News/Events

Take a book, leave a book: The new, Little Free Library along the Library Loop Trail is now open for all to enjoy. Perhaps you've heard of the Little Free Library movement? The concept is simple: quirky mailbox-like structures filled with books supplied by readers that are free for all to enjoy. Borrow a book or leave one to share with the world - it's a grass roots way to promote reading and randomly discover…..Read More

Even in today’s world of virtual meetings and working from remote locations, there’s still something to be said for getting up from your desk and interacting with people face-to-face. Well-planned, well-run meetings are a timeless necessity for most businesses. Hotels often specialize in meeting space, but what if most of your meeting attendees don’t need sleeping rooms? For 20 years, one of Westchase District’s best answers to that question has been Norris Conference Centers. A…..Read More

Ted Gutierrez, co-founder and CEO of Cyber Threat Be Gone, shares best practices on how to avoid computer hacking for businesses of all sizes. With headline news almost daily about data breaches, information leaks and companies held for ransom, the threat of cybercrime is real and relevant. To learn more about this danger and how to combat it, Westchase District hosted a presentation on “how to not get hacked” at its recent quarterly public safety…..Read More

Top names in commercial real estate gathered to discuss the “Future of Westchase District” at the biennial event sponsored by Bisnow and hosted by Parkway Properties at its Westchase District campus – the four building, 1.4 million square foot CityWestPlace. The event was moderated by Westchase District General Manager Jim Murphy who led off the discussion by asking what amenities tenants are looking for these days. “We used to push restaurants,” said Philip Schneidau of…..Read More

Major Makeover: The lobby at the Houston Marriott Westchase recently underwent a complete transformation as part of a $20 million renovation of the hotel. Since 2014, Westchase District’s hotel market has grown by nine percent, adding 303 new rooms, mostly limited service/extended stay brands. That construction boom has slowed, but as the industry rides out a dip before the 2017 Super Bowl comes to town, managers at older properties are staying competitive by renovating their…..Read More

Tough Competitor: HPD officer Jose Demeterio patrols Westchase District ready for anything. At 5’5”, HPD officer Jose Demeterio is not the biggest police officer ever to wear the badge, but he just might be one of the baddest. “I practice jiu jitsu regularly, which has given me the mental training and confidence to deal with people much larger than myself. Not too much gives me pause,” he said with characteristic understatement. As a lifelong athlete…..Read More

Kick Up Your Boots: The Rio Saloon is a full-service bar complete with hickory and rawhide barstools, a 22 foot long solid mesquite wood bar and a wood ceiling made from a Civil War-era barn. Don’t call it a comeback: Rio Ranch Steakhouse, located at 9999 Westheimer Road, has been here for years. But Judy Orlando, the new general manager of the Hilton Houston Westchase, wants customers to know that as the restaurant approaches a…..Read More

Old World Style, New World Luxury: Clockwise from top left: One-bedroom study units are spacious and modern; Portico at West 8 features a mix of Spanish, Mediterranean and Texan architecture; the new community room offers residents a place to lounge; a swimming pool is at the center of this enclosed courtyard with barrel tile roofs and stucco siding. In Italy, the word “portico” simply means “porch” – but in Westchase District, the word is associated…..Read More

Two new projects are underway in Westchase District which have things looking spiffy. First up: at the request of the District, the City of Houston is upgrading the traffic signal at the intersection of Briarpark and Westpark, replacing the traditional span-wires with the cleaner and safer mastarm signal poles.   Next, the Texas Department of Transportation is landscaping the greenspace along southbound Beltway 8, just north of Bellaire. TxDOT funded 100 percent of the construction…..Read More

In an era when senseless killing seems to be far too common, the question is, "If you are the victim of an active shooter, will you know what to do?" More than 60 apartment managers, hotel supervisors and concerned citizens turned out to hear some answers at the recent Westchase District Public Safety Alliance meeting at the Houston Marriott Westchase, where the featured topic was "Surviving an Active Shooter," presented by Houston Police Department's Stephen…..Read More