Colorado

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Whether you are hiking along a mountain trail, skiing through sparkling powder, golfing under the warm sun, or dodging rapids on a river, Colorado presents some of the country’s most invigorating outdoor experiences.

“Colorado is the breathtaking experience that we all long for,” says Tyler James, senior sales manager for the Fort Collins CVB. “The beauty is a breath of fresh air and the nature just puts people at ease around here. You get excited and feel rejuvenated when you see those mountains.”

While Colorado’s appeal is largely centered on its natural charms, its urban and rural areas also draw leisure and business visitors year-round.

Its capital city of Denver is in the middle of a massive growth spurt, with new developments around every corner, while the mountain community of Vail isn’t far behind, with billions being invested in exciting facilities and amenities.

Yet no matter where groups decide to visit—from the cities to the mountain resorts—they are sure to find what they are looking for in the Centennial State.

Denver

While Denver’s history is filled with stories of folks traveling West in search of riches, today meeting planners venture to Denver in search of treasure of their own: meetings gold.

Although the “Mile High City” really only entered the convention market back in the ’90s with the construction of the Colorado Convention Center, it has quickly grown into one of the nation’s leading convention destinations.

“In just a short period, we have become one of the top 10 destinations in the country,” says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of the Denver Metro CVB.

Nowadays, Denver is regularly attracting sizable shows such as the Democratic National Convention, set for August.

“We went against 34 cities,” Scharf says, adding that the event will use 17,000 hotel rooms.

In order to keep up with demand, Denver is undergoing a renaissance, especially in regard to its hotel product.

In the next three years alone, the city will welcome 1,400 additional hotel rooms at new properties such as a Ritz-Carlton, W and Four Seasons.

Indeed, change is afoot throughout the greater metro area.

The Curtis Hotel is a new addition to Denver’s conference scene; the Adam’s Mark will transition into a Sheraton this spring after a facelift; The Brown Palace Hotel will finish an upgrade by the end of this year; the Denver Marriott West was recently refurbished; and the Sheraton Denver West in nearby Lakewood opened its new spa last October.

All of these properties are nicely complemented by the 2.2 million-square-foot Colorado Convention Center and the adjacent 1,100-room Hyatt Regency Denver.

After a full day of meetings, Denver is the perfect place to let your hair down.

One popular place to stroll is the Lower Downtown District (aka LoDo), a lively area filled with residential units, shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Several of the district’s eateries welcome groups, including Osteria Marco, Vesta Dipping Grill and Tamayo.

Colorado Springs

Just south of Denver, Colorado Springs may be smaller than the capital city, but with its own airport, it’s still easy to get to.

“We have convenient access through our airport,” says Kathy Reak, director of convention sales for Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak CVB. “We have about 115 flights daily and about nine airlines service [the airport].”

Beyond its accessibility, Colorado Springs is a destination known for its outdoor adventure options, earning it this year’s distinction as the country’s fittest city by Men’s Fitness Magazine.

Groups can hike Pikes Peak, go white-water rafting, visit Garden of the Gods, or head to the Olympic Training Center.

“We have plenty of attractions here; there is something for everybody,” Reak says.

Like Denver, Colorado Springs is also experiencing its fair share of growth on the hotel front.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel Colorado Springs will finish an upgrade this summer; The Broadmoor Colorado Springs is planning to build new cottages in August; Cheyenne Mountain Resort is in the midst of a meeting space and guest room renovation; and the Colorado Springs Marriot finished a renovation last fall.

After-hours, planners can organize events at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and at restaurants such as The Pepper Tree.

Boulder

For an industry that is becoming greener by the day, Boulder has a significant edge.

“Boulder is set apart by its organic and green practices,” says Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director of the Boulder CVB, adding that the destination uses wind and solar energy in several of its facilities.

In fact, the Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites bills itself as a “zero waste” hotel, and the 200-room St. Julien Hotel & Spa plans to follow suit by fall 2010.

Extending to its visitor attractions, Pearl Street Mall, an outdoor pedestrian mall filled with shops, restaurants and even street performers, is largely wind powered, and the entire mall also offers solar-powered Wi-Fi.

Its green practices, in addition to the city’s breathtaking mountain terrain, usually inspire delegates to enjoy the fresh air.

“When a group comes to Boulder, they are comfortable because everyone is walking around and being active, therefore making meeting attendees want to be more active,” Mahoney says. “Some people will hold their meetings by taking a walk down Boulder Creek Path.”

Additional meetings-friendly hotels include the Millennium Harvest House Boulder; Hotel Boulderado, currently under going a renovation; and the recently refurbished Boulder Marriott.

Fort Collins

An hour north of Boulder groups find themselves in the historic city of Fort Collins, a place the CVB’s James says is ideal for meetings.

“We are that unique city that every group is looking for. We are the brewing capital of Colorado, with five breweries here, and we have 90 restaurants in downtown alone,” he says.

On the hotel scene, James says rumors are swirling about a new property slated for the downtown area with approximately 150 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of meeting space.

Yet even without its new hotel, Fort Collins has a plethora of meetings offerings and many of its properties have been recently renovated.

At press time, upgrades were under way at the Fort Collins Marriott, while refurbishments were scheduled to finish in March at the Hilton Fort Collins, and the Armstrong Hotel planned to begin a facelift in March.

Estes Park

Take a stroll down Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park and you will feel immediately relaxed by the warm sunshine, friendly people and mountains in the background. (The community is located only three miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.)

In fact, the small town is so popular that according to Julie Nikolai, director of group sales for the Estes Park Colorado CVB, its population balloons with tourists during high season.

“We are a community of about 8,000 people,” Nikolai says. “But we welcome more than 3 million visitors a year.”

Like its neighboring communities, Estes Park also offers a wide array of outside activity options—from walking along Lake Estes on its new Riverwalk to hosting group picnics in one of the town’s many parks.

When it’s time to get down to business, groups head over to the recently refurbished Estes Park Conference Center. Other meeting space options include the Aspen Lodge Ranch Resort & Conference Center, The Stanley Hotel and Holiday Inn Rocky Mountain Park.

Grand Junction

In Colorado’s far west region, Grand Junction stands out as an impressive location with unexpected attributes such as a thriving orchard industry.

“Our largest crop is peaches. Apples are second,” says Debbie Kovalik, executive director of the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau, adding that apricots, pears, plums, and cherries are also produced in the region.

Several orchards offer group tours, including Clark Family Orchard, High Country Orchards and Rancho Duranzo, all located just outside Grand Junction in Palisade.

Grand Junction is also known for its variety of wineries, many of which entertain groups.

“Wine-related events are the No. 1 extracurricular activity right now,” Kovalik says, highlighting a few favorites such as Colorado Cellars Winery, Grande River Vineyards, Plum Creek Winery, and Two Rivers Winery & Chateau.

Grand Junction also offers several well-appointed group venues such as the Two Rivers Convention Center.

Accommodations offerings include the Doubletree Hotel Grand Junction, Courtyard Grand Junction, Residence Inn Grand Junction, and Holiday Inn Grand Junction.

Mountain Resorts

From Aspen and Vail to Breckenridge and all of the communities in between, Colorado’s mountain resorts are crowd pleasers.

According to the Vail Valley Partnership, Vail is pouring billions of dollars into a major renaissance.

In January, the Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort, opened as the new anchor of Vail Square. And in December, Vail Plaza Hotel & Club opened on the site of the former Vail Village Inn.

Meanwhile, the Manor Vail Resort and Conference Center is planning to unveil a makeover in July, the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa is expected to finish a renovation in December, and a Four Seasons property is slated to open in late 2009.

About 12 miles west of Vail is Beaver Creek, another picture-perfect destination with plenty of outdoor adventure, from golfing at the Beaver Creek Golf Course to skiing down Beaver Creek Mountain.

Meeting space can be found at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch and the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa, with more than 20,000 square feet of function space.

Just a few miles down the road is Keystone Resort, a community with plenty of options for leisure and business travelers.

The Keystone Conference Center, a newly renovated facility with about 55,000 square feet of usable space, is a popular group option, as is the nearby Keystone Lodge, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Planners can organize off-site events at restaurants such as Ski Tip Lodge, Alpenglow Stube and Keystone Ranch.

Nearby Breckenridge is a destination in its own right, complete with a historic Main Street featuring a variety of independently owned shops and restaurants, sure to please attendees after a day in the conference room.

The Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center is a well-appointed group option that finished updating its meeting space last June.

About an hour southwest of Breckenridge is Copper Mountain, a resort community with a village straight out of any outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

The pedestrian village, named the Village at Copper, sits at the bottom of the mountain and hosts multiple eateries, retail outlets and accommodations, as well as the Copper Conference Center.

Groups looking to bask in the lap of luxury head over to Aspen/Snowmass, where they can find a thriving art scene, delicious restaurants, impressive resorts, and a variety of outdoor pursuits.

On the hotel side, Aspen Meadows Resort recently opened its Doerr-Hosier Center to groups, while The Sky Hotel finished a renovation last fall, and Limelight Lodge is slated to reopen this fall after a facelift.

Other offerings include Hotel Jerome and the St. Regis Resort, Aspen.

Nearby Snowmass Village is another ideal location for attendees seeking to mix business with pleasure.

Groups can find plenty of space to meet at the Snowmass Conference Center, Wildwood Lodge and Silvertree Hotel.

The historic town of Steamboat Springs is a charming option for groups, with outdoor activities such as mountain biking, hiking and skiing.

Steamboat offers impressive group options for a town of its size, with properties such as the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel & Condominiums.

Nestled into the southwest corner of Colorado, Durango and Telluride are two perfect locations for adventure-seekers.

For high-flying summer fun, groups can take the scenic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to the Soaring Tree Top Adventure and travel high above the ground between Ponderosa Pines on secure zip lines.

After enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the ground, delegates can meet at properties such as the Doubletree Hotel Durango, the historic Strater Hotel and the Lodge at Tamarron.

Just down the street is the adorable mountain town of Telluride, filled with meeting space offerings at venues such as the Telluride Conference Center and the Peaks Resort & Golden Door Spa.

For More Info

Aspen Chamber Resort Association 970.925.1940 www.aspen-groups.com