Houston First Corporation will lead tourism missions to London and Mexico City from Oct. 15-19. The initiatives will promote Houston’s food, culture, space legacy and business opportunities in two major international markets.
The Houston First tourism missions will connect local organizations with travel professionals, journalists and business leaders. Houston First expects those relationships to increase visitation and support the region’s visitor economy.
London Mission Builds on Growing Visitor Market
The four-day London mission begins Oct. 15. The United Kingdom is Houston’s second-largest long-haul visitor market. Nearly 104,000 travelers from the country visited Houston in 2025.
Houston First will lead the delegation with support from the Greater Houston Partnership. Representatives from Space Center Houston, The Post Oak Hotel and other hospitality organizations will also participate.
A luncheon will introduce luxury travel advisers and journalists to Houston’s leading attractions. The presentation will highlight the city’s restaurants, hotels, museums, performing arts and cultural diversity.
Delegates will also meet with the British Chambers of Commerce and London & Partners. Those discussions will explore trade, destination marketing and economic development opportunities.
The mission will coincide with the Houston Texans’ Oct. 18 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Houston First plans to use related hospitality events to meet clients and business leaders.
The game gives the delegation another platform for promoting Houston. It also connects the city’s tourism campaign with one of the United Kingdom’s largest sporting events this fall.
Houston First Tourism Missions Expand in Mexico
Houston First will continue its international outreach in Mexico City from Oct. 17-19. Mexico remains Houston’s largest international visitor market.
Roughly 2 million Mexican travelers visited the Houston region last year. They represented about two-thirds of its international visitors.
InStyle Day by Houston will take place Oct. 17 at MUNET. The event is expected to attract hundreds of influencers and public personalities with millions of combined followers.
Houston-themed activities will include an anti-gravity photo experience. A Space Center Houston exhibit will also display artifacts from NASA Johnson Space Center’s archives.
Organizers will stream the event live on TikTok for the first time. The broadcast will allow audiences outside Mexico City to participate in real time.
A second event on Oct. 19 will bring together journalists covering travel, food, aerospace and technology. Expected guests include representatives from the Mexico editions of Forbes, InStyle, Food & Wine, Robb Report and Travel + Leisure.
Food and Space Take Center Stage
Chef Emmanuel Chávez of Houston’s Michelin-starred Tatemó will help present the city’s culinary identity. The restaurant is known for its creative approach to Mexican cuisine and heirloom corn.
Space Center Houston President and CEO William Harris will also participate. Retired NASA astronaut Megan McArthur will join him for a conversation about exploration, innovation and human spaceflight.
The program connects two of Houston’s most recognizable strengths: its diverse food culture and role in space exploration. Both have become central parts of the city’s international tourism message.
“Growing international visitation starts with building relationships and giving people compelling reasons to choose Houston,” Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman said.
Heckman said collaboration allows local partners to present a broader picture of the city. That includes its culture, accommodations, restaurants, attractions and innovation economy.
International Outreach Supports Houston Businesses
Houston First wants the missions to turn international awareness into future travel. Increased visitation can benefit hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers and other businesses across the Houston region.
The organization also hopes to create lasting commercial and tourism partnerships. Those connections could help Houston compete with other major destinations for international travelers.
By focusing on established markets in Mexico and the United Kingdom, Houston First is building on existing visitor demand. The October programs will place Houston’s people, culture and attractions before audiences that influence travel decisions.