Sand pouring ceremony (from left to right):
Gene Wu, Member of the House of Representatives, Texas; Jason Fuller, Southeast Texas Regional Director, Senator Ted Cruz office; John Solis, Senior Vice President of Visit Houston; Janis Burke, CEO of Harris County- Houston Sports Authority; Y. Ping Sun, University Representative, Rice University; Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner; Bob Harvey, President and CEO of Greater Houston Partnership; Crystal Webster, District Manager of Administration, Congressman Al Green, 9th District-Texas; Sandra S. Strachan, Chief of Staff, Michael Kubosh City Council Member; Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First; Alice Chen, Stafford City Council Member; Randy Nameth, Director of Operations of Blossom Hotel Houston

Pacific Plaza Hotel

Paola Bowman, CMP, CMM