Colorado caters to meeting planners looking to have it all. Often overshadowed, both literally and figuratively, by the state’s jagged mountain ranges and Wild West past, population centers from Denver to Aspen are also cultured communities with venues and experiences fit for attendees who may not want to get their shoes muddy.
Urban
“Denver can be sexy!” Rachel Benedick, vice president of convention sales and services for Visit Denver, exclaims when discussing the latest group trends in Colorado’s capital city. “We have so many cosmopolitan venues!”
From the striking skyline to its renowned food scene, Denver offers planners a dramatic backdrop for sophisticated, stylish events, according to Benedick.
“The hip downtown core has exploded with new restaurants and brewpubs, an entrepreneurial creative class is emerging, and arts districts are growing,” she says.
Edgy
Emblematic of an urban Denver experience is The Infinite Monkey Theorem winery in the up-and-coming RiNo district. Short for River North and represented by a charming friendly rhinoceros logo, the area is accessible from downtown by grabbing a ride from one of Denver’s 60-plus bike-sharing stations and cruising down the South Platte River bike trail.
The winery has a gritty yet welcoming vibe.
“The name comes from the theory that if a monkey hit keys on a typewriter at random, the monkey will eventually type the text of Shakespeare,” says Aaron Berman, the winery’s chief financial officer.
The same theory is applied to their wine-making, and they’ve created several local masterpieces.
“There are so many choices and permutations that go into our wine, whether it is driving grapes down from a mountain in a snowstorm or our barrel selections,” Berman says.
A former industrial zone, RiNo has been revitalized as numerous breweries, distilleries and hip restaurants move into the area.
Groups of up to 30 can tour Infinite Monkey Theorem’s warehouse and participate in barrel tastings.
“They get a close-up real experience and see how chaotic it can be in the warehouse,” Berman says. “It’s not a fancy million-dollar tasting room.”
In downtown Denver, Panzano’s Chef Elise Wiggins leads popular “Learn to Cook like a Chef” classes for groups, embracing the Italian motto, “Those who eat well, live well.”
“It’s not exactly the Wild Wild West,” Benedick says. “Denver is truly a cosmopolitan city.”
Spacious
Surrounded by beautiful scenery, groups have room to breathe in Colorado, and its off-site venues are no exception. Denver’s $125 million History Colorado Center and the Clyfford Still Museum offer private group tours and accommodate receptions of up to 400 people.
“Space isn’t at a premium in Denver like it is in New York or San Francisco, so we have a lot of large venues and huge restaurant spaces,” Benedick says.
The 24,000-square-foot Punchbowl Social Club hosts groups of up to 1,000 in its vintage space, featuring eight bowling lanes, marbles tables, foosball and a set of 1980s video games.
Playful
In Colorado Springs, a $60 million renovation is well under way at the 744-room Broadmoor, a standout for groups. The project is adding a new Italian restaurant, updating the exterior of Broadmoor West and expanding the existing pub. A new upscale entertainment center named Play will debut this spring, featuring bowling lanes, billiards, board games and food and beverage outlets. It will be available for buyouts and private events.
The Broadmoor also recently announced the August opening of The Ranch at Emerald Valley. Ten mountain-style cabins will sleep 34 guests and have access to all Broadmoor amenities.
In Denver, at the historic Wynkoop Brewing Company, groups can buy out the top floor of the city’s oldest brewpub, complete with 22 pool tables and two private pool rooms.
Happy-go-lucky Boulder welcomed the Bramble & Hare restaurant last summer, created by local chef Eric Sokan. He operates the 130-acre Black Cat Farms, which supplies his other restaurant, Black Cat Farm Table Bistro, and provides him with inspiration for cuisine drawn from the Front Range. With its upbeat energy and active spirit, Boulder has been attracting business and tech moguls for years and lures planners with approximately 2,000 guest rooms and unique event spaces.
Hotel Boulderado and the Boulder Marriott offer 19,000 and 5,000 square feet of conference facilities, respectively. The St. Julien Hotel and Spa has 16,000 square feet of event space, and the Colorado Chautauqua National Historical Landmark offers a tranquil 26-acre setting for events and corporate retreats, with 60 cottages and lodges, an auditorium terrace and a large community house.
Glamorous
Glamour comes easy to Colorado’s luxury resorts. Off the slopes they are bustling year-round with group activities, fine dining and distinctive meeting and conference space.
From a reception at Vail’s European-style chalet, to opulent ski-in/ski-out group accommodations at Breckenridge, these resort destinations never disappoint.
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek, located in Avon, expanded meeting space last year and now offers 7,500 square feet. Highlights include the 2,800-square-foot Gondola ballroom, which opens onto Gondola Plaza, accommodating up to 275 people for a mid-day ski break or reception.
Telluride’s boutique Hotel Madeline also recently completed an upgrade, unveiling a new front entrance and 12 new guest rooms.
The hotel offers 4,000 square feet of meeting space, ski and meet packages, and programming related to Telluride’s many summertime festivals.
Classic
With a population of around 6,500 people, Aspen is small, encompassing not much more than eight walking blocks, but there are hundreds of restaurants, bars and event venues packed into the small area. Main luxury lodging options include the Little Nell, the St. Regis Aspen and the newly renovated Hotel Jerome.
A few blocks from the mountain’s gondola, Hotel Jerome proves that embracing your Western heritage doesn’t necessarily mean tracking in mud on your cowboy boots. The upscale hotel blends the rugged, outdoorsy appeal of Colorado with style and traditional Western comforts.
The 93-room Auberge property recently completed a $25 million interior renovation.
“It’s very elegant,” says Katie Wannamaker, the hotel’s sales manager, “It almost feels more historic now than it did before.”
Function spaces were also updated, including the 3,400-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which Wannamarker says is the only above-ground ballroom in Aspen, offering fantastic mountain views.
terrace area that can be used for receptions as well as the new Living Room, which she describes as “the ultimate community and group meeting space—very comfortable and cozy, with fur rugs and antler chandeliers.”
“Our perfect size group is about 30 to 40 rooms,” Wannamaker says. “We see a lot of executive-style retreats, but we do offer buyouts depending on the time of year.”
Hotel Jerome also added a spa and fitness center.
Delicious
The St. Regis Aspen Resort recently partnered with Food & Wine magazine to create Chef’s Club, a unique dining experience that will bring in a rotating team of chefs to create new, seasonally inspired menus served on a long chef’s table and in several private dining spaces.
Little Nell’s newest restaurant, Element 47, is named after silver on the periodic table, a nod to the town’s mining history. The space is decorated with specially commissioned artwork and pieces that were hand-selected by owner and artist Paula Crown. The restaurant seats 110 and is available for group buyouts.
