I had the opportunity to join the team of local business and city officials in Houston for the Final Four. Traveling to other host cities is essential for our own preparations, but it also provides another opportunity to evaluate overall best practices in destination marketing and management. Although we don't often see Houston as a competitor, it is a unique city for such evaluation since they will host the Super Bowl and Final Four back to back just as we will, except in reverse order. It's interesting to see how communities that differ so significantly in size and attributes handle the same major events.

From my days on Houston, I remember their struggle with capturing the destination elevator speech on which everyone could agree. Over time, Houston has promoted its linkage with the manned space program, its western heritage, and its cosmopolitan image as well as its international flavor. Add to that the medical influence of the Texas Medical Center or the impact of the many well-known cultural institutions and you can see why those responsible for branding Houston can easily become overwhelmed.

I was able to experience Houston's public transportation system to and from the game (light rail to the game and a bus returning). Many locals and visitors seemed to easily navigate this form of transportation. During my walk back to my hotel after getting off of the bus, I didn't see much activity on the street. It is apparent that Houston city leaders have been intentional about increasing the downtown resident count. Their efforts have not yet created the vibrancy we enjoy in our downtown. I was also surprised to learn that their only major downtown department store, which I had actually visited during a previous trip to Houston, closed in 2013 and the building has been demolished and replaced by another building.

Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center is roughly one and a half times larger than ours in exhibit space. And it seems that the commensurate number of nearby hotel rooms to support a center of that size are on the way with a 1,000 room JW Marriott slated for completion later this year, a 300+ room Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites complex that literally opened just six days ago as well as other properties that have significantly boosted the room count.

My own critical and slightly competitive eye did notice a few areas where Minneapolis will have an advantage. Our stadium is within our urban core, as opposed to six miles south of downtown. Minneapolis sold the NCAA on our compact urban experience during the 2014 bidding process. Houston has a very large and sprawling downtown which has advantages and disadvantages. Their large downtown footprint gives it all the room it needs to add all of the new infrastructure that is evident by the scores of construction cranes erected throughout. The key disadvantage is that it's hard to determine where the true center of activity is. The availability of space did allow for a 12-acre park directly in front of the convention center that is used for major outdoor special events.

My very unscientific anecdotal research, however, indicated an overall positive vibe from those in Houston for the events. There were, of course, fans aligned with their specific teams but also those who wanted to be there in person for a mega event of this magnitude. Such was the case with a couple from Montana I met who had no team in the tournament and were attending the Final Four for the first time. The actual customer, the NCAA and its team and sponsors also liked what they experienced as indicated by the quick return to Houston after just five years.

So congratulations to the Houston hospitality community on hosting the Final Four so well. We learned a lot from them and look forward to our own Final Four shining moment in less than 36 months. Kate Mortenson and her team with the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee are doing great work, so be sure to keep up on the latest by checking out and liking the Minneapolis Final Four's new Facebook page.

I had the opportunity to join the team of local business and city officials in Houston for the Final Four. Traveling to other host cities is essential for our own preparations, but it also provides another opportunity to evaluate overall best practices in destination marketing and management. Although we don't often see Houston as a competitor, it is a unique city for such evaluation since they will host the Super Bowl and Final Four back to back just as we will, except in reverse order. It's interesting to see how communities that differ so significantly in size and attributes handle the same major events.

From my days on Houston, I remember their struggle with capturing the destination elevator speech on which everyone could agree. Over time, Houston has promoted its linkage with the manned space program, its western heritage, and its cosmopolitan image as well as its international flavor. Add to that the medical influence of the Texas Medical Center or the impact of the many well-known cultural institutions and you can see why those responsible for branding Houston can easily become overwhelmed.

I was able to experience Houston's public transportation system to and from the game (light rail to the game and a bus returning). Many locals and visitors seemed to easily navigate this form of transportation. During my walk back to my hotel after getting off of the bus, I didn't see much activity on the street. It is apparent that Houston city leaders have been intentional about increasing the downtown resident count. Their efforts have not yet created the vibrancy we enjoy in our downtown. I was also surprised to learn that their only major downtown department store, which I had actually visited during a previous trip to Houston, closed in 2013 and the building has been demolished and replaced by another building.

Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center is roughly one and a half times larger than ours in exhibit space. And it seems that the commensurate number of nearby hotel rooms to support a center of that size are on the way with a 1,000 room JW Marriott slated for completion later this year, a 300+ room Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites complex that literally opened just six days ago as well as other properties that have significantly boosted the room count.

My own critical and slightly competitive eye did notice a few areas where Minneapolis will have an advantage. Our stadium is within our urban core, as opposed to six miles south of downtown. Minneapolis sold the NCAA on our compact urban experience during the 2014 bidding process. Houston has a very large and sprawling downtown which has advantages and disadvantages. Their large downtown footprint gives it all the room it needs to add all of the new infrastructure that is evident by the scores of construction cranes erected throughout. The key disadvantage is that it's hard to determine where the true center of activity is. The availability of space did allow for a 12-acre park directly in front of the convention center that is used for major outdoor special events.

My very unscientific anecdotal research, however, indicated an overall positive vibe from those in Houston for the events. There were, of course, fans aligned with their specific teams but also those who wanted to be there in person for a mega event of this magnitude. Such was the case with a couple from Montana I met who had no team in the tournament and were attending the Final Four for the first time. The actual customer, the NCAA and its team and sponsors also liked what they experienced as indicated by the quick return to Houston after just five years.

So congratulations to the Houston hospitality community on hosting the Final Four so well. We learned a lot from them and look forward to our own Final Four shining moment in less than 36 months. Kate Mortenson and her team with the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee are doing great work, so be sure to keep up on the latest by checking out and liking the Minneapolis Final Four's new Facebook page.