Over 1,700 planetary scientists and students from around the world visited The Woodlands from March 13 through March 17, 2023, to attend The Lunar Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. This conference, held in The Woodlands each March, brings together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, and astronomy to present the latest results of research in planetary science.
When LPSC first began in 1970, it was called the Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference. Since then, it has been a significant focal point for lunar and planetary science research and has become the world's premier planetary science conference.
This conference, jointly organized by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), has been held annually in The Woodlands for nearly 20 years and generates $1.5 million for the local economy. Visit The Woodlands' Sales Team works together with LPSC's meeting planners to ensure an exceptional conference experience for attendees.
One of the ways the two teams work together to enhance LPSC is by creating a "Food Truck Village" where attendees can enjoy lunch. There are multiple restaurant options near The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, but with nearly 2,000 attendees seeking out a meal during the conference lunch break, eating in a regular restaurant setting isn't always an easy option.
Visit The Woodlands and LPSC worked together to provide multiple food truck options for lunch, Monday through Thursday. With nine different food truck options to choose from, conference attendees were offered a variety of flavorful cuisines ranging from pizza and burgers, to vegan and vegetarian dishes. To add to the atmosphere in the Food Truck Village, Visit The Woodlands set up games like cornhole and giant Jenga, provided picnic table seating for attendees, and arranged for live music from local musician, Amado Garcia. A welcome tent from Visit The Woodlands gave LPSC attendees the opportunity to stop by to ask questions about The Woodlands, get a visitor guide, or pick up free swag items.
"We are so grateful to host the Lunar Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands," said Josie Lewis, Director of Sales. "This event is one that our team, hotel properties, and community partners look forward to each year. The Lunar Planetary Science Conference has a big impact on our community, and we really enjoy welcoming over 1800 Lunar and Planetary Scientists from around the world every year. It is a huge testament to our destination that the Lunar Planetary Science Institute and NASA Johnson Space Center continue to choose The Woodlands for this prestigious conference."
Many attendees returned to eat at the Food Truck Village throughout the week and expressed their appreciation for the variety of food trucks and fun souvenirs from Visit The Woodlands. After months of planning, the week-long conference was a success for attendees and for The Woodlands. Visit The Woodlands' Sales Team is already looking forward to The 55th Lunar Planetary Science Conference in 2024.
