Marketing Houston as Energy Capital of the World
The Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) is dedicated to building regional economic prosperity, which involves leveraging Houston’s strengths. One of its great strengths is energy that drives almost 50% of the Houston economy. The oil & gas industry is particularly strong, and this hydrocarbon energy source supplies almost 2/3of this nation’s overall energy supply. Energy represents the largest industrial sector in the world and underpins all industrial economic activity. Energy is equally intertwined with national security and environmental security. Thus, the GHP formed the Energy Collaborative Committee to help perpetuate Houston as the premier energy hub and center for energy innovation and technology that includes all energy resources to insure the region’s economic prosperity and the greater contribution to the nation and the world.
Marketing Houston as the Energy City of the Future
Houston understands this interplay of economic security, national security, and environmental security and knows that balance is crucial. In pursuing this balance, we believe that is vitally important for this community to show leadership in creating the Energy City of the Future. The City of Houston is the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy. Houston is among the top ten cities on energy efficiency, and Mayor Parker launched in 2010 the Green office challenge with a goal of becoming number one. The City of Houston and Partners have launched in 2011 Houston drives electric. Much more can be found on Green Houston website http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/. Thus, our marketing goal is to promote Houston not only as the world leader in developing energy sources, but also a leader in energy conservation and environmental sustainability.
Targeting businesses in the energy industry to relocate to Houston
The energy business is extremely complex and inter-related. When companies in a specific sector such as wind come to look us over, we explain to them that in reality their company is in the energy business with a focus on the wind segment. And, Houston knows energy with more than 3700 energy related establishments in the Houston-Metropolitan Statistical Area. Whether engineers, accountants, researchers, technicians, lawyers, consultants, C-level executives and so forth, the greatest energy talent pool resides in Houston, Texas. And when people move to Houston, they almost invariably say Houston is one of the best kept secrets and where they want to stay. Thus, our marketing goal is have you come join us!
Energy Collaborative Marketing Strategies
The Energy Collaborative Marketing committee has a multi-prong approach to reach the above three goals.
- Getting the word out on the Energy Collaborative through this website in collaboration with Opportunity Houston;
- Providing comprehensive background on Houston’s energy scene including energy companies through the GHP annual publication of Energy Capital Houston;
- Pursuing topical energy articles in Opportunity Houston magazine;
- Developing October Energy Week with Energy Summit, Energy Day (sponsored by Consumer Energy Alliance), and other energy conferences/trade shows;
- Providing briefings and engaging in dialogue with US congressional delegates and so forth; and
- Supporting energy media campaigns for Greater Houston area.