 21st Annual Children s Festival The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion November 17th Market Street Tree Lighting 6:00 pm Market Street November 18 20th Fri: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sat: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Jr. League 2016 Holiday Market The Woodlands Waterway Marriott November 18th First Day of Santa at Market Street 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Market Street November 19th Lighting of the Doves 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm Town Green Park November 19th November 19th Scuderia Exotic Car Show 8:00 am - 11:00 am Market Street November 26th December 2nd 12th Annual Signatures Author Series 10:00 am - Noon ft. Cheryl Strayed The Woodlands Waterway Marriott December 3rd December 3rd Torch Challenge 9:00 am - 5:00 pm McCullough Junior High December 3rd Photos with Santa Hosted by John Daughter, Realtors 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Tupelo Park, Creekside Park December 4th The Woodlands Car Club 8:00 am - 11:00 am Market Street December 9th Kid s Night Out Evening with the Elves 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm The Woodlands Township Recreation Center December 10th December 16th Deck the Halls: Christmas Tree Creations 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm The Woodlands Township Recreation Center December 16th Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Rob Fleming Park Feliz Navi-Dog 10:00 am - Noon Bear Branch Park Gingerbread House Making Noon - 2:00 pm Rob Fleming Park Santa s Workshop 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Rob Fleming Park Movie in the Park: The Grinch 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Rob Fleming Park December 18th Breakfast with Santa 9:00 am - 11:00 am Rob Fleming Park December 18th Sweaters and Sandwiches with Santa Noon - 2:00 pm Rob Fleming Park December 18th North Pole Bakery 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Rob Fleming Park December 19th Opening Day of The Ice Rink 10:00 am - 11:00 pm The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion December 19th Scuderia Exotic Car Show 8:00 am - 11:00 am Market Street December 22nd Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Rob Fleming Park December 23rd Breakfast with Santa 10:00 am - Noon Rob Fleming Park December 24th December 31st January 28th Arbor Day Celebration 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Rob Fleming Park 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 and Instagram.