"Houston Week" Strengthens Diplomatic And Global Trade Ties Between Houston And Mexico
Mayor Sylvester Turner and the 2022 Houston Week Mexico Mission Delegation
April 12, 2022 -- Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston First Corp., and the Greater Houston Partnership led Houston’s first international trade mission since the pandemic to Mexico over a week ago, with stops in Monterrey (March 28 - 30) and Mexico City (March 30 - April 1).
The “Houston Week” delegation departed to Monterrey on March 28, 2022 and was joined by strategic partners like Houston Airport System and United Airlines as part of an aggressive strategy that reinforced Houston’s position as the top city for global trade, tourism, business, and leisure travel from Mexico.
“We chose Mexico as the destination for our first international trade mission since the pandemic because we recognize the critical importance of the business and tourism ties between the two regions,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Houston Week allowed us to strengthen our diplomatic ties by engaging in business development and corporate and travel trade meetings that included an experiential evening event that showcased the very best that our city has to offer. I want to thank Houston First, the Greater Houston Partnership and the entire delegation for representing Houston in an exceptional manner.”
The Houston Week leadership consisted of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman, Greater Houston Partnership Senior Vice President and Chief Economic Development Officer Susan Davenport, Houston City Council Member David Robinson, City of Houston Chief Development Officer Andy Icken and Houston Airports System Director Mario Diaz.
“Mexico is Houston’s largest market for international visitation and accounts for 70 percent of international travelers coming to the city,” said Houston First Corp. President and CEO Michael Heckman. “The intention of developing a unified tourism and trade delegation for the inaugural Houston Week was to achieve high impact for Houston and build upon relationships in Mexico through extensive media coverage, generation of social media buzz and by connecting with key diplomats, business leaders and travel trade professionals.”
In Monterrey, Mayor Turner and the Houston Week leadership met with Monterrey Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas and participated in an informative luncheon hosted by the City of Monterrey.
Mayor Turner and Monterrey Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas
Mayor Turner also joined Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman, Nuevo León Governor Samuel Alejandro Garcia Sepúlveda and members of Governor Garcia Sepúlveda’s administration for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU between Houston First and the State of Nuevo León to strengthen existing ties between the State of Nuevo León and the City of Houston.
MOU Signing with Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman, Nuevo León Governor Samuel Alejandro Garcia Sepúlveda and members of Governor Garcia Sepúlveda’s administration
The delegation also participated in a global trade roundtable discussion with Mexico's Minister of Economy Tatiana Clouthier.
Meeting with Mexico’s Minister of Economy Tatiana Clouthier
The delegation toured the Tecnologico de Monterrey campus, a highly renowned academic institution known for its innovation-led academic model that excels in the fields of engineering, technology, social sciences, and management.
Mayor Turner tours the Tecnologico de Monterrey campus with student ambassadors and Vice President for the Monterrey Region Mario Adrian Flores Castro
The tour was followed by a lunch and business roundtable with Martha Herrera Gonzalez, Secretary of Equality and Inclusion for the State of Nuevo León, and who currently sits on the board of Resilient Cities Network with Mayor Turner.
Mayor Turner exchanges gifts with Nuevo Leon’s Secretary of Equality and Inclusion Martha Herrera Gonzalez
In Mexico City, the Houston Week Leadership met with Mexico’s Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco and joined the delegation for a round table discussion with Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco.
Mayor Turner tours the Tecnologico de Monterrey campus with student ambassadors and Vice President for the Monterrey Region Mario Adrian Flores Castro
The tour was followed by a lunch and business roundtable with Martha Herrera Gonzalez, Secretary of Equality and Inclusion for the State of Nuevo León, and who currently sits on the board of Resilient Cities Network with Mayor Turner.
Mayor Turner and Mexico’s Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco
Round table discussion with Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco
Mayor Turner and the Houston Week Leadership also met with the Mayor of Mexico City Claudia Shienbaum. The two Mayors discussed approaches to common challenges facing both cities, such as affordable housing, equitable economic development, climate adaptation, and building urban resilience.
Mayor Turner presents a gift to the Mayor of Mexico City Claudia Shienbaum
The hallmark of Houston Week was “Hola Houston” a dynamic sensory and culinary experience that took place on March 29 in the Monterrey area and on March 31 in Mexico City. Invited guests had the opportunity to engage with some of Houston’s most iconic artists, designers, mixologists, and James Beard award-winning chefs.
Houston Council Member David Robinson and Houston chef’s, artists, designers, and mixologists welcome guests to the Hola Houston event in Monterrey
Nuevo León Governor Samuel Alejandro Garcia Sepúlveda is scheduled to be in Houston on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 as a guest speaker for Mexico 2025 and Beyond, an initiative led by Rice University's Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico. He will address his vision for the post-López Obrador era and the role of his state in building Mexico’s future.
"I look forward to welcoming Nuevo León Governor Samuel Alejandro Garcia Sepúlveda to the City of Houston on April 26," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "The relationship between Houston and Mexico has never been stronger and we look forward to continuing to build increased cooperation between the two regions for years to come."
For more information on Houston Week, please visit houstonfirst.com.