DENVER
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and tourism officials opened the new VISIT DENVER Tourist Information Center at 1575 California Street on March 9, only the third new tourist information center Denver has opened since 1951.
The new high tech 21st Century Tourist Information Center includes:
- Touchscreen technology where visitors can access information and then have it emailed, texted to their mobile devices, or printed in the center.
- Colorful Denver and Colorado videos that will be showcased to convention delegates and tourists both inside the center and via street-facing screens on California Street.
- Visitor access to multiple computers in a relaxed setting, all of which will feature the VISITDENVER.com website with access to hundreds of articles and information about Denver..
- Opportunities to better communicate Denver’s brand as an outdoor city that offers urban adventures, leveraging the design and décor of the space, from creative photography and suspended B-cycles, to historic columns and century-old red brick walls.
- A new gift shop focused on offering products and unique souvenirs sourced from Denver and Colorado companies and artists, including the popular blue bears, which are replicas of the “I See What You Mean” public art sculpture by Lawrence Argent.
- And personalized service and advice from Visit Denver’s well-trained staff.
“We wanted to showcase Denver in a way that highlights us as a modern, green and high tech city, but still celebrates our history, turn-of-the century architecture, love of the outdoors, creative arts culture, and beer and dining scene,” said Richard Scharf, president & CEO of VISIT DENVER.
Denver opened its first information center in 1951 at 225 W. Colfax. In that pre-interstate era, Colfax was also U.S. Highway 40 and the only major road going west, so all cars heading west drove by the information center. The center offered, for the era, a “high tech” drive-through window where tourists could get a map without leaving their car.
In 2004, the center was moved to the corner of 16th and California, where it was able to help nearly 100,000 visitors a year. With changes in the lease and opportunity to create a more visitor-friendly and high-tech space, the center has now been moved across the street diagonally to 1575 California.
Visit Denver also operates an information center in the terminal at Denver International Airport and in the Colorado Convention Center during major meetings and shows.
