POSITION OVERVIEW

CHIEF DESTINATION MARKETING OFFICER, FIRST PRESIDENT, HOUSTON CVB (HOUSTON)

THE CITY AND DESTINATION

Houston is a city of limitless potential and notable achievements. For instance, it was the first word heard from the moon and the home of the first artificial heart transplant. Houston has nationally recognized parks, professional sports, fine dining, an active arts scene and many other attractions – but with it, a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and a culture alive with energy and rich in diversity. Given this mix, it's no wonder that Houston is a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors.

Greater Houston offers everything from breathtaking museum exhibits to vibrant downtown entertainment. Explore the wonder of space or spend the day shopping in . Houston is home to the world’s largest concentration of medical professionals, world’s largest rodeo, NASA, Grand Prix of Houston, Shell Houston Open, Rotary Lombardi Award, world-renowned museum and theater districts, (NBA) basketball, (MLB) baseball, Houston Texas (NFL) football and Houston Dynamo (MLS) soccer.

For starters, The Galleria is an upscale mixed-use urban development centrally located in one of the largest business districts in the country. Set beneath spectacular glass atriums, The Galleria features more than 400 fine stores and restaurants, an impressive ice rink and two hotels. It is the fourth-largest mall in the nation, with over 2.4 million square feet of retail space and is undergoing a significant expansion to be completed in 2016.

NASA/Johnson Space Center (named for Lyndon B. Johnson) is the training facility for all of America’s astronauts. Johnson Space Center is also the control point for US human space flight activities, with primary responsibilities in research, design, development, testing and operations of the Space Station program. Johnson Space Center employs approximately 17,000 engineers, scientists and administrative personnel. is the designated visitor center for JSC and features interactive exhibits to educate and entertain visitors as well as showcase America’s accomplishments in space.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the city's major attractions, occurring in February and March every year. It is a long-standing Houston tradition. In fact, 2012 marked the 80th anniversary of the rodeo. The largest rodeo in the world, it attracts more than 1.8 million visitors each year. Since the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was established, it has made an impressive footprint on the livestock and entertainment industries and in the sport of rodeo.

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Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world, with a local economic impact of $10 billion and 45 member institutions. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities, which encompass 21 million square feet. Altogether 4.8 million patients visit the TMC each year. The complex includes 13 renowned hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy and virtually all health-related careers.

Bayou Place was developed in partnership with the City of Houston; the $22 million project transformed a vacated convention center into a thriving entertainment project in downtown’s Theater District. includes the Sundance Theater, a 3,000-seat live performance venue, Hard Rock Café, multiple restaurants and bars.

Downtown Aquarium is the product of redeveloping two landmarks – Fire Station No. 1 and the Central Waterworks Building. This magnificent six-acre entertainment and dining complex is a 500,000- gallon aquatic wonderland, home to over 200 species of aquatic life from around the globe. With a full-service restaurant, an upscale bar, a fully equipped ballroom, aquatic & geographic exhibits, shopping and a variety of amusements, Downtown Aquarium has it all!

SIZE OF CITY & COST OF LIVING

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the US and is the largest city in Texas with a population of more than two million. The City of Houston spreads over three counties: Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery. Houston trails only New York, Los Angeles and Chicago in population and is the largest city in the southern US. Houston is the seat of Harris County, and its metropolitan area is the fifth-most populated in the US, with over 6 million people. Houston has the most affordable housing of the 10 most populated metropolitan areas in the country.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

The city boasts more than 40 colleges, universities and educational institutions – offering higher education options to suit all interests. In addition, Houston is home to eighteen Fortune 500 companies with more than 5,000 energy-related firms, Houston is considered the Energy Capital of the World. The Partnership is the primary advocate of Houston’s business community and is dedicated to building economic prosperity in the region. Employment in the Houston region grew 4.3 percent between September 2014 and September 2014, according to the Greater Houston Partnership, leading the nation’s major metropolitan areas in the pace of job growth. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the Houston metro area created 120,700 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, a close second to the 129,100 jobs added in the New York metro area during the same period – remarkable considering the fact that Houston is home to 2.9 million jobs, a third of New York’s 8.8 million jobs.

HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM

Houston has the fourth largest multi-airport system in the US, the seventh largest international gateway in the country. The system is comprised of three airports with Bush Intercontinental ranking third among American airports for nonstop flights. In 2012, more than 50 million people zipped in and out of Houston’s three airports; generating in excess of $24 billion in economic impact for the local region and supporting over 151,000 local jobs.

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DIVERSITY

Houston is the most diverse city in the United States. In addition, Houston is ranked among the top 10 cities in the US visited by Hispanic-American and Asian-American travelers, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Based on Greater Houston Partnership calculations using US Census Bureau data and State of Texas data, Houston has 225,000 women- and minority-owned businesses.

ARTS AND OTHER AMENITIES

The combined annual attendance for arts and cultural performances, exhibits and other programs in Houston is more than 10.7 million, which includes both Houston residents and visitors. The non-profit arts are a $977.7 million industry in Houston and generate $130.4 million in local and state government revenue. Houston has a Theater District second only to New York City in the number of theater seats with all of the performing arts disciplines, and a Museum District with 6 million visits a year to 20 museums within a 1.5- mile radius.

Houston is home to more than 18,000 acres of green space managed by the Houston Parks Department. More than 165 public and private golf courses offering year around play are also located in the Houston region.

HOTEL INVENTORY

From limited service to luxury, the Houston area offers more than 75,000 hotel rooms. In addition, growing demand has led to rising occupancy rates and a slew of new development. More than 2,500 rooms will come online downtown alone in the next few years, with hundreds more slated for areas such as the Galleria, Energy Corridor and the Medical Center.

RIDA Development Corporation broke ground in April 2014 on the new 1,000-room Marriott Marquis that will rise adjacent to the GRB Convention Center. The massive hotel (along with the existing Hilton Americas-Houston) will bookend and dramatically increase the city's convention capacity. In addition to the hotel's 100,000 square feet of meeting space, it will also feature a Texas-shaped “lazy river” and retail shops on the ground floor. Completion of the $335 million project is scheduled for the early fall of 2016.

RESTAURANTS

Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other US city and for good reason with more than 11,000 restaurants ranging from award-winning and upscale to memorable deli shops. Countless cutting-edge chefs have made Houston home, including James Beard Award winners and internationally renowned chefs serving up innovative cuisine that frequently catches the attention of foodies in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Saveur.

To learn more about the greater Houston area, please visit www.visithoustontexas.com.

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HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION AND THE GREATER HOUSTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Houston First Corporation (“HFC”) is one of the region’s clear voices. A local government corporation formed in 2011, Houston First leads the effort to have Houston recognized as one of the great cities of the world. With an annual budget of over $230 million, it operates the city’s finest convention, arts and entertainment venues, managing more than 10 municipally-owned buildings, plazas, and parking facilities. These assets include the George R. Brown Convention Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts and Miller Outdoor Theatre. The corporation is also the owner of the city’s largest hotel, the 1,200-room Hilton Americas- Houston. The mission of Houston First is to enhance the quality of life of Houstonians and to advance the economic prosperity and development of Houston through our services, attractions and venues. Houston First was created in 2011 by melding the City of Houston’s Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation. In 2014, the corporation became larger by strategically aligning with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (the “GHCVB”). Established in 1963, the GHCVB is a public and private sector partnership that fosters economic vitality through the promotion of the convention and visitors industry. The GHCVB has nearly 1,000 members, representing all facets of the hospitality and business community. The GHCVB's budget includes revenues raised through a variety of sources including membership dues and profit from owned events. As a result, the Bayou City has a far-reaching, one-stop shop with 230 employees who work every day to inspire the rest of the world to think of Houston first. Houston is fortunate to have two major meeting facilities – the George R. Brown Convention Center and NRG Park. Any discussion of Houston’s chief convention assets and sales and marketing responsibilities should begin with these two properties.

GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER

The George R. Brown Convention Center features 1.2 million square feet of flexible exhibit, meeting and registration space which includes;

• 7 exhibit halls; 862,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. • Contiguous space on Level 1 of 639,000 square feet. • Contiguous space on Level 3 of 223,000 square feet. • Registration area on Level 2 of 99,000 square feet • An arena with telescopic seating for 6,000, suitable for large scale presentations, concerts, corporate meetings, and sporting events. • A grand ballroom offering 31,500 square feet of tasteful, functional event space; capable of being subdivided into three sections. • A 3,600-seat tiered amphitheater called General Assembly Theater. • 185,000 square feet of total meeting room space. • 104 meeting rooms. • 4 exterior balconies suitable for festive outdoor receptions (each nearly 3,000 square feet).

Houston is currently reinventing its downtown Convention District. By the time the Super Bowl comes to town in 2017, the George R. Brown will have a second connected headquarters hotel (the Marriott Marquis), a new grand entrance, restaurants at the front of the building, a pedestrian walkway, a new concourse that connects exhibit halls, a parking garage linked to a 10-story office tower with street-level retail (and eventually a 400- room hotel) and the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage.

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The new 10-story office building overlooking Discovery Green will gather all of the organizations that promote Houston under the same roof for the first time. The building, scheduled to open in 2016 just north of the convention center, will serve as the new headquarters of not just Houston First, but also the Greater Houston Partnership, the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Houston-Harris County Sports Authority, the Hotel Lodging Association of Greater Houston and the Center for Houston's Future.

The Convention District is fast becoming the newest and most cosmopolitan and pedestrian-oriented part of the city. In fact, a dramatic new cityscape will emerge when Houston hosts the NCAA Final Four in 2016 and Super Bowl LI in 2017 with the convention center’s glassy new façade and retail and other street amenities along with Discovery Green, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and 2,500 new hotel rooms in the Downtown area.

NRG PARK

NRG Park, with its aggregate facilities, has established itself as one of the premier sports, entertainment and convention complexes in the country. Because of the distinct versatility offered by its venues, NRG Park can accommodate nearly any event, from business meetings to awe-inspiring performances.

NRG Stadium is the only NFL indoor/outdoor retractable roof, natural grass stadium. It can be configured to utilize a 125,000-square-foot space for general sessions, catered functions, exhibits, concerts, and much more. In addition, the stadium offers four massive concourse levels for special events.

NRG Center offers more than 706,000 square feet of contiguous single-level exhibit space divisible into 11 separate halls. It also boasts 61 meeting rooms configurable into over 100 variations, two major conference centers, 118 loading bays, and more than 50,000 square feet of registration space. Each meeting room has its own dedicated sound, lighting and networking capabilities. A 280,000 square-foot marshalling area on-site with over 200,000 square feet of space for shuttle transportation is also provided.

NRG Arena offers fixed seating in the main arena for 5,800 and floor space encompassing approximately 25,000 square feet. The venue is ideal for general sessions and events for less than 10,000. NRG Arena's Pavilion also provides 1,700 fixed seats and is surrounded by over 325,000 square feet of exhibit space divisible into four halls. The facility also includes over 18,000 square feet of meeting space.

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SUMMARY OF POSITION

This position will be responsible for growing Houston’s group and convention business segments by developing and leading effective marketing and sales strategies. In doing so, this highly visible position will interface with key community and government leaders as well as the media. The President will report to the chief executive officer of HFC and, ultimately, the board of directors of HFC and will also work closely with the GHCVB Executive Committee, Board and membership.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Serve as a member of the executive team of HFC. 2. Report activities regularly to the joint sales and marketing committees of HFC/GHCVB as well as the boards of both HFC and the GHCVB as needed or appropriate. 3. Serve as a member of the executive committee of the GHCVB board of directors with a role on the committee as defined by the chair of the GHCVB and the HFC chief executive officer. 4. Develop and implement a bi-annual marketing plan with the goal of optimizing the sale and marketing of the greater Houston region to local, state, regional, national and international meetings industry. 5. Update that bi-annual plan annually to ensure that it remains fresh, focused and functional. 6. Prepare and present an annual budget that supports the goals and objectives of the bi-annual marketing plan. 7. Regularly analyze performance and results relative to the established objectives remaining nimble enough to make such changes as may be necessary to achieve those objectives. 8. Collaborate with the HFC executive team to establish the necessary operational infrastructure, policies and procedures and staffing to achieve the vision and objectives outlined in the marketing plan. 9. Create and lead a fun, fulfilled and engaged staff via a culture that inspires and rewards quality performance, initiative and innovation. 10. Ensure all activities are based on sound, sensible business standards with the necessary accountability to maintain trust and credibility. 11. Conduct all activities within established corporate policies, and state and federal laws as well as the highest of ethical standards. 12. Establish and maintain effective communications and partnerships as necessary or appropriate to effectuate the marketing plan with hoteliers, GHCVB members, government leaders, business and cultural and institutional leaders, convention and event planners 13. Represent the destination at selected local, state, regional, and international conventions as well as other business meetings as is necessary or appropriate to achieve the goals of the marketing plan. 14. Serve on various industry and community committees and boards as strategically defined. 15. Perform other duties as assigned by the HFC chief executive officer.

EDUCATION

A college degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

IDEAL BACKGROUND AND SKILL SET DESIRED

. Significant sales and marketing leadership experience with emphasis on the group and convention segment. . Destination marketing organization (DMO) and/or hotel experience preferred. . Current EVP/SVP DMO sales leader or sitting CEO who truly wants to get back to selling and marketing a destination. . Current hotel executive with “big box” experience. . A proven leader with significant industry relationships and exceptional credibility.

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CORE COMPETENCIES AND CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED

1. GENERAL . A proven and successful senior executive. . An individual with broad vision and the ability to lead an organization in developing and executing a strong marketing plan. . An individual with strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity who is able to gain and maintain the respect of industry colleagues, clients and government contacts and build coalitions with key partners. . A flexible, responsive and politically astute leader, comfortable with capably managing multiple programs. . A team leader and player who works well in a collegial management environment but is equally comfortable in a more competitive corporate environment. . A leader with integrity and a passion for the role and for Houston. . A leader with outstanding communication skills who is also a persuasive public speaker.

2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS . Must be an exceptional listener. . Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels including stakeholders.

3. MARKETING EXPERTISE . Brand enhancement, management and leveraging experience. . E-commerce fluent. . Proven experience with media and public relations. . Understanding of cooperative marketing initiatives. . Proven skills in both the domestic and international marketplace. . Demonstrated success in prior marketing and sales roles. . Strong understanding of destination marketing is a plus.

4. SALES LEADERSHIP . Skilled in the areas of market analysis, deployment and research. . Proven success with sales team recruitment, retention, and overall development. . Experience with setting goals and measuring success. . A thorough understanding of the national convention market.

5. CRITICAL CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED . Strategic Leader . Visionary . Hungry . Dynamic Team Builder . Exceptional Communication Skills . Motivator with a Contagious Positive Attitude . Proven Consensus Builder . Political Acumen . High Likeability Factor . Entrepreneurial Spirit . Diplomatic and Transparent

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6. MANAGEMENT SKILLS . Ability to inspire quality performance of direct reports on a continual basis, including celebrating successes, conducting effective performance appraisals and taking corrective action when necessary. . Create a working climate in which team members are motivated to develop their skills and abilities. . Demonstrate by personal example, the desired standards of conduct and work performance. . Attract, recruit, train, mentor and retain qualified members of the senior management team in an environment that provide career development and individual achievement. . Ability to provide leadership and direction to the team to ensure that the mission and vision of both the HFC and the GHCVB are reinforced and achieved. . An individual who exhibits passionate, patient and high energy leadership who consistently pursues the achievement of goals and objectives with determination, steadfastness of purpose, and enthusiasm.

KEY PRIORITIES FOR THE FIRST 12-18 MONTHS

. Assess the product, resources and opportunities. . Immediately engage in the sales process to understand current deployment, sales department goals, targets, incentives, strengths and areas of opportunity. . Further the development of a sales strategy that encompasses the Houston region and that addresses: ▫ Future year bookings (especially post Super Bowl 2017) ▫ The significant increase in hotel inventory . Immediately form strong and meaningful relationships with stakeholder groups and evaluate their input and concerns. This includes hospitality industry and local business leaders and the Houston First team.

The above is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements and does not imply a contract.

If you are interested in this position, please respond via e-mail with cover letter, resume, and compensation information to the following SearchWide™ Executive:

Mike Gamble, President and CEO, SearchWide™ Email: [email protected] or Phone: 651-275-1370 www.searchwide.com

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