October | Corpus Christi | Marlane Bundock

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Corpus Christi

A Tropical City With Value, Fun & A Fresh Face

“Meet in Corpus Christi (Texas), and learn why they call this the ‘Premier Texas Coast Destination,” Ed Persall, vice president of convention sales for the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau, encouraged meeting planners.

Located approximately 200 miles south of Houston, along Texas’ Gulf of Mexico coastline, Corpus Christi is the state’s largest coastal city and, according to Persall and others, the city is a prime spot for meetings. “Corpus Christi is a vast wonderland of sea, sun and fun, and a combination of quality meeting spaces and affordability that makes Corpus Christi a popular value destination for conventions and meetings any time of the year.”

Hoteliers like Mike Reeves, director of sales and conferences at the Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Airport Hotel and Conference Center, also noted the destination’s value and myriad of options for groups. “When you compare Corpus Christi to a similar area such as Galveston (Texas), Corpus Christi is larger, has a more diverse cultural setting, and there is more to do.”

Persall also noted that along with the tropical climate and atmosphere, the destination can attract attendees through its “extremely competitive rates—especially November through February—when compared with other beach destinations” and that “labor charges are nominal, contributing to overall cost-effectiveness.”

Access was another plus mentioned by Persall. He said all major airlines service the area and offer direct connections to and from Dallas, Atlanta or Houston. Austin was added to the list earlier this year when officials with ExpressJet Airlines announced new service to and from Corpus Christi International Airport. Jim Ream, ExpressJet president/CEO, explained that the flight is available daily through a 50-seat aircraft.

Texas’ largest coastal destination, Corpus Christi, offers groups a tropical setting along the Gulf of Mexico as well as prime meeting opportunities.

These attributes are some of the reasons the Texas Association of Water Board Directors routinely meets in Corpus Christi, Persall said. “With more than 1,500 people in attendance, this meeting books in Corpus Christi every other year and is set to come back in 2009, 2011 and 2013.”

The association meets in the American Bank Center, a complex that encompasses 500,000 square feet of event space within a convention center, an arena and an auditorium. According to Nick Reyna, director of convention center sales and services, the center accommodates any sized or type of group, but he emphasized that SMERF (social, military, educational, religious and fraternal) groups find it especially accommodating. “This is because of the value of the center and Corpus Christi as a whole, with its climate and family-friendly atmosphere.” The convention center portion of the American Bank Center offers 76,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms.

Adjacent to the American Bank Center and also along Corpus Christi’s bayfront is the Art Museum of South Texas. Making news this year is the completion of an expansion project that has nearly doubled the building’s size. Museum Director William Otton said, “The addition of the new building enables us to present our permanent collection in an incredible space, gives us curatorial areas and vault storage, extends our education services through meeting and seminar rooms, and enhances the overall visitor experience.” The museum has various meeting rooms including a banquet room and an auditorium.

Adjacent to the art museum, groups will find the Museum of Science and History, the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Educational Center, and across the Harbor Bridge from the American Bank Center, the USS Lexington.

This area is also home to Corpus Christi Beach and the Texas State Aquarium, which can accommodate groups of up to 250 indoors and up to 3,000 outdoors, according to Kristin Ralls, public relations coordinator. “Groups have the opportunity to have an event in Dolphin Bay and get up close and personal to our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, or travel through the Gulf of Mexico exhibits.” This summer, the aquarium opened the 300-seat Avian Adventure Amphitheater.

Additional meeting venues and attractions along the bayfront include Memorial Coliseum, the Art Center of Corpus Christi, and the 400-passenger paddlewheel Captain Clark’s Flagship.

In south Corpus Christi, the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center showcase various blended floral exhibits as well as native habitat and natural wetlands within a 180-acre site, according to MaryJane Crull, director of marketing. Along with being a spot along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the gardens are recognized as one of the key birding sites in Corpus Christi.

New & Improved Hotels

The destination offers more than 9,200 hotel and condo guest rooms, Persall said, adding that some are new to the area. “We have had five new hotels open within the past year and a half: two La Quinta Inn and Suites hotels, a Red Roof Inn and Suites, a Comfort Suites, and a Value Inn.”

Along with these new value- and limited-service properties, the area’s convention hotels are donning fresh faces, including the Best Western Marina Grand Hotel. Piper Scott, director of sales and marketing, said the property has nearly finished a full renovation project that began in October 2006. “The 173 contemporary rooms and three suites sport incomparable views of Corpus Christi Bay and Marina,” Scott said. “Our hotel features almost 5,000 square feet of stylish meeting and event space for all your celebrations and presentations. From elegant affairs in our beautiful Grandview Ballroom on the 11th floor to our executive-styled Clipper Boardroom, the Marina Grand delivers unforgettable memories of Corpus Christi.”
 

Key Info: · Sales Tax: 8.25 percent · Hotel Tax: 15 percent · Transportation: The B-Trolley provides transportation to downtown attractions, hotels and restaurants.

Earlier this year, the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel announced the completion of extensive enhancements to all 821 guest rooms, the public areas and the 38,000 square feet of meeting space, according to Nils Stolzlechner, general manager. “The changes to the Omni Corpus Christi are a continuation of the brand’s commitment to this community and the company’s dedication to offering a great guest experience,” Stolzlechner said, explaining that the Bayfront Tower has a new, Asian-inspired ambiance and the Marina Tower has taken on an airy, seaside feel. Guest rooms feature granite counter tops, a new bedding package, plush carpet, wall coverings, drapes and contemporary art.

The Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Airport Hotel and Conference Center offers 12,000 square feet of meeting space and 237 guest rooms, according to Reeves, who said, “Under our new ownership, we have recently completed renovations to our top two guest room floors, where the rooms were upgraded to have the most recent Holiday Inn décor. We’ve also updated various other parts of the hotel such as placing new equipment into the fitness facility.” Among the hotel’s meeting space is a ballroom that can accommodate up to 500, banquet style, and be divided into six rooms, and the hotel’s former nightclub is exclusively available for group rentals.

And while the Bayfront Plaza Hotel and Conference Center is currently not in the midst of any renovation work, Kathy King, general manager, said the facility exceeds guest expectations and can host all types of groups. “We are going to host a cat convention this November and have hosted a pigeon convention in the past—you name it, we can do it.” The 200-room property offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space among 10 rooms—the largest is the Texas Convention Center, which offers 10,000 square feet, King said.

Along The Gulf In Port Aransas

The gulf front Mustang Island is where groups can find Mustang Island State Park and the city of Port Aransas. Ann Bracher Vaughan, executive director of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau, explained that “Port Aransas’ city limits on the south side are adjacent to Corpus Christi’s city limits—where Corpus Christi claims approximately half of Mustang Island and Port Aransas claims the other half.”

Vaughan said the area welcomes meetings and events, and is especially ideal for groups with 100 attendees or less. Of the area’s meeting venues, the Port Aransas Civic Center offers 8,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 525 for a seated event. The Port Royal Ocean Resort and Conference Center can accommodate up to 450, reception style.

“Our small, relaxed island offers an opportunity to participate in a myriad of activities or to just simply relax,” Vaughn said, adding that activities include deep sea fishing, windsurfing, bird watching and shopping.”

Docking at Port Aransas is the Texas Treasure Casino Cruise boat, offerings groups special packages, dining, and both slot and table gaming.