The Offshore Technology Conference is one of Houston’s biggest annual events, drawing 31,000+ energy professionals from the oil and gas companies around the globe.
OTC takes place over 4 days, from May 6-9, 2024. Thousands of attendees pack NRG Center to explore the latest developments in the offshore energy sector. As the world’s energy mix evolves, the 2024 event will include a 3-day dedicated offshore wind energy thread. There will also be a new OTC Futbol Zone featuring the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash. As always, OTC has organized a world-class technical program with diverse conversations and technical sessions focused on advanced technologies and building consensus on technical challenges, marine resources, and global energy mix.
If you’re planning a trip to Houston for an event at NRG Stadium or Reliant Park, you may not be excited about your choice of NRG Stadium hotels or the Maritz Global Events Hotel Cancellation Policy.
You want to stay in a nice place with flexibility to cancel if your plans change. You want to be in a convenient area, close to the action but able to get from the event to a quiet bed quickly. Or close to a late-night pizza.
You’ve probably noticed that many hotels near NRG Stadium are filling up or overpriced during big events like the OTC. Popular hotels in the city center or Galleria offer great rooms, but usually lack free parking and easy access to NRG.
With close to 200,000 daily visitors for peak events at Reliant Park and an NRG Stadium capacity of 72,220, a lot of people are looking for the same hotels near their event.
Parking lots near NRG Park are limited, crowded and expensive. Valet parking is usually not available at NRG/Reliant or nearby hotels. The nearby Drury Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Quinta Inn, Wingate Houston and other hotels near NRG Arena along Spanish Trail tend to charge high prices for the crowds attracted to major events like the NCAA Final Four or Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
The closest hotels to NRG stadium offer only basic rooms, and suites are generally not available. For a nice hotel, you will usually need to stay a bit further away at one of the more popular hotels in the Galleria (Westin, Hilton Post Oak or Hyatt Place). Houston’s best hotels are concentrated downtown (JW Marriott, Four Seasons, Intercontinental Houston and Blossom Hotel Houston).
You don’t need to give up on staying in a great room in a great location to be near NRG Stadium Houston, or dependent on a hotel shuttle to battle through the traffic to get you in and out of NRG.
Local tip: use the METRORail to get into and out of NRG and Reliant faster than anyone else.
The secret is to book your stay in Midtown instead of just close enough to NRG/Reliant to deal with the crowds and high prices. Midtown is Houston’s most walkable neighborhood, and it’s just a short ride on the METRORail to NRG Stadium/Reliant Park on Spanish Trail and Houston’s downtown. Plus, there are plenty of great restaurants and bars in Midtown to keep you entertained when you’re not at NRG.
There are plenty of reasons to choose a furnished apartment on Main Street in Midtown instead of a hotel room closer to NRG Stadium.
First and foremost, Midtown is the most walkable location in the city center. That means that when you’re not at the event at NRG, you can easily explore all that Midtown has to offer on foot. There are plenty of great restaurants, bars, and shops within walking distance, so you’ll never be bored.
Lodgeur’s furnished apartments at Mid Main Lofts in Midtown have a WalkScore of 91. Just steps away from their luxurious apartments are an array of delicious restaurants and vibrant bars to explore.
With a dozen restaurants and bars downstairs or across the street from Mid Main Lofts, and dozens more within walking distance, the most walkable apartments in Houston, TX are at Mid Main Lofts. The community features a gorgeous pool, wide open pool area with loungers, fitness center, and more, so you can relax and unwind after a long day at NRG. A stay with Lodgeur includes free garage parking on Main Street.
Check out our blog post for the best places to eat and drink in Midtown when you don’t want to drive, and our list the best breakfast and brunch places in Midtown for your pre-event fuel.
The METRORail is a light rail system that runs throughout Houston, and it has a stop right in the heart of Midtown. That means that getting around during your trip will be a breeze! You won’t need to spend an hour searching with thousands of other NRG attendees for your Uber or Lyft, and you won’t have to traipse a half mile from a poorly-lit $25 cash-only parking lot.
Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts in Midtown is located directly on the METRORail Red Line to the two main venues for Houston events: the NRG area and downtown Houston/Toyota Center/Minute Maid Park. If you’re staying in Midtown, you can easily get to either venue on the METRORail without making any line changes.
The Ensemble station on the METRORail Red Line will take you north to Houston’s downtown events. If your event is at the Toyota Center, Minute Main Park, a road race from Discovery Green, or a parade – you can easily avoid the hassle of event traffic and parking by riding a few stops on the Red Line from Ensemble Station in Midtown.
The METRORail is the fastest way in or out of events as massive as the ones at NRG and Reliant. Just take the Red Line south from the Ensemble Station to NRG Stadium and Reliant Park.
You can use the Red Line of the METRORail to visit the Houston Zoo, Houston’s many museums and even access the Texas Medical Center. Check out our blog post about using the METRORail to get around the city without a car. (Pro tip: the Red Line will take you directly to Midtown, downtown, NRG/Reliant, the Museum District, and the Texas Medical Center).
If you’re planning a trip to Houston, location matters! Midtown is Houston’s most walkable location (WalkScore of 91!), so guests can easily explore all that the city has to offer at the best price when you’re not at NRG Stadium.
Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts has an unbeatable location at 3550 Main Street right next to its own METRORail station for fast and cheap access to the main Houston event venues: NRG Stadium/Reliant Park and Downtown Houston.
A better choice than the small hotel rooms at the NRG hotels, a furnished apartment in a great location with easy access to NRG Stadium, the city center, and offers convenient amenities like luxurious outdoor pools and fitness centers that rival those of Houston’s best hotels.
You won’t need to eat breakfast at the same place twice with Midtown’s huge choice of restaurants. While you won’t be able to order a soggy burger from room service or get free breakfast, Home Slice Pizza is right next door and has a takeaway window serving up the city’s best pizza. You’ll be able to order a great breakfast downstairs at The Brass Tap.
You can skip waiting in line for the hotel staff at the front desk to help you check in (during the busiest events of the year for Houston hotels). Instead of having a front desk, Lodgeur offers 24/7 remote check in. The leasing office at Mid Main Lofts provides luggage storage for Lodgeur guests. All Lodgeur apartments are non-smoking rooms.
While there is no valet parking, Lodgeur offers free parking in the attached parking garage on Main Street. There is also a dedicated pickup spot for Uber and Lyft rides.
Trip insurance is available, in case your plans change. Read more about trip insurance.
Visiting Houston for an event with your plus one? We have a guide for a perfect weekend in Midtown. We know the best places to eat, drink and explore Houston without needing a car.
Children in your party? We also know that being able to close the door on the kids’ bedroom is priceless (so their bedtime doesn’t become everyone’s bedtime). A spacious apartment (with a proper fridge for kids’ snacks) can be a much better choice for families and friends than sharing a hotel room for a weekend. And they’re going to love the revolving sushi restaurant downstairs.
Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool to keep your crew happy while you’re off at NRG. If they aren’t into soaking up the Texas sun, Midtown is filled with unique shops, restaurants, bars and nightlife to explore. FYHA beats any hotel gift shop for cool souvenirs, but Midtown has more fun shops to explore.
Our Houston City Guide is filled with the best things to see, do, eat and drink in Midtown and central Houston. Check out the best family activities, fine arts destinations, and hidden Houston destinations you won’t find on the Tripadvisor list of usual suspects.
Book your event accommodations at Lodgeur’s Mid Main Lofts today and experience the most convenient suites in Houston! You may be coming to Houston for the event, but your whole stay should feel like a vacation. (Learn more about staying in Midtown for downtown events.)
