HOUSTON -- Houston will host Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1. For many local businesses, it will be a big boost to the economy.

"We have been in special events and the catering business for nearly 25 years and I can't remember the city being this busy, since the Republican convention in our city 10 years ago," said Jackson Hicks, with Jackson & Company.

Leatha Brown and her staff at Cosmo Cool Concepts are planning events for several well-known corporations holding Super Bowl parties in town.

"It's providing a million dollars worth of business to our company, and we are providing it back to the community. We are hiring local vendors as far as entertainment, tour guides, staffing, meet-and-greet at the airport, venues. It's awesome to our company," Brown said.

Elaine's Florist in southwest Houston is also getting some NFL business already.

"We're already provided some gift baskets for the NFL," said Elaine Osley Nevariz, with Elaine's Florist. "Just one party could equal what I could do in one week for Super Bowl. When you are talking 3,000 people, you are talking 300 tables -- an arrangement on each -- (which is) good for any small business in Houston."

The increase in orders means more jobs for everyone from designers to delivery drivers.

"It's a huge demand in the service industry to have this many folks in town in one period of town," Hicks said.

Hicks has catered to presidents and Houston's elite for decades. Now he's ready to cater some of the most elegant Super Bowl parties at the historic Corinthian downtown.

"(It's) very exciting that they're spending money with us -- adding tax dollars to the city. It's really a wonderful opportunity for national exposure," Hicks said.

The exposure on local companies is already creating work when the Super Bowl is over.

Super Bowl contacts are paying off for Jan Rocco of Party Props.

"We've been invited to bid on the Olympics in Greece. We are the only company in the United States being asked to bid on it," Rocco said.

Her company is designing Super Bowl events at the Woodlands Convention Center, and the work is drawing attention.

"From this one client we got through Super Bowl, they are taking us to the Final Four in San Antonio. It kind of goes on and on," Rocco said.

That's the long-term hope of many local businesses putting out bowl bids -- more work and more jobs.

Houstonians Rent Homes To Make Money

Some Houstonians have found a way to make money from the Super Bowl. They are offering the keys to their houses to the highest bidders.

Steven Carr has lived in his home for just over a year, but he's ready to move out temporarily to let Super Bowl fans move in -- for the right price.

He's hoping to rent his 4,800-square-foot home, including his BMW, for the weekend for $50,000.

"We love our home and we are proud of it. We're excited to show people our home, but we're happy we can make some money off it," Carr said.

He isn't alone. Many other Houston property owners are choosing to rent their homes the week of the big game to make a profit.

"We're here locally. We're not going to the Super Bowl, and we can stay with my mother and father-in-law, so it's free. So it's a good deal for us," Carr said.

Vince Carter of Super Bowl Accommodations, an online ad service for rental homes, said his clients are looking for a temporary home away from home.

They would rather pay top dollar to lease a house than stay in a hotel.

"It's just like timeshares and when the movie productions rent your home out," Carter said. "We give them all of the same treatment that a five-star hotel would get them -- maid service -- whatever they need -- concierge butlers -- we have that available for them," Carter said.

It may seem like overindulgence for such a brief vacation, but Carter said his clients are used to living well.

"That's primarily who our business is catered around -- corporate, athletes and celebrities," he said.

An 8,500 square-foot-home, worth $2.5 million, is still available for rent. Nestled in a wooded area, it will cost $120,000 to rent for the weekend.

It comes equipped with a water fountain, winding staircase, a wine cellar, and even a deluxe movie room.

"Our clients are paying anywhere from $70,000 to $120,000, and that could be anywhere from four nights, five days. You're not talking about a whole week," Carter said.

Prices can start as low as $25,000 to $30,000 or as high as $75,000 to rent a luxury home for the Super Bowl. And that typically does not include Super Bowl tickets.

For more information on renting a home for the Super Bowl, visit www.superbowl-accommodations.com.

Volunteers Get Ready To Serve

Thousands of volunteers are needed to help make Super Bowl XXXVIII a success.

Out of approximately 10,000 volunteers, 7,000 will be at the George R. Brown Convention Center working at an interactive theme park called the NFL Experience.

"(The NFL Experience is important) because it is the thing that the entire community can participate in. You can take your kids, your boyfriend, your husband, your mom. It's actually fun and it's affordable," said Kim Davis with the Host Committee.

Pam Salter and her husband, Greg, signed up to volunteer.

"We just felt like it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, the Super Bowl coming to Houston, and it would be great to somehow be a part of it," Salter said.

"We want (the volunteers) to show just what they are -- Houstonians. We think that Houstonians are the most friendly, warm people in the country," Davis said.

The Host Committee has been recruiting volunteers since September.

"These are very important positions we are asking. You are the faces of Houston's Super Bowl," Davis said.

Meetings are being held to train volunteers properly.

"We'll be training on the components of courtesy, basic computer service skills, and of course, hospitality in terms of letting all the volunteers get excited about Houston being in the spotlight," said Margo Williams, a volunteer trainer.

Williams said volunteers are allowed to pick the times they can work.

"Each volunteer we ask to spend of minimum of three shifts. Each shift may be four hours a piece," she said.

Only a few volunteers will actually be working in Reliant Stadium on game day. They will be moving floats or stage pieces on and off the field for the pre-game show.

The majority of the 10,000 volunteer army will be stationed outside the stadium.

Volunteers will greet people at the airports and at major hotels to make sure that everyone gets a warm Houston welcome.

"Everybody is going to talk about downtown Houston. They're going to see downtown Houston and they're going to see it how they never imagined it before. And we think that's incredibly important and incredibly exciting," Williams said.

The Host Committee is close to reaching its 10,000-person goal.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can log on to www.superbowlxxxviii.org/vols/default.asp.

For more information on Super Bowl XXXVIII, visit www.superbowlxxxviii.org.