For planners tasked with booking events for active attendees who enjoy getting outdoors in their downtime, who prefer destinations packed with cultural and culinary variety, and who might be traveling on a budget, Colorado’s top meetings players are standing by.
Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs are also filled with wonderful group-friendly venues (the Colorado Convention Center, according to the Denver CVB, is consistently ranked as one of the most practical meeting facilities ever built) and wrapped in some of the most gorgeous natural scenery in the country.
Top all this off with a tasty local microbrew and it’s safe to say attendees will have a memorable experience in the Centennial State.
Denver
Denver invites planners to book business in its pedestrian-oriented downtown, where they’ll find 8,400 hotel rooms and 300 restaurants within easy walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center. Additionally, free shuttle buses are available along the 16th Street Mall, making everything especially easy to reach.
When business is done, Denver is the perfect jumping-off point to either enjoy its cultural bounty in town or the beauty and adventure of the Colorado Rocky Mountains just 30 minutes away.
“Denver has done everything right to become a major meetings destination,” says Rachel Benedick, vice president, sales and services, at Visit Denver, The CVB. “Start with the newest major airport in America, which is now the nation’s fifth-busiest with 1,600 daily flights, including nonstops to 160 worldwide destinations.”
Benedick adds that direct daily nonstop service from Denver International Airport to Tokyo will begin in March 2013, and a commuter rail line linking downtown and the airport is on track to open in 2016.
“Add pre and post opportunities in the nearby Rocky Mountains and it’s all the elements you need for a successful meeting,” she says.
With an estimated 300 days of sunshine per year, it’s understandable that Visit Denver is reporting that more groups are holding events outdoors.
“In the past two years, we’ve had groups do receptions under the 80-foot-high glass arch at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and in many of downtown’s parks, one group tented an entire street, or they have staged concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre,” she says.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is on a list of attractions that reaches a mile high, including the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo, the newly opened History Colorado Center and the Clyfford Still Museum, which all accommodate off-site gatherings. Outings to local breweries and beer gardens are also entertaining group diversions.
Among the city’s go-to group-friendly hotels are the historic Brown Palace Hotel & Spa, with more than 13,000 square feet of function space; Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, which is situated directly across the street from the Colorado Convention Center (CCC); Hilton Garden Inn and Embassy Suites properties situated adjacent to the CCC; the Four Seasons Hotel Denver; and the boutique Hotel Teatro.
“Throughout the city, Denver also has a number of resort hotels such as the Omni Interlocken, Westin Westminster and Inverness, which offer a different experience in the metro area,” Benedick says. PageBreak
Boulder
Situated 35 minutes northwest of Denver is a community where the University of Colorado Buffalo roam and where natural beauty, urban culture and plenty of outdoor pursuits combine to create memorable meetings.
“Visit Boulder and experience its distinctive lifestyle overflowing with world-class restaurants, inspired shopping and art, unbeatable people-watching and thousands of acres of wide-open spaces,” says Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director at the Boulder CVB.
She points out that businesses are increasingly noticing Boulder’s offerings and that the destination is evolving into a favored stage for national press announcements, product launches and general opinion-influencing.
“Boulder is a nationally recognized leader in many industries, and planners—as well as publicists—are using Boulder as a platform,” she says. “President Obama came to Boulder earlier this year to speak about student loans, and a Tour de France bicycle organization announced its 2012 team members.”
When convening here there is a lot to explore, and since Boulder is a pedestrian- and bike-friendly town, the Boulder CVB encourages planners to book a guided tour for the group.
“A bunch have recently popped up that give planners easy ways to plan activities,” Mahoney says, citing coffee and pastry tours, easy and info-packed hiking tours, around-town bike tours, brewery tours and more. “A bunch of companies with regularly scheduled and private tours make it easy for planners to fill itineraries and showcase the town.”
Before venturing out, the group might want to take care of business. Group-friendly properties in the area include Millennium Harvest House Boulder, St. Julien Hotel and Spa, Boulder Marriott and Hotel Boulderado.
Popular off-site venues include the Dairy Center for the Arts, Colorado Chautauqua, the Stadium Club at Folsom Field and Rembrandt Yard.
“Avery Brewing Company is a super spot for an off-site event,” Mahoney adds, explaining the brewery has a Barrel Room that seats 30 and a warehouse that accommodates 250. “Sitting in a warehouse sounds awful and cold, but to eat, drink and be merry among barrels of beer is pretty cool. And they have great tours.”
Boulder’s nine breweries are a big part of its strong foodie scene, including many eateries and caterers that boast local ingredients.
“One new trend is farm dinners, and here in Boulder you can bring your group to a farm, or bring the farm to your group,” Mahoney says. “One of our catering companies, A Spice of Life, offers both—super fresh and local food can be served at a nearby scenic farm or at the venue of your choice. Their farm-to-table menus are impressive and unforgettable.” PageBreak
Colorado Springs
A marriage of Denver and Boulder can be found in Colorado Springs, as it’s a bustling city, the second-largest in the state, with a smaller-town feel. Here, says Kathy Reak, director of convention sales for the Colorado Springs CVB, hospitality and year-round value keep it top of mind for planners.
“Colorado Springs has always been a popular meetings destination because of its value, beauty and close proximity to Denver and Denver International Airport,” she says. “We also have our own airport and are bringing fantastic new products online.”
Among them are the brand-new Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel, which opened in May, The Broadmoor’s $60 million renovation, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2013, and the recent $20 million renovation at Cheyenne Mountain Resort.
Other of the area’s group-friendly options include Crowne Plaza, DoubleTree by Hilton and Marriott properties, the Glen Eyrie Conference Center and the Colorado Springs World Arena.
Favorite off-site event spaces include the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Michael Garman Museum and a nice variety of arts centers.
“Groups are much more interested in adventure and extreme team building, which our destination really caters to,” Reak adds. “Whether it’s taking a Segway tour of Seven Falls, zip lining over the Royal Gorge, whitewater rafting or biking down America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak, groups want to be hands-on and active while building their communication skills.”
And afterward, once they’ve worked up an appetite, a terrific culinary scene awaits, including a variety of eateries; walking history food tours; the Colorado Mountain Brewery, which offers group tours and beer education classes; and great stores such as The Olive Tap and PB & Jellies.
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Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
