George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston

The George R. Brown Convention Center labels itself as the official visitors center in Houston. New visitors to Houston are allowed to use the convention center as a source of tourist information, dining and theater reservations and even airline and flight information. Over 1.2 million square feet of space makes up the enormity of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Visitors to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston know the venue as a place where major conventions and conferences are held but local Houstonians are familiar with the extensive role that the George R. Brown Convention Center plays in major job fairs. Since the economic crash of September 2008, those effected by lay-offs have looked to the center as a potential source to land a job for the future.

The convention center is Houston's premier and most accessible place for meetings, exhibits, concerts, and other large scale presentations. There are also meeting rooms set up like traditional classrooms that provide an educational-like venue for instructors of workshops or other courses. Business professionals can choose from over 117 meeting rooms to hold corporate meetings and forums. Stores like Starbucks and FedEx Kinkos are located within the convention center as an added bonus to the professionals who decide to use the facility.

The George R. Brown Convention Center's grand ballroom is one of the largest in the state. The ballroom space is over 31,000 feet and can be divided into three separate sections. The ballroom is capable of comfortably seating 2,000 people.

The George R. Brown Convention Center creates an extra convenience for those who intend to hold conferences and major events by creating three skywalks that connect to hotels and parking garages. The skywalk gives the convenience of finding accessible parking and accommodation while attending an event at the center. Two major hotels are connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center via the skywalk. Four Seasons and The Hilton offer visitors multiple parking garages as well as hotel room accommodation. In addition to the open feel the skywalk portrays, there are also four outdoor balconies where visitors can view the skyline of downtown Houston.

Major events like the Stellar Awards (an award show that recognizes the highest talent in Gospel music) have been held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Other special events have been hosted at the center by both the NFL and MLB. Cat shows, dog shows, Sysco conferences, and liquidation sales are just a taste of the events held at the convention center on a yearly basis.

As of October 2008, the convention center is transforming itself into an eco-friendly facility. The installation of solar panels on the rooftop of the building will make the George R. Brown Convention Center one of the first major convention centers to harness sun energy for power. The center currently recycles and conserves energy and water. The installation of solar panels simply adds to the innovation and integrity of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.