MEASURING THE REACH
Webster’s Market Strength
Webster is at the helm of a thriving super-regional market, fueled by impressive statistics and anchored by high-performing retail and entertainment venues. Our steady growth means more visitors, more spending, and more opportunities on the horizon.
MAGNETIC TOURISM DESTINATION
Port of Galveston Cruise Travelers in 2024 1.6M
1.3M
Space Center Houston Visitors in 2024
Great Wolf Lodge Estimated Annual Visitor Count 500k+
LEADING RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES
Lone Star Flight Museum Visitors in 2024 100k+
These Webster retailers and entertainment venues are leading in the world, state, or region:
Academy Sports + Outdoors #1 in the United States out of 301 locations in 21 states
American Furniture Warehouse #1 in the Houston MSA out of three locations
Boomerjack’s #3 in Texas out of 24 locations
Buffalo Wild Wings #1 in the Houston MSA out of 30 locations
Chair King #2 in Texas out of 22 locations
Costco Wholesale
1 million+ guests annually #1 in memberships in the Houston MSA
Cinemark #1 in the Houston MSA out of 20 locations
James Avery Artisan Jewelry #1 in Texas out of 120+ locations
Kura Revolving Sushi #2 in Texas out of 13 locations
la Madeleine French Bakery & Café #2 in the United States out of 86 locations in 9 states
Little Woodrow’s #1 location out of 25 locations
Main Event #1 in the Houston MSA out of six locations
Nordstrom Rack #1 in South Texas out of 11 locations
Pappasito’s Cantina #3 in the Houston MSA out of 22 locations
Rudy’s Bar-B-Q top 10 stores in the US out of 51 locations
Shake Shack #1 in the Houston MSA out of nine locations
Smoothie King #1 in the United States out of 800+ locations in 32 states
Snooze #1 in the United States out of 70 locations in ten states
Sun & Ski Sports #1 in the Houston MSA #5 in the United States
Taco Cabana #1 in the Houston MSA out of 35+ locations
Torchy’s Tacos #2 in the Houston MSA out of 23 locations
Twin Peaks #1 in the world out of 100 locations in US and Mexico
Vida Mariscos #1 in the Houston MSA out of three locations
Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux #1 in the Houston MSA top 10 in the US
ON THE HORIZON
New Retailers in Webster
The Webster Economic Development Team fosters the creation of new and expanding commercial development and the retention of existing businesses.
NOW OPEN
ALTITUDE TRAMPOLINE PARK
20810 Gulf Freeway
Indoor trampoline park with trampolines, zip-lines, an arcade, and more
ANGRY CHICKZ
18207 Egret Bay Boulevard
Fast-casual spot serving hot chicken sandwiches, tenders, and bowls
BATTERIES PLUS
599 W. Bay Area Boulevard
Battery, light bulb, cell phone repair, and key fob replacement store
BOJANGLES
510 W. Bay Area Boulevard
Fast-casual chain serving chicken n’ biscuits, milkshakes, salads, and sides
BOOT BARN
19431 Gulf Freeway
Western retailer offering boots, apparel, and accessories
COSMIC AIR
19801 Gulf Freeway
Indoor adventure park featuring trampolines, ninja courses, slides, arcade games, and more for all ages
EL JEFE
620 W. NASA Parkway
Mexican restaurant serving pollo asado, birria tacos, and tortas
EAST BAY EMPORIUM
1121 W. NASA Parkway
Antique mall with 100+ dealers offering vintage finds, collectibles, and treasures
GENESIS OF CLEAR LAKE
20101 Gulf Freeway
Luxury vehicle dealership with new and used car sales and a service department
HASH KITCHEN
1065 W. Bay Area Boulevard
Brunch spot serving breakfast, lunch, and build-your-own Bloody Marys
iCRYO
1065 W. Bay Area Boulevard
Wellness center offering cryotherapy, IV therapy, red light therapy, and body sculpting
GREAT WOLF LODGE
Great Wolf Lodge is one of Webster’s top tourism drivers, drawing families, sports teams, and leisure travelers from across the region.
As the only indoor water park resort in the area, it offers yearround entertainment, themed suites, on-site dining, and a massive 13,351-square-foot conference center that supports both leisure and group travel. In April, Great Wolf Lodge was recognized as the Houston Business Journal Landmark Award winner for Hospitality, which underscores the resort’s impact as a premier destination.
With day passes available, visitors staying at other Webster hotels can still access the Great Wolf experience—broadening the City’s appeal and giving more travelers a reason to stay and explore.
SPACE CENTER HOUSTON
Space Center Houston is Webster’s largest tourism anchor, welcoming over one million visitors annually.
Home to official NASA exhibits, immersive space experiences, and one-of-a-kind artifacts, Space Center Houston drives both leisure and group travel. Major events like Galaxy Lights and Moon 2 Mars Festival bring spikes in visitation that benefit hotels, restaurants, and attractions across Webster.
THIS YEAR, THE CITY OF WEBSTER CELEBRATES A 25-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH SPACE CENTER HOUSTON!
PORT OF GALVESTON CRUISE TRAVEL
The Port of Galveston is the fourth-busiest cruise port in the nation, serving as the launch point for major lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney Cruise Line.
Offering everything from weekend escapes to Caribbean adventures, the Port brings a steady stream of travelers through the region. With its central location between Houston airports and the cruise terminals, Webster offers a convenient and welcoming option for overnight stays, dining, and entertainment before or after setting sail.
TOURISM DRIVERS
Aerospace, Medical, and Beyond
AEROSPACE BUSINESS TRAVEL
NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is one of Texas’s most powerful economic and tourism drivers.
Spanning 1,620 acres, the $1.5 billion complex employs nearly 12,000 civil service and contract workers and generates over $2.5 billion in statewide spending each year. NASA’s operations in Texas also support more than 40,000 jobs and drive over $9 billion in annual economic output—fueling significant business travel throughout the region. Webster’s hotels provide a convenient home base for visiting contractors, corporate partners, and researchers year-round.
WEBSTER’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
Webster is home to leading aerospace companies such as Axiom Space, Leidos, Voyager Space, Lockheed Martin, and KBR—all actively collaborating with Johnson Space Center.
From developing commercial space stations and next-generation space suits to managing the logistics behind nearly everything astronauts aboard the ISS touch, wear, or use, these companies play a critical role in NASA’s mission. Their presence in Webster drives a steady stream of business travel, with professionals regularly visiting for technical collaboration, contract work, and mission support meetings.
Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at Johnson Space Center Houston, TX
ELLINGTON AND THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT
Ellington Airport plays a key role in Webster’s aerospace industry and business travel, supporting the U.S. military, NASA, and a growing roster of general aviation tenants.
Ellington Airport is also home to Houston Spaceport—the nation’s 10th FAA-licensed commercial spaceport—designed as a launch and landing site for suborbital, reusable spacecraft. Companies like Axiom Space, Collins Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines have established cutting-edge facilities on site, fueling innovation, job creation, and a steady stream of aerospace-related business travel. These commercial leaders are deeply involved in NASA programs ranging from lunar missions and human spaceflight to space station operations.
MEDICAL TOURISM
Webster is the Medical Center of the South, delivering care to more than 1.8 million patients each year. Within a three-mile radius, the City is home to four hospitals, over 2,500 physicians, 5,000 medical professionals, and 2 million square feet of cutting-edge facilities. Webster serves 24 cities and hosts the region’s only Level II Chest Pain Center, Pediatric Emergency Care, NICU, Level II Trauma Centers, and a dedicated heart hospital.
NOW OPEN
CLS HEALTH EXPANSION MULTI-SPECIALTY CLINIC
905 Medical Center Blvd.
CLS Health Clear Lake expanded with a 105,000-square-foot, four-story facility that will support more than 70 physicians and 200 medical staff.
COMING SOON
HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE
CLEAR LAKE EXPANSION
500 Medical Center Blvd.
HCA is investing $180 million to add a 155,000-square-foot patient tower and expand its 80,000-square-foot women’s services area.
TEXAS ONCOLOGY RELOCATION
20985 Gulf Freeway
The Deke Slayton Cancer Center is relocating to a larger, 31,000-square-foot facility at Webster Town Center, offering greater convenience and expanded space for care.
MEMORIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
20090 Gulf Freeway
Memorial Plastic Surgery is expanding into a 35,000 square foot facility, offering surgical, non-surgical, and spa services led by top cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons.
Scan the QR code for more information on Webster’s Medical Center
MAKING WAVES
Marketing Initiatives Supporting Webster Tourism
Webster’s marketing efforts are designed to drive overnight stays—spotlighting the City’s attractions, events, and dining to inspire travelers to book a room and stay awhile.
STAY, PLAY, AND DINE GUIDE
The Stay, Play & Dine Guide offers free, year-round promotion for Webster’s hotels, entertainment venues, and restaurants.
It’s stocked at major attractions, travel hubs, and City locations— and always just a click away online.
EVENT PLANNING GUIDE
The Event Planning Guide provides free, year-round promotion for Webster’s venues, meeting spaces, and caterers.
Available at City facilities and online, it’s a go-to resource for seamless event planning.
TOUR TEXAS
Advertising on TourTexas.com drives traffic to Webster’s tourism and hotel websites and captures leads from potential visitors seeking area attractions and accommodations.
VISIT WEBSTER
The Visit Webster - Space Coast Texas website promotes the region and local hotels, providing resources to request visitor packets, book accommodations, and plan trips.
CITY OF WEBSTER
Visitors can book hotel rooms and plan their trips on the City’s website, now being redesigned for an improved experience.
The City of Webster maintains several Facebook pages dedicated to tourism, posting groundbreakings, grand openings, and special events to enhance the visitor experience.
MAKING WAVES
Marketing Initiatives Supporting Webster Tourism
TEXAS STATE TRAVEL GUIDE
Webster’s advertisement in the Texas State Travel Guide reaches over 500,000 readers worldwide.
BOOK DIRECT
The City of Webster and Space Center Houston use Book Direct to promote Webster hotels on their websites.
TEXAS LOGO SIGNS
Webster proudly sponsors the maximum number of blue logo directional signs allowed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to guide visitors to its hotels—an annual investment of over $150,000. These signs are strategically located at Exits 25, 26, 28, and along the NASA Bypass, helping travelers easily find their way. Webster is one of just ten cities in Texas to make this level of commitment to hotel visibility
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND SPOTLIGHT DESTINATIONS