Flower arranging, live portrait painting, monogrammed bookmarks, and stationary for writing letters to one’s future self. These are just a few of the activations that Visit The Woodlands coordinated for An Afternoon in Bloom, the opening reception for LeadHERship LIVE: A Texas Women’s Conference.
Hosted at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center on June 9-10, 2026, LeadHERship LIVE was the first event of its kind. Elizabeth Eddins, Executive Director of Visit The Woodlands and a Board Director of the Texas Travel Alliance (TTA), spearheaded a partnership between TTA and the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE), merging their individual women’s conferences for two days of professional development and impactful networking opportunities.
Tiffany McGee, CEO of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association; Andrea Christopherson, Global Head of Experiential, Tradeshows, Events & Venues; and Elizabeth Eddins, Executive Director of Visit The Woodlands.
Beyond the opportunities this event presented for women in leadership, it gave Visit The Woodlands a chance to showcase the destination to trailblazers in the tourism, hospitality, and association industries. Every good impression has the potential to generate repeat business, bringing new meetings and convention groups into town and further boosting the local economy.
More than 50 percent of The Woodlands Township’s budget comes from hotel occupancy, sales, and mixed-use beverage taxes. These funds, generated in part by visitors and conventioneers, are crucial not only to the maintenance and development of the community, but also in securing one of the lowest property tax rates in the state.
The Woodlands is a master-planned community designed for exceptional experiences in a safe and sustainable environment. With modern business centers blended into a natural landscape, visitors can enjoy everything from luxury shopping and waterfront dining to public art and kayaking on Lake Woodlands. Guests who book a hotel in Town Center are only steps from Market Street and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, but a free trolley ride adds a touch of convenience and charm.
Proximity to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, a business-friendly tax structure, and access to corporate incentives only add to The Woodlands’ appeal. The area’s economic base is well-diversified with more than 2,100 businesses, ranging from owner-operated establishments to Fortune 500 corporate headquarters. These companies come from across all sectors, including Alight Solutions, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, and Waste Connections, to name a few.
These industry leaders, combined with Visit The Woodlands’ complimentary meeting planning services, further position this community as an ideal destination for hosting conferences and events. In addition to site tours and teambuilding activities, Visit The Woodlands has coordinated elevated servicing options such as welcome booths, personalized gift boxes, dine-arounds, and pub crawls.
These servicing efforts are not exclusive to large corporations or out-of-towners. Residents are welcomed and encouraged to connect their professional networks to The Woodlands, too. By joining The Naturals, residents can host their meetings and events right here at home. This creates more visibility and opportunities for local businesses, builds a stronger economy, and enriches everyone’s quality of life.
For more information, please reach out to Josie Lewis, Director of Sales.