The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center

A visionary Texan, George Mitchell, laid out plans for The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in 1973. Located a half hour north of Houston, today's conference center combines more than three decades of updating, expansion, and refinement with Mitchell's original idea of staging meetings in nature, removed from the day-to-day pressures of the urban business environment.

Groups convene in more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space cushioned by 28,000 acres of lakes and woodlands. The conference center features a 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 32 meeting rooms—nearly all filled with natural light and flanked by Lake Harrison and forest views. State-of-the-art communications and audiovisual equipment, “18-hour” executive conference chairs, tackable wall surfaces, planner supply kits, complete meeting packages (CMPs), and dedicated conference managers only scratch the surface of details perfected over 29 years of IACC certification.

Between meetings, participants rest easy in 440 business-savvy accommodations, which include rooms and suites on an exclusive concierge floor. They pursue everything from team building to fine dining to pure relaxation at two championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a spa and fitness facility, a three-pool complex brimming with water
features, and over 145 miles of nature and bike trails. There are no packages available at this time. There are no hot dates at this time. Posted 04 Nov, 2009 by Concierge Elite THE WOODLANDS, TX (September 10, 2009) . . . The Woodlands Resort has been ranked in the 2009 edition of Golf Digest magazine's 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America joining the likes of Pebble Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida and the Walt Disney World Resort.

To determine the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America, Golf Digest called upon its 900-plus course rating panelists, who also produce the list of America's 100 Greatest Courses. The panelists rated hundreds of resort courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Rounding out Golf Digest's list at number 75, the resort features 36 holes of on-property championship golf on The Oaks and Panther Trailâ„¢ courses. Golf Digest noted on its ranking that the 18th hole on Panther Trail is arguably the best par 4 in Houston.

Other golf amenities at The Woodlands Resort include a driving range and lighted putting green; a staff of PGA professionals available for lessons and clinics; tournament coordination and full-service pro shop stocked with the latest apparel and equipment.

Only two other Texas resorts were named to the list - Westin La Cantera in San Antonio and Barton Creek in Austin. The complete list can be found in the October issue of Golf Digest magazine.

About The Woodlands Resort

Nestled in 28,000 acres of forest preserves north of Houston, yet easily accessible from I-45, The Woodlands Resort is a destination of fun and relaxation. Just steps from 440 deluxe guest rooms are two championship golf courses and the property's signature Forest Oasis Waterscapeâ„¢ with waterfalls, synchronized water spouts, waterslides, and a S'mores pit. Guests enjoy seasonal poolside dining, dive-in movies and scheduled family-friendly entertainment. Other resort amenities include a full-service spa and fitness facility, 145 miles of nature and bike trails, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Explore the property's four restaurants or lounge, plus nearby shopping and entertainment. Visit www.woodlandsresort.com or call 866-361-5674. Posted 04 Nov, 2009 by Concierge Elite Holiday Offerings Include Food, Entertainment

THE WOODLANDS, TX (October 21, 2009) . . . With the holiday season right around the corner, The Woodlands Resort is your headquarters for dining and entertainment offerings for the whole family including:

Thanksgiving Day Champagne Brunch - Thursday, November, 26
This year's event features live music and a scrumptious display of appetizers and entrees with carving stations of Honey Basted Roast Turkey, Virginia Ham and Prime Rib. In addition to traditional favorites, guests enjoy selections of Iced Shrimp Cocktail, Apple Cornbread Dressing and more. Seatings from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Pricing is $52 per adult, $22 for children 6-12 and $15 for children 2-5; pricing excludes tax and gratuity.

Breakfast with Santa - Saturday, December 12
Children and their parents are invited to mingle with Santa, take pictures, and enjoy a breakfast featuring Mrs. Claus' homemade pastries, an omelet and waffle station, and buffet of Santa's favorites from scrambled eggs to blintzes. Live music and activities for the kids complete this special holiday event. Seatings from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pricing is $21.95 for adults, $16.95 for children under 12; excludes tax and gratuity.

Christmas Day Champagne Brunch - Friday, December 25
Leave the cooking to our team of culinary experts. Feast on traditional favorites such as Belgian waffles, Omelets made-to-order and more while listening to the sounds of live music and enjoying views of Lake Harrison. Seatings from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Pricing is $52 per adult, $22 for children 6-12 and $15 for children 2-5; pricing excludes tax and gratuity.

Reservations for these events are required by calling The Woodlands Resort at (281) 364-6323.

About The Woodlands Resort
Nestled in 28,000 acres of forest preserves north of Houston, yet easily accessible from I-45, The Woodlands Resort is a destination of fun and relaxation. Just steps from 440 deluxe guest rooms are two championship golf courses and the property's signature Forest Oasis Waterscapeâ„¢ with waterfalls, synchronized water spouts, waterslides, and a S'mores pit. Guests enjoy seasonal poolside dining, dive-in movies and scheduled family-friendly entertainment. Other resort amenities include a full-service spa and fitness facility, 145 miles of nature and bike trails, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Explore the property's four restaurants or lounge, plus nearby shopping and entertainment. Visit www.woodlandsresort.com or call 866-361-5674. Posted 20 Oct, 2009 by Concierge Elite THE WOODLANDS, TX (October 20, 2009) . . .

LaVondra Connolly has joined The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center as Sales Manager with a focus on scheduling meetings for companies in the northeast. Connolly's previous hotel sales experience includes six years as Conference Manager at the Del Lago Resort & Conference Center.

Connolly's proven leadership and team development skills, building customer relationships and directing a team of employees in multi-family property management make her an asset to The Woodlands Resort's sales team.
Joining a team of six sales managers under the leadership of Tory Enriquez, director of sales and marketing, Connolly is excited to introduce meeting planners to The Resort's conference facilities and resort amenities.

"I'm excited about working with such a great sales team and showcasing all that The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center has to offer for meetings and events," says Connolly.

ABOUT THE WOODLANDS RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
Where natural beauty meets high-tech convenience, the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) approved Woodlands Resort & Conference Center combines the highest quality conference facilities with resort amenities. The property is centrally located, a three-hour flight from either coast and 18 miles from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

A founding member of IACC, the 440-room property features 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 32 dedicated meeting rooms. Nearly all meeting space offers natural light and views of the lake or forest. Other meeting highlights include two full-service business centers, a concierge floor with private boardroom, an extensive menu of themed food and beverage presentations and a team of experienced meeting professionals. Meeting attendees enjoy activities ranging from team building events to on-property resort amenities such as golf, spa and fitness facilities, 145 miles of nature and bike trails, five pools and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Visit www.woodlandsresort.com or call 866-554-8118 for group planning needs. Posted 30 Sep, 2009 by Jasmine Avery The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center continues to receive awards from meeting trade publications as voted on by top meeting professionals. Most recently, the resort received Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine's 2009 Award of Excellence.

Readers of Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine, who plan meetings for large corporations as well as incentive travel, selected winners based on extensive criteria such as quality of meeting space, guestrooms, guest services and amenities, food and beverage service, high-tech services and equipment, recreational facilities and activities, helpfulness of staff and overall value.

"We are constantly evaluating our facilities, amenities and service standards to make sure all guests receive the best experience possible. Awards such as this reinforce those efforts," said Kent Johnson, general manager for the 440-room property. "The Award of Excellence is particularly meaningful because it comes straight from meeting planners who have held events here."

About The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
Where natural beauty meets high-tech convenience, the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) approved Woodlands Resort & Conference Center combines the highest quality conference facilities with resort amenities. The property is centrally located, a three-hour flight from either coast, and 18 miles from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
A founding member of IACC, the 440-room property features 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 32 dedicated meeting rooms. Nearly all meeting space offers natural light and views of the lake or forest. Other meeting highlights include two full-service business centers, a concierge floor with private boardroom, an extensive menu of themed food and beverage presentations and a team of experienced meeting professionals. Meeting attendees enjoy activities ranging from team building events to on-property resort amenities such as golf, spa and fitness facilities, 145 miles of nature and bike trails, five pools and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Visit [url]www.woodlandsresort.com[/url] or call 866-554-8118 for group planning needs.

http://www.elitemeetings.com/property/the-woodlands-resort-and-conference-center/ Posted 30 Sep, 2009 by Jasmine Avery The Woodlands Resort has been ranked in the 2009 edition of Golf Digest magazine's 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America joining the likes of Pebble Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida and the Walt Disney World Resort.

To determine the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America, Golf Digest called upon its 900-plus course rating panelists, who also produce the list of America's 100 Greatest Courses. The panelists rated hundreds of resort courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Rounding out Golf Digest's list at number 75, the resort features 36 holes of on-property championship golf on The Oaks and Panther Trail courses. Golf Digest noted on its ranking that the 18th hole on Panther Trail is arguably the best par 4 in Houston.

Other golf amenities at The Woodlands Resort include a driving range and lighted putting green; a staff of PGA professionals available for lessons and clinics; tournament coordination and full-service pro shop stocked with the latest apparel and equipment.

Only two other Texas resorts were named to the list - Westin La Cantera in San Antonio and Barton Creek in Austin. The complete list can be found in the October issue of Golf Digest magazine.

About The Woodlands Resort
Nestled in 28,000 acres of forest preserves north of Houston, yet easily accessible from I-45, The Woodlands Resort is a destination of fun and relaxation. Just steps from 440 deluxe guest rooms are two championship golf courses and the property's signature Forest Oasis Waterscape with waterfalls, synchronized water spouts, waterslides, and a S'mores pit. Guests enjoy seasonal poolside dining, dive-in movies and scheduled family-friendly entertainment. Other resort amenities include a full-service spa and fitness facility, 145 miles of nature and bike trails, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Explore the property's four restaurants or lounge, plus nearby shopping and entertainment. Visit [url]www.woodlandsresort.com[/url] or call 866-361-5674.

http://www.elitemeetings.com/property/the-woodlands-resort-and-conference-center/ Posted 12 Nov, 2008 by Concierge Elite Readers of Meetings & Conventions Magazine Select Recipients of Annual Gold Tee Award

THE WOODLANDS, TX (April 28, 2008) . . . The meetings industrys well-regarded critics, the readers of Meetings & Conventions magazine, have selected The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center among 74 domestic and 10 international properties as outstanding golf resorts for 2008. In fact, The Woodlands Resort received its first Meetings & Conventions magazines Gold Tee award in 1994 and has since received the award consecutively since 2000.

Over 70,000 corporate, incentive and association planners voted for the winning properties based on overall excellence. Its very gratifying to be recognized by planners in the meetings industry, says Tory Enriquez, the Resorts Director of Sales and Marketing. It sets us apart not only as a top-notch golf destination but as a meetings destination as well.
The Gold Tee listing represents the industrys best facilities used throughout the year by planners seeking golf destinations for meetings and incentives. Posted 17 Mar, 2008 by Jasmine Avery For Immediate Release


$50 Million Transformation and Expansion Planned For
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center

THE WOODLANDS, TX - (Tuesday, December 04, 2007) - The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center has announced it will embark on a comprehensive, $50 million transformation and expansion project to include the build out of 158 new guestrooms, the addition of a winding, lazy river as well as a new, dramatic entrance and a fine-dining steakhouse.
"The $50 million dollar renovation will reposition The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center as an AAA Four-Diamond Resort with amenities unique to the region," said Dan Leverett, Vice President of Commercial for The Woodlands Development Company. "This is a project that truly will transform a Texas legend into a world-class resort experience."
Construction is expected to begin in early 2008 with an estimated completion date in late 2009.
The new guestrooms will be located in Fairway Pines III, a four-story structure to be located adjacent to the property's Fairway Pines I and II guestroom buildings. The new guestroom design features soothing earth tones, textures and patterns to reflect the resort's natural surroundings. Weathered leather furnishings and flat panel televisions complete the new room style. Guestroom baths include a spacious, doorless glass shower, millwork vanity and slate flooring.
The property's transformation includes the relocation of its lobby, registration area and Concierge Desk to the front of the Forest Oasis Waterscape, between all three of the Fairway Pines buildings. To enhance the arrival experience, the new lobby will include a Grand Living Room with a soaring ceiling, double-sided stone fireplace and warm, inviting furnishings. A light-filled solarium and adjoining Library will be ideal meeting places for personal conversation.
The property's existing lobby will be used as a satellite check-in area for conference attendees. Additionally, a four-level garage with 620 parking spaces will replace the existing Fairway Pines parking lot.
A new fine-dining steakhouse, complete with its own private wine vault, also will be added. Guests can dine indoors or enjoy the restaurant's outdoor patio overlooking the 18th green of Panther Trail, one of the Resort's two championship golf courses.
The transformation includes the addition of a lazy river, winding over 1,000 feet through the surrounding forest, to complement the resort's signature Forest Oasis Waterscape. A family favorite, the Waterscape offers underwater music and marine murals, double-helix waterslides, computer-activated pop fountains and soothing waterfalls. These new amenities will attract additional summer guests and align The Woodlands Resort with other high-end resorts in Austin and San Antonio, stated Kent Johnson, General Manager of The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center.
Plans also call for the renovation of The Woodlands Dining Room, The Glass Menagerie restaurant, and the property's 60,000 square feet of meeting space, certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).
In 2009, 10 nearby lodges, consisting of 222 guestrooms, and the property's original parking lot will be converted into high-density residential use. Residential land sales are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2010.
With the addition of the new Fairway Pines III and the transformation of the lodge rooms into a new residential project, The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center will consist of 380 guestrooms instead of 440 rooms. The Resort will continue to offer over 60,000 square feet of conference space and two championship golf courses.
Moreover, construction during the renovation will be concealed by attractive landscape barriers. "The utmost consideration will be taken for business to run as usual and not create interruption for hotel and conference guests," said Johnson.

Firms being used for the project include:

Design Architect - Morris Architects of Houston
Restaurant Design - Morris and V/N
Landscape Design - The Office of James Burnett of Houston
Interior Design - Vivian / Nichols Associates of Dallas

The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston and is a project of The Woodlands Development Company - a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.

About The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
Nestled in 28,000 acres of forest preserves north of Houston, yet easily accessible from I-45, The Woodlands Resort is a destination of fun and relaxation. Just steps from 440 deluxe guest rooms (at present) are two championship golf courses and the property's signature Forest Oasis Waterscape with waterfalls, synchronized water spouts, waterslides, and a S'mores pit. Guests enjoy seasonal poolside dining, dive-in movies and scheduled family-friendly entertainment. Other resort amenities include a full-service spa and fitness facility, 155 miles of nature and bike trails, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Explore the property's four restaurants or lounge, plus nearby shopping and entertainment. Visit www.woodlandsresort.com or call 866-361-5674.

# # #

For more information, contact:
Susan Vreeland-Wendt (281) 719-6174
Lorrie Parise (281) 719-6344
svreeland@thewoodlands.com lparise@thewoodlands.com