Guest Program/Tours
There is no better time of the year in Houston than the springtime! The weather is pleasant and the Bluebonnets are at the peak of their offering. The guest program committee has sorted through all the opportunities in Houston and picked the very best for your entertainment and intellectual enjoyment.
You are also invited to enjoy the comforts of the Hospitality Room in the Hilton Americas-Houston. The Hilton Americas is located across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Hospitality Room will be the perfect place to visit with friends, relax and enjoy refreshments. Volunteers will be available to assist with tours and local information. Brochures and maps of Houston and surrounding areas will be available.
Hospitality Room hours:
Monday, 11 April……………………………..8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 12 April……………………………..8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 13 April………………………..8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Please wear your convention badge for admittance to the Hospitality Room and other events.
Enrichment Programs
Beauty Secrets
Date: Monday, 11 April
Time: 1:00 p.m.– 2:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston
Fee: No fee — Please note your interest when registering
Makeup artist Edward Sanchez’s clients include Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, LeAnn Rimes and Houston socialites. A degreed biochemist by training, Sanchez reaches for brands found at your neighborhood pharmacy, as well as his own product line. He wants to empower women with the right information about makeup, and along with his assistants, uses humor and some serious inside scoop about affordable makeup and skin-care that can make us all look great.
Front Row at the Opera
Date: Tuesday, 12 April
Time: 1:00 p.m.– 2:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston
Fee: No fee — Please note your interest when registering
Did you know that The Marriage of Figaro is just one opera in a trilogy which includes The Barber of Seville and The Ghosts of Versailles? Or that Mozart took a risk just for writing the story, which is connected to the French Revolution? It was considered an affront to the nobility. Oh, the scandal! Join us for an insightful and entertaining presentation of the “back story” of one of opera’s most beloved works, delivered by Houston Grand Opera’s Master Docent and music lover Adelma Graham. Learn the colorful details of the life of Mozart and his librettist, as well as the current production of Figaro at Houston’s Wortham Center.
Guest Tours
All guest tours will depart from the Group Entrance lobby of the Hilton Americas-Houston. The Group lobby is located on the east end of the hotel next to the News & Gift Shop. Participants should plan to arrive in the lobby 15 minutes prior to published departure times.
Houston Art Tour
Date: Tuesday, 12 April
Time: 9:45 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Fee: $80
Includes: Transportation, bottled water, admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, lunch at Monarch in Hotel ZaZa
Limit: 54 people
Located in the heart of Texas’ largest city, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, is a dynamic cultural complex consisting of two museum buildings, two art schools, two decorative arts centers, and a sculpture garden. The MFAH main campus consists of the Law and Beck Buildings, the Glassell School of Art, and the Sculpture Garden. With its encyclopedic collection and an exciting schedule of international loan exhibitions and award-winning programs, the MFAH is one of the premier destinations in the United States for art lovers.
Following your visit to the MFAH, you will enjoy lunch at Hotel ZaZa Houston’s Monarch Urban Bistro & Lounge. Bursting with aromatic flavors and the hum of conversation, Monarch pairs gourmet food with a vibrant atmosphere. Monarch’s Terrace showcases the restaurant’s delightful views of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mecom Fountains. After lunch, you will have some free time to explore the museum district. Sculpture gardens and fountains will top off your art adventure.
Private Lunch Cruise and Kemah Boardwalk CANCELED
Date: Monday, 11 April
Time: 10:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $120
Includes: Transportation, tour guide, bottled water, lunch
Limit: 39 people
Premium Outlet Shopping CANCELED
Date: Tuesday, 12 April
Time: 9:15 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
Fee: $38
Includes: Transportation, tour guide, bottled water, VIP Coupon Book
Limit: 54 people
