Houston First Sees Unexpected Windfall from Hurricane Beryl as Convention Center Renovation Takes Shape.
Houston's tourism agency, Houston First, revealed that the city benefited financially from Hurricane Beryl in 2024, despite no one wanting a natural disaster to hit the area. The storm forced hotel bookings to skyrocket, leading to increased revenue for the agency, which manages taxpayer dollars generated by tourism.
The news came as the agency presented its upcoming budget forecast to the city council, highlighting that projections can be subject to change. According to Houston First, the agency is expected to make a slight profit in 2026, when major events like the World Cup and World Baseball Classic are scheduled to take place in Houston.
The agency's revenue forecast for the upcoming year stands at $258.5 million, with expenses totaling $257 million, implying a potential $1.5 million profit in 2026. The update also provided an overview of the ongoing renovation of the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is part of Houston First's portfolio.
The project, valued at $2 billion, has seen around $160 million paid out to contractors so far, with completion expected by 2038. As the convention center undergoes significant renovations, the agency's performance will likely be closely watched.
Houston's tourism agency, Houston First, revealed that the city benefited financially from Hurricane Beryl in 2024, despite no one wanting a natural disaster to hit the area. The storm forced hotel bookings to skyrocket, leading to increased revenue for the agency, which manages taxpayer dollars generated by tourism.
The news came as the agency presented its upcoming budget forecast to the city council, highlighting that projections can be subject to change. According to Houston First, the agency is expected to make a slight profit in 2026, when major events like the World Cup and World Baseball Classic are scheduled to take place in Houston.
The agency's revenue forecast for the upcoming year stands at $258.5 million, with expenses totaling $257 million, implying a potential $1.5 million profit in 2026. The update also provided an overview of the ongoing renovation of the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is part of Houston First's portfolio.
The project, valued at $2 billion, has seen around $160 million paid out to contractors so far, with completion expected by 2038. As the convention center undergoes significant renovations, the agency's performance will likely be closely watched.
! It just goes to show that even when things don't go as planned (like a hurricane hitting), you can still find ways to make the best of it and turn it into something positive. It's all about perspective, right? The city council should be stoked about the potential profit in 2026 
. And let's not forget about the convention center renovation - $2 billion is no joke 
! It just goes to show that with careful planning and execution, even massive projects can come together.
. I mean, who doesn't love a good excuse to book a hotel room? But seriously, it's kinda cool that the city's tourism numbers are doing well despite being hit by a hurricane 
. Still, $1.5 million profit might not be enough considering all the money they're pouring into the convention center renovation 
.
It's just the way the cookie crumbles, right? But seriously, $1.5 million profit might not seem like a lot, but when you're talking about taxpayer dollars, it adds up. Plus, the fact that they're getting paid from a natural disaster is kinda... weird? I guess what I'm trying to say is, let's hope they put some of that windfall into making our city even more awesome, not just lining their pockets. 
. Still, I guess it's good to see some growth happening in Houston. Maybe this means they'll actually finish the convention center renovation on time and not just keep pushing it back like they have before 
.
. Still, I guess it's all part of the game, and who wouldn't want some extra cash for their tourism agency?
. It just goes to show how unpredictable weather events can be, and how they can actually work in a city's favor (or so it seems).
. Just hope everything stays on track for completion by 2038 
!
. I'm actually kinda glad that it happened because now they're gonna get that $2b renovation done and our con center is gonna be fire 
. And $1.5 million profit? That's like, a dream come true for the city budget 
It's crazy how it worked out for them. The fact that hotel bookings skyrocketed and they made a profit is definitely a silver lining from the storm. On a more serious note, it'll be interesting to see how the city handles the convention center renovation. $2 billion is a huge investment! 
. That's some good news, especially with major events coming up like the World Cup and Baseball Classic. It's gonna be interesting to see how everything plays out.
So they're saying Hurricane Beryl was good for business in Houston? 
How does that work exactly? Did everyone just magically want to visit Houston after the storm passed? 
And what about all the people who got affected by the hurricane? Is their money going towards the renovation of the convention center or getting them help somehow? 
Oh wait, I'm talking about how much money is being spent on the convention center renovation – like $2 billion?! Are they sure that's necessary?