Hello everyone! The Journeys team has just finished a busy few weeks of event-ing! Specifically our second edition of Journeys in North America in Houston! The amazing programme was brought to life thanks to the partnership with Visit Houston and The Post Oak Hotel and we can't wait to share how it went with the rest of our Tribe!
Nestled amidst the vibrant city of Houston, there exists a sanctuary of refined luxury and elegance - The Post Oak Hotel, the only 5* hotel and Spa in Texas - this was our host hotel for the event!
From the moment you walk in, the staff at The Post Oak spared no effort in ensuring that every guest felt not just welcomed, but cherished. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence and the famous 'southern hospitality' set the bar high. From the marble floors to the cascading chandeliers that adorned the ceilings to the onsite facilities, the Post Oak Hotel is pure luxury from every corner and is undoubtedly one of the best hotels ever. Also, it has not one but nine dining facilities (we highly recommend Willie G's Seafood and Mastro's Steakhouse!).
Everyone got to admire this beautiful hotel at the Opening Welcome breakfast with plenty of fresh food in the grand ballroom. We were welcomed by the General Manager of the Post Oak, Steven Chou, and the Senior Vice President of Fertitta Entertainment and board member for Houston First, Nicki Keenan. There were also remarks and welcomes from Shandra Mitchell from Visit Houston, who kindly gave the delegates a very useful and durable canvas bag and portable charger... who doesn't need these things nowadays? Our European Destination Partner, Natalia Boveda of Visit Costa del Sol, brought some Spanish flare to Houston like jamon iberico and an abaniko (a fan) to give to the delegates. All very thoughtful gifts!
However, as Micaela explained to the delegates, Visit Houston had planned a bountiful agenda for everyone to showcase the very BEST that Houston has to offer so, after breakfast, we whizzed off to our venue for meetings, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston! Beyond its permanent collection, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, making it a dynamic hub for art enthusiasts of all ages. This was an amazing venue as we found out on a private tour that we were surrounded by rooms full of masterpieces from around the world by renowned artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Claude Monet.
For lunch, we had to stop by not one but two iconic restaurants, Kirans and The Lymbar where they served us a delicious buffet of diverse cuisines. At Kiran's, we dined on aromatic Indian bursting with spices, whereas at the Lymbar, we had a delightful fusion of Latin and Mediterranean cuisine. This set the standard for the Houston soul food scene... I couldn't keep my hands off the delicious empanadas and lamb chops!
To finish the day off, Visit Houston arranged for us all to go and see the Houston Astros play the Cleveland Guardians at Minute Maid Park! Some people had already been to a baseball, but for those who hadn't, it was truly jaw-dropping! Even though the agenda that Visit Houston put together was amazing, they took it a step further and arranged with the sports presenter to film where we were seated and give us a big American shout-out! Check out the video below.
We cannot thank Visit Houston, The Post Oak Hotel and everyone who helped make this event a roaring success enough, and we hope that everyone had an incredible journey in Houston with us!
Until next time!
Alessia and the Journeys Team
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