What) The lobby
of this 24-story Hilton hotel has Murano glass chandeliers,
marble columns, plasma-screen TVs, a water wall, bamboo plants
and dark-wood paneling. Business (and bridge) travellers stay
for events at the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is
connected to the hotel by sky bridge. Sports fans converge for
hockey and basketball at the Toyota Arena across the street.
The 23rd and 24th floors offer panoramic views of Houston from
a spa, health club and indoor swimming pool with outdoor
terrace. An extensive collection of Texas artwork is displayed
throughout the building.
This Hilton
hotel has 1,200 guestrooms. Each includes high-speed Internet
access (surcharge), cordless dual-line phones with voice mail,
marble desks and laptop safes. Bedding includes down duvets,
300-threadcount Egyptian-cotton linens and feather pillows.
Web TV has on-demand games, movies and HBO. Neutrogena
toiletries are provided. (1)
Why) The
ACBL always provides a discounted bridge rate for the host
hotel at every tournament. In big cities this is often
the best deal you can get on any hotel that is within a
reasonable distance from where the bridge is being
played. This is the only reason that we find ourselves
ensconced in a fancy hotel for a week at a time. 
