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    Air Lobby

    Inside the airport war: Who made the best points as Southwest and United dukedit out in City Council

    Whitney Radley
    May 8, 2012 | 10:51 pm
    • Southwest Airlines chairman, president and CEO Gary Kelly promises cheapflights, but the company's lean, streamlined workforce means not as many jobs.
      RollingOut.com
    • Southwest employees filled the city council chambers with golden yellow T-shirtsand matching buttons, proclaiming "Free Hobby Airport."
      Photo by Whitney Radley

    Gary Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Southwest Airlines, says that he is experiencing déjà vu all over again when it comes to his company's Houston battle — referring to a well-litigated uphill battle against legacy airliners during the Dallas-based discount air carrier's formative years.

    Southwest has steadily grown over the past four decades, acquiring AirTran last year and recently proposing a $100 million, five-gate international expansion at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, which would give the airline a launching pad for its first international flights to Mexico and the Caribbean.

    But United Airlines, which has a stronghold on Houston's international market at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), won't go down without a fight.

     

      The debate is a personal one, and the crowd — which filled the council chambers plus three overflow rooms — was fraught with tension.  

    On Tuesday, the airline wars continued at City Hall during a grueling four-and-a-half hour long hearing for the Council Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.

    The debate is a personal one, and the crowd — which filled the council chambers plus three overflow rooms — was fraught with tension. Attorneys snipped at attorneys. City council members angrily questioned everyone.

    First in the hot seat was city attorney David Feldman, who just last week presented to Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council a personal memorandum and a report by Peter Kirsch of Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell — both of which essentially argue that the city has no choice but to approve Southwest's proposal in order to comply with Grant Assurances to the Federal Aviation Administration. That body has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to the Houston Airport System (HAS) since 2010, with $90 million going to Hobby alone.

    One such assurance, which Kirsch sees as the definition of Houston's obligation to the FAA and Southwest, states that the city must "make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds and classes of aeronautical activities, including commercial aeronautical activities offering services to the public at the airport."

    That sentiment was later disputed by Kirk Shaffer, former associate administrator for airports for the FAA and one among an entourage arguing on United's behalf at Tuesday's hearing.

    Shaffer claimed the opposite: That building the proposed international terminal may violate grant assurances by exclusively benefiting Southwest, at least in the beginning. Plus, since the Houston Airport System boasts multiple airports — IAH, Hobby and Ellington — the city has the option to authorize just one as an international gateway.

     Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

    According to Kelly, all that Southwest wants is an amendment to its lease agreement with the airport system. He promises that Southwest's entrance into Houston's international travel arena will create a more competitive atmosphere, which will drive down airfare costs in Houston (IAH was recently dubbed the most expensive hub to fly from) and stimulate the local economy.

     

      United claims that the siphoning of just two passengers can make a flight unprofitable, and it will reallocate unprofitable flights to markets elsewhere. 

    Southwest has offered to assume all of the risk, putting up $400 million for the purchase of new aircraft and even footing the $100 million expansion bill if a finance bond deal with the city (which would be recouped by a $4.50 Passenger Facility Charge) is not agreed upon.

    But Kelly can't promise the 10,000 local jobs that a recent HAS economic impact report promised would come with the airline's international expansion. He foresees adding just 700 Southwest positions nationwide, with a paltry 50 to 100 local jobs, over the next eight years.

    (Southwest has provided several case studies to the City Council but, much to the council members' frustration, has not conducted an economic impact report separate from the aforementioned HAS document.)

    By contrast, a report commissioned by United warns that adding international flights at a second airport will cost the city of Houston 3,700 jobs and $500 million in revenue each year by splitting up international travel. The airline claims that the siphoning of just two passengers can make a flight unprofitable, and it will reallocate unprofitable flights to markets elsewhere.

    Moreover, United claims that Phases II and III of its $700 million expansion at IAH are at risk if the city sides with Southwest.

     Battle On

    The hearing ended without much of a resolution. Southwest and United representatives both presented compelling arguments, but neither the HAS-commissioned economic impact report nor a separate United study seem comprehensive or unbiased enough to use as basis for a formal decision.

    All council members seem to agree that jobs are the first priority, that competition (which Southwest offers) can't be regulated and United can't be given preferential treatment.

    "We are only talking to [Houston]," promised Kelly. At the same time, Southwest officials say they won't wait until next year for the city to make a decision — the airline is already expanding internationally, and will begin to look elsewhere.

    Next logical steps include a formal determination of obligations to the FAA's Grant Assurances and determining, once and for all, how many jobs Houston would lose or gain if Southwest expanded to Hobby.

    unspecified
    news/travel

    2025 world's best awards

    6 Houston hotels ranked with the best in the world by Travel + Leisure

    Amber Heckler
    Jul 8, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    The Houstonian is back on top as the best resort in Texas.

    Several renowned Houston hotels and resorts were just declared the best in the world by Travel + Leisure readers, according to the publication's annual World's Best Awards.

    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa was honored as the No. 1 best resort in Texas, while the prestigious Post Oak Hotel ranked as the No. 7 best hotel in the nation. Among T+L's list of the 15 best hotels in Texas, four more distinguished Houston properties made the cut.

    Every year, Travel + Leisure surveys its readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2025 survey had more than 180,000 responses from T+L readers with over 657,000 votes across 8,700 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.

    The Houstonian Hotel reclaimed the top spot for 2025 after previously slipping into No. 4 in 2024. The publication celebrated this "serene sanctuary" for its numerous sports and fitness activities, plus its rejuvenating 26,500-square-foot spa, pool, and jacuzzi. The resort's location next to Memorial Park also provides guests with the feeling that they've escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.

     The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa “The staff treats you like you are a long-awaited family member," said a T+L reader.Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

    "Resort guests receive complimentary access to the fitness club, which has dedicated spaces for a myriad of sports, including nine tennis courts, a shaded jogging trail, an indoor track, and a lap pool," the report said. "On top of the unbeatable facilities and location, the Houstonian’s memorable hospitality had our voters eager for repeat visits."

    In a press release, general manager Steve Fronterhouse said the entire Houstonian team was honored to receive the worldwide recognition.

    "To be named the best resort in Texas by the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure is not just a reflection of our 27 acres and amenities; it’s recognition of the Southern hospitality and warmth our staff delivers every day," he said. "We are grateful to all of our guests who continue to make The Houstonian their home away from home.”

    The full list of best Texas resorts, in order, are:

    • The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
    • Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Frisco
    • JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio
    • Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
    • Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine
    Best hotels in the U.S.
    In addition to being ranked among the top 10 best hotels in the U.S., The Post Oak Hotel was also hailed as the No. 1 best hotel in Houston. The hotel succeeds at providing guests with a flawless level of service and accommodations, while its on-site restaurants and bars add to the overall opulence of the property's amenities.

    "And naturally, there's a world-class spa on site and a Rolls‑Royce showroom in case you need to pick up a new ride," the report said.

     The Post Oak Hotel Stay in style at The Post Oak Hotel.  Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel  

    A T+L reader said The Spa at The Post Oak Hotel is "a destination in itself" and noted that guests could still have a memorable experience in Houston even if they never step foot off the 700,000-square-foot premises. But if guests did choose to explore everything the city has to offer, the hotel provides an over-the-top travel method.

    "There is a rooftop helipad so that you don't even have to sit in Houston traffic if you don't want to," the reader said.

    The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:

    • No. 1 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
    • No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa
    • No. 3 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
    • No. 4 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
    • No. 5 – Hilton Americas-Housto

    Other Texas awards
    San Antonio's Hotel Emma and Fort Worth's Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection were the only two other Texas properties to earn acclaim in T+L's list of the "15 Best City Hotels in the U.S."

    San Antonio was also deemed one of the best U.S. travel destinations in 2025, ranking 12th out of 15 total cities.

    In a release, Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said the 2025 World's Best Awards "reflect a travel landscape in motion."

    "From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place," Gifford said. "We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences."

    travel leisurehoustonhotelsresortstravelvacations
    news/travel
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