Accommodations

We thank our partners for proudly displaying our brochures and/or providing web links in support of our vision of an affordable, innovative and unique transportation option.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey L Joseph
President, CEO

Safeway Drivers Inc neither implies nor makes any claim of official partnership, affiliation or relationship with any of the organizations and businesses listed; web links are provided solely for your convenience.

Houston's Size

At 634 sq. mi., the City of Houston could contain the cities of New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami. The port of Houston is ranked #1 in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, 2nd in total tonnage, & 10th in the world in total tonnage. A total of 211.7 million tons of cargo moved through the Port in 2006.

Business and Economy

Houston, with 2.14 million residents in mid-2006, is the 4th most populous city in the U.S. behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The 10-county Metropolitan Area has a population of 5.54 million, ranking 6th nationally. Only 21 nations other than the U.S. have a GDP exceeding Houston's. Twenty-three companies on the 2007 Fortune 500 list are headquartered in Houston.

Houston ranks 4th among metropolitan statistical areas in the number of Fortune 500 headquarters; behind New York (75), Chicago (30), Dallas-Fort Worth (24), and ahead of Los Angeles (19) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (19). Many other Fortune 500 companies maintain U.S. administrative headquarters in Houston. Of the world's 100 largest non-U.S.-based corporations, more than half have operations in Houston.

Thirteen of the Fortune 100 Fastest Growing Companies in 2006 are headquartered in the Houston metropolitan area - easily surpassing all other metro areas. Los Angeles and New York tied for second, with eight each. (The Greater Houston Partnership)

Cost of Living

Houston provides the opportunities and conveniences found in large cities, but is more affordable than many small cities. Favorable housing prices and a low tax burden keep living expenses in Houston below those in most other major metropolitan areas. Houston's housing costs are 28 percent below the nationwide average and 48 percent below the large-metro average. Houston has the lowest housing prices among the 24 largest metros in the U.S. (Source: Greater Houston Partnership)

Outdoors

Houston rates 1st among the nation’s 10 most populous cities in total acreage of parkland and 2nd behind only San Diego in park acreage per capita, according to a 2007 study by The Trust for Public Land. Houston has 56,405 acres of total park space, with 27.2 acres per 1,000 residents. The national average is 18.8 acres per 1,000 residents. More than 165 public and private golf courses are located in the Greater Houston area. Blackhorse Golf Club was rated in the top 10 of America’s 100 best courses for $100 or less by Travel and Leisure Golf magazine. The Tournament Course at Redstone Golf Club is the new home to the Shell Houston Open, the PGA’s 10th oldest tournament.

The Arts

Houston is one of the few U.S. cities (New York City, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco are others) that offer world-class, year-round resident companies in all of the major performing arts-symphony (Houston Symphony), opera (Houston Grand Opera), drama (Alley Theatre) and ballet (Houston Ballet). With $185.8 million, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston led all arts organizations in the U.S. in private donations in 2006, according to a survey by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The Houston Museum District is one of the largest in the country, with 18 world-class institutions within walking distance of one another. The Houston Museum of Natural Science, with 3,171,690 tickets sold in 2006, is the 3rd most visited museum in the U.S., following only the Smithsonian Institution & the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Houston Arts Alliance, Greater Houston Partnership)

Houston's Largest Meeting and Convention Facilities

  • Reliant Park – 1.6 million sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • George R. Brown Convention Center – 1.2 million sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center & The Montgomery County Fairgrounds – 191,000 sq. ft.
  • Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort – 105,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center – 100,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • Hilton Americas-Houston – 92,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • Pasadena Convention Center & Municipal Fairgrounds – 86,200 sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • The Westin Galleria & Westin Oaks – 75,742 sq. ft. of total meeting space
  • The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center - 70,000 sq. ft.
  • Hyatt Regency Houston - 64,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space (Source: Houston Business Journal)

More than 34.4 million people visited the greater Houston area in 2006.

Kemah Boardwalk, Space Center Houston, Moody Gardens, Minute Maid Park, Schlitterbahn water park, Houston Zoo and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston are among Texas’ top attractions, according to a recent survey – come see what you’ve been missing

Downtown District - Downtown Houston is home to dramatic 20th Century skyscrapers housing the offices where many of downtown’s 140,000 workers are employed, a world-class Theater District, a growing residential population, a popular nightlife scene centered in the Historic District, new light rail, an enhanced convention center and numerous new hotels. It also boasts two state-of-the-art sports facilities that attract millions throughout the year.

Safeway Drivers Inc neither implies nor makes any claim of official partnership, affiliation or relationship with any of the organizations and businesses listed; web links are provided solely for your convenience.

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