Kink Team News & Announcements
3/19/2012 - Houston Ranks As Number 7 Most-Competitive City in U.S.
Houston ranks as the seventh most-competitive city in the U.S. — and ties for No. 23 worldwide — a new report shows.
The Economist Intelligence Unit report, was commissioned by Citigroup Inc. Latest from The Business Journals and evaluated 120 of the world’s major cities on eight categories of competitiveness and 31 individual indicators.
Among those eight categories, Houston’s best score was in institutional effectiveness, where it tied for No. 10. Similarly, it tied for No. 11 in human capital.
“The most significant advantage that developed country cities hold is their ability to develop and attract the world’s top talent,” the report stated. “European and American cities dominate the human capital category of the index. This stems primarily from the quality of their educational systems and the entrepreneurial mindset of their citizens."
Houston also ranked No. 18 for economic strength, which takes into account the city’s predicted GDP average expansion of 4.4 percent over 2010-2016. That is one of the best forecasts for American and European cities, as most will not grow more than 3 percent. However, many Asian cities will grow an average of 8 percent or more over that period.
The report, released Monday, found the fastest overall growth comes from a “middle tier” of mid-sized cities — including Houston — with populations of 2 million to 5 million. Collectively, that group is expected to grow by 8.7 percent annually.
“Economic dynamism is definitely rising elsewhere, especially in Asian cities, but U.S. and European cities have legacy advantages that give them a strong competitive edge,” Leo Abruzzese, the EIU’s global forecasting director, said in a statement accompanying the report. “In particular, these developed cities are better at attracting top talent from across the world.”
However, Houston scored lower in the remaining categories, where it tied for No. 31 in social and cultural character, tied for No. 33 in financial maturity, tied for No. 43 in environment and natural hazards, and tied for No. 49 in physical capital. The city’s lowest score was in global appeal, where it ranked No. 63.
Houston’s combined score also ranks it the 10th most-competitive city in North America.
The 120 cities evaluated in the report make up 29 percent of the global economy — with a combined GDP of U.S. $20.24 trillion in 2011 — and have a combined population of 750 million.
Houston ranked No. 1 globally in a separate study in 2011 measuring the cost of living as a competitive advantage for growth.
Houston Business Journal by Olivia Pulsinelli, Web Producer
Date: Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:23am CDT
3/16/2012 - The Pavilion Expands 2012 Entertainment Lineup
THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion announced new additions to the 2012 event lineup.

The events are as follows this year at the Pavilion:

-Sunday, March 25: The Pavilion Partners Annual Wine Dinner & Auction

-Sunday, April 8: Easter at The Pavilion presented by First Baptist Church of The Woodlands

-Saturday, April 21: Buzzfest 28

-Tuesday, April 24: The Black Keys with Arctic Monkeys

-Saturday, May 5: KSBJ Special Events presents Casting Crowns with Matthew West, Royal Tailor and Lindsay McCaul

-Saturday, May 12: REO Speedwagon and Styx

-Friday, May 18: Dave Matthews Band

-Saturday, May 26 & Sunday May 27: Boni's Jukebox Cafe presented by Boni's Dance & Performing Arts Studio

-Tuesday, May 29: The Woodlands High School graduation

-Wednesday, May 30: The Woodlands College Park High School graduation

-Friday, June 8: The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour

-Sunday, June 10: Westfield High School graduation

-Sunday, June 10: Andy Dekaney High School graduation

-Sunday, June 10: Spring High School graduation

-Thursday, June 21: II Divo

-Wednesday, July 11, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival

-Saturday, July 14, Rascal Flatts

-Saturday, August 18: Iron Maiden with Coheed & Cambria

All shows, especially opening acts, are tentative and subject to change without notice. The Pavilion box office will open on March 12 at 10:00 a.m.

For more information, call 281-363-3300 or visit our website.