Houston First Corporation

[1] After Houston City Council approved the creation of Houston First, Mayor Annise D. Parker 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.

The alignment was designed to create a central, one-stop organization for promoting Houston as a prime convention and tourism destination.

Construction of the connected Marriott Marquis was completed in December 2016, just in time for Houston to host Super Bowl LI 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.

In addition to the downtown convention center and the 1,200-room Hilton Americas, properties falling under the management of Houston First include Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Jones Plaza, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Theater District Parking, Sesquicentennial Park, Root Memorial Square, Talento Bilingue de Houston and several other smaller park and performing arts facilities.