tilman does it again

Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak palace books top Texas spot in prestigious best hotels in the U.S. list

The Post Oak's "grand" lobby gets some love in the new list.

Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel

The new year has just begun, but Tilman Fertitta is having the best 2021 ever. Just days after Fertitta announced that he’s taking much of his empire public in a $6.6 billion-deal, news comes that his posh hotel has been named among the nation’s best.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Fertitta’s luxe Post Oak Hotel No. 13 overall in its 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2021. The Post Oak is one of only two Texas hotels to make the prestigious, annual list; San Antonio’s Hotel Emma follows at No. 23.

A “sprawling lobby complete with crystal chandeliers,” gets a favorable mention in the listing, as does the Post Oak’s “grand” accommodations including the smart TVs, marble bathrooms, and personal gym areas. Fertitta’s wine cellar featuring 30,000 bottles of world-class vintages dating back the 1800s, is also a highlight of the listing. The hotel’s six restaurants, which range from chic casual to upscale steakhouse (Mastro’s) also net a favorable mention.

Since it opened, the Post Oak has remained Texas’s only Forbes Double Five-Star rated hotel. The 10-acre property in the heart of Post Oak boasts 38-stories, 250 guestrooms and suites; 20 executive residences; and an elegant 35,000-square-foot conference facility, including the largest ballroom in Uptown Houston.

Meanwhile, a massive, 5,000 square-foot, two-bedroom Presidential Suite offers private elevator access, media room, exercise room, and secluded terrace. Another draw is the clubby, private Oak Room, where Houston’s elite mix and mingle.

For added opulence, guests can check out the two-story Rolls-Royce showroom and on-site Bentley and Bugatti Post Oak Motors dealership. VIPs can jet away in the hotel’s private helicopter.

“When I built this hotel, I really wanted it to be unlike anything else,” said Fertitta in a statement. “This recognition shows that we are among the best in the country and I am proud to bring such an iconic destination to Houston.”

Elsewhere in the Lone Star State, San Antonio’s buzzy and elegant Hotel Emma scores major points for its “eccentric details” in the report. (Last year, as CultureMap reported, the Emma was the only Texas hotel to land on the U.S. News & World Report list.)

Guests are greeted with a housemade margarita before being whisked away to rooms adorned with dark-wood and leather furniture, plus throw pillows with vivid patterns. In-room amenities range from flat-screen TVs to seersucker bathrobes to in-room pantries stocked with locally made products, the report notes. Dining comes courtesy of Supper, the on-site restaurant, or Larder, the in-house boutique grocery store.

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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