The economic health of an area or a state can be difficult to evaluate accurately, but you can get a good idea by looking at a couple of factors: new businesses, or businesses that relocate to an area, and tourism.

By both standards, Texas seems to be doing well. In recent years, dozens of companies have moved out of California, and many found new homes in Texas – partly because Texas is a no-state-income-tax state, and partly because of economic incentives offered by cities and the state itself. Some corporate giants chose North Texas for their new bases of operations, including Toyota and Raytheon.

Big companies moving to an area not only means work for employees of those companies, but commercial builders to build their facilities (if none exist), and residential builders for new houses (for employees relocating with the companies). The ripple effect of new business in an area creates growth in the travel industry, both in business and leisure travel. North Texas is seeing this growth in the form of new airlines at Love Field, high occupancy rates at existing hotels, and hotel chains looking for space in the area.

According to their website, Loews Hotels is “seeking to expand its portfolio” in certain North American cities, and Dallas/Fort Worth is on its relatively short list. Now that Virgin has secured gates at Dallas’ Love Field, the hotel arm of Virgin is looking to open at least two hotels in the area.

It looks as if North Texas is doing well by these indications, as well as in state reports. It ceratinly seems to be growing.