Houston businesses welcome spring break crowds despite online calls for visitors to stay away

HOUSTON – Spring Break is bringing an influx of visitors to Houston and for many businesses, that means a much-needed boost.

Owners of Peachez, a bar and lounge in Houston’s Third Ward, say they’ve seen a steady stream of out-of-town visitors over the past week.

“At the end of the day, tourism dollars stimulate the economy, especially in this industry,” said co-owner Carlitta Whitley. Her business partner, Clayton Edwards, says those visitors play a major role in the local economy during this time of year.

“Us as Houstonians, we tend to go out every now and then,” Edwards said. “But these people are coming out in the droves and the masses ready to eat, drink, have fun and spend their spring break with us in Houston.”

Tourism dollars fuel local economy

Whitley says the hospitality industry depends heavily on tourism dollars especially during major events like Spring Break, the rodeo, World Baseball Classic, and other large gatherings across the city. She described the spring travel season as a critical time for restaurants, bars and nightlife businesses.

“If you work in this industry, it’s stacking season,” she said. “This is when you make your money to float you through the colder season.”

Edwards said the revenue businesses generate now can help sustain them for months.

“What we’re going to do in the next four to six months will set us up for the third and fourth quarter to get us back here next year,” he said.

Despite the economic boost, some social media posts have recently called for spring break visitors to stay away from Houston following a tense weekend.

Still, he hopes Houston continues to welcome visitors.

“I want to welcome them back every year,” Edwards said. “I want us to be one of the destinations people come to.”

KPRC 2 News asked John Whitmire about concerns stemming from the weekend’s incidents and what steps the city may take as more visitors arrive.

The mayor did not directly respond to the question, saying he was focused on other work and calling the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo “one of our greatest assets.”

Houston tourism expected to surge

Tourism officials say the city is continuing to attract visitors at a strong pace.

Michael Heckman, CEO of Houston First Corporation, said hotel bookings are expected to climb significantly compared to last year.

“We’re seeing around a 12 to 15 percent increase year over year,” Heckman said. “That could make this one of the best Marches we’ve ever had from a hotel perspective.”

Houston’s busy events calendar including the rodeo, spring break travel and major sporting events is helping drive the surge.

The city is also preparing for an even larger influx of visitors ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“It’s a total citywide effort,” Heckman said. “The host committee, the sports authority, the city and the county, it’s really all hands on deck for an event of that scale.”

For business owners like Edwards and Whitley, the message to spring break travelers is simple.

“Stop saying don’t come,” Edwards said. “People in this industry: waiters, bartenders, busboys, cooks, chefs, we want tourists here.”

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