Travel Tidbits-Houston's New Star-Studded Tourist Campaign and Good News for Frequent Flyersby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 16 Jan 2008 10:00 PM Would you be more willing to vacation in Houston, Texas if Beyonce Knowles told you how wonderful the area was? How about if former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara recommended places to eat and shop? Would that encourage you to book a trip faster? Execs with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau sure hope so. The group recently recruited some of Houston's most famous residents for its new multi-million dollar ad campaign and they are hoping the celebrity slant pays off in Texas-sized proportions. Gone are the traditional touristy slogans (the bureau recently pulled the plug on its most recent slogan: "Space City: A Space of Infinite Possibilities,"); the new "My Houston" ad campaign favors a more personal pitch to enhance the city's image. The new and improved ads feature earnest testimonials from famous Houstonians, such as singer Knowles, the former president and heart surgeon Denton Cooley. What's more, Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau marketing directors say the celebs weren't forced to incorporate past slogans such as "Houston Proud," "Houston's Hot," or "Houston: Expect the Unexpected" in their testimonials. Potential visitors to the city will get to read what the stars have to say about their beloved Texas city when the ads are unveiled next month in the Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, Continental Airlines' in-flight magazine and other publications. GOOD NEWS FOR FREQUENT FLYERS If your air travels take you through British airports on a regular basis you will be thrilled to learn the government is loosening its policy on the number of bags you can carry on your flight. Britain's Department of Transport recently announced that passengers traveling through 19 British airports are now being allowed to bring two carry on bags on their flights. Which means the one-cabin bag rule, which was imposed for security reasons in 2006, is now no longer in effect at Heathrow, Stansted, London City, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and Aberdeen airports among others. Transportation officials say improved security technology meant the restrictions could be relaxed. However, there are airports where the one-bag rule will remain in place. They include Gatwick, Luton, Leeds, Bradford and Liverpool. Travel experts recommend you check with your airlines to see what carry-on baggage policy is in place at your departure airport prior to packing for your trip. Related Articles: Another Reason To Visit Waco, Texas Family-Friendly Attractions in Dallas Family Travel: Where To Go In Dallas FRIED COKE... At The State Fair Of Texas Weekend Wanderings: The Dallas World Aquarium Family-Friendly Spring Break Destinations Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags ad campaign, British airports, carry on rules, Houston, Texas Discuss this article
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