 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
» Press Releases
HOUSTON - A new International Medical Visitor Service Center providing passengers a comfortable place to rest and transportation assistance to Texas Medical Center (TMC) hospitals opened today at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The facility, located on the ground floor of the new International Arrivals Building, is the result of a collaborative effort between TMC, the Houston Airport System (HAS) and the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Last year, 6.4 million international passengers traveled through Bush Intercontinental Airport, a new record total and a 14 percent increase over 2003,” said Rick Vacar, HAS director. “International patients are an important segment of Houston's increasing stream of world travelers. The new International Medical Visitor Service Center grants them a more comfortable, welcoming experience to our airport.”
“International patients contribute millions of dollars annually to the Houston economy,” said Jim Kollaer, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston's leading business advocate. “With more than $8 billion in annual investment, the TMC is the largest medical center in the world and we're proud that it continues to be a leader in health care.”
“More than 10,000 international patients arrived in 2004 with the Texas Medical center as their destination,” said Richard Wainerdi, president and CEO of the TMC. “We know this new facility will be helpful to our international patients, serving as a meeting place for them, their families and the multilingual greeters that the City of Houston's Aviation Department provides. It's a spacious area that will serve us for many years to come.”
HAS provides special service representatives who are fluent in 20 different languages and on call 24 hours a day, ready to assist arriving international passengers with baggage claims, transportation, hotel selection and information about their health care provider.
# # #
The Houston Airport System served more than 44.8 million passengers in 2004. It is the 4th-largest multi-airport system in the U.S. and the 6th-largest in the world. Bush Intercontinental is the world's 12th-busiest airport. For more information, visit www.houstonairportsystem.org.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
