Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs rival some of the most memorable meetings destinations in the U.S. and overseas. And ongoing upgrades and renovations are helping to ensure that the Rocky Mountain-adjacent cities stay at the forefront of the latest group trends and innovations.
Denver International Airport recently celebrated the launch of the Regional Transport District’s (RTD’s) University of Colorado A Line—a brand-new commuter rail line that offers affordable ($9) access to Union Station, giving groups an easier means of getting downtown (and beyond) from the airport.
Denver’s Union Station—also recognized as an Amtrak transportation hub—underwent a $54 million renovation in 2014 and has since expanded into a cultural center for locals and visitors alike that is equipped with restaurants, bars, shops and The Crawford Hotel, a 122-room boutique property.
Meanwhile, Colorado Springs saw its hotel occupancy reach the highest first-quarter rate (55.9 percent) since 1999, according to the Rocky Mountain Lodging Report, which tracks hotel occupancy rates in the area. And both Colorado Springs and Boulder reported an uptick in new developments and renovations.
Following is an overview of several recent openings and upgrades in the area, as well as a look at some of the more interesting meeting highlights that remain popular with visiting groups.
Denver Developments
Denver has the benefit of providing the conveniences and culture of a bustling metropolis while serving as a jumping off point for access to the nearby Rocky Mountains.
In addition to the new commuter rail line, there has been a push for an increase in international air lift, and last November voters approved a significant expansion to the Colorado Convention Center, which will add an additional 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting and ballroom space to an existing structure that already provides over 100,000 square feet of meeting space across 63 learning rooms.
The expansion also calls for the addition of 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor prefunction space that will include a 50,000-square-foot rooftop terrace on top of the existing convention center, with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains and the city skyline to get groups outdoors.
“There’s a lot of energy around what is happening with the city [right now],” says Jason Lusk, CMP, associate vice president, convention sales with Visit Denver. “The rail line, of course, is absolutely huge for us and the launch has been a big success. To be able to offer that to planners now is a game-changer.
“In addition to the rail line, Union Station is still a beloved wonderful space in Denver,” he continues. “The culinary scene is thriving … and the Colorado Convention Center is working on renovations. The combination of all of these elements are elevating the city to international status for tourism, meetings and conventions.”
Lusk adds that Denver can now accommodate groups of up to 10,000 with sleeping rooms in the downtown urban area, and that number is set to grow as new hotels continue to come online.
On the same ballot as the Colorado Convention Center expansion, voters also approved updates to the National Western Complex, which will make the state-of-the-art facility more accessible to groups. The venue will improve upon its existing equestrian educational facilities and add an agricultural research center in collaboration with Colorado State University, opening up new opportunities for events.
On the hotel front, the 519-room Westin Denver International Airport launched last November and was designed to complement the state-of-the-art design of Denver International Airport. The property offers 37,500 square feet of flexible meeting space and a 60,000-square-foot outdoor plaza.
And the previously mentioned historic Union Station transportation hub continues to expand its offerings, including the addition of The Source, a collaborative indoor marketplace featuring two restaurants, a butcher shop, a florist, a bakery, a brewery, liquor store and art and design gallery.
Avanti Food and Beverage is a newer dining facility that Visit Denver describes as a building made up of shipping containers where restaurateurs can try out new restaurant and bar concepts. There are currently seven restaurant concepts and two bars on-site, and the space allows for buyouts.
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Boulder on the Move
Boulder often touts the “healthy, culturally-enriched lifestyle” of its residents, and it definitely provides a more laidback counterpart to nearby Denver’s more active and sprawling city setting. The presence of the University of Colorado at Boulder also adds to the city’s more intimate atmosphere.
“We’re separate from Denver, but we also try and stay interconnected with what’s going on there in terms of new developments,” says Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director at the Boulder CVB.
Mahoney mentions that Boulder saw a pause in its hotel developments around the time of the most recent economic recession, but that it has since recovered nicely and is experiencing a growth period with existing hotels reinvesting in their facilities and several new properties also breaking ground.
The 201-room St. Julien Hotel & Spa recently refreshed its guest rooms after being recognized as one of Travel + Leisure’s “top 25 large city hotels” in the continental U.S. The award-winning hotel features a 10,000-square-foot spa and over 16,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor conference facilities.
The 157-room Boulder Marriott finished an update of its main lobby, and all of its guest rooms will be updated this winter. The hotel offers nearly 5,000 square feet of space for groups of up to 275. Meanwhile the Homewood Suites by Hilton–Boulder completed renovations in March that included updated decor throughout the property, as well as new in-room amenities and pool upgrades.
The upscale, 160-room Hotel Boulderado refreshed all of the rooms on the north side of the hotel with new carpet, wallcovering, vanities, furniture and artwork, and similar functional updates were made to the hotel’s Event Center, which includes 10,000 square feet of meeting space for groups of up to 300.
Perhaps the most exciting new off-site addition in town is The Rooftop Terrace and Bar in the northeast corner of Folsom Field (where the University of Colorado Buffaloes play Pac-12 football). The 13,900-square-foot venue features an expansive open-air space with a capacity for 400-600 people. The terrace also provides access to the Byron R. White Club, with upscale food and beverage options and two bars.
“The Rooftop Terrace overlooks Folsom Stadium, but also it’s the height where you almost feel like you can touch the Flatirons Mountains—there are completely unobstructed views,” Mahoney says.
Back on the hotel front, a 207-room Embassy Suites and 172-room Hilton Garden Inn dual-brand hotel is expected to open in 2017 between the Twenty Ninth Street Mall and the Dairy Center for the Arts.
New in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has held steady in the group market for the last decade or so, but the city is off to an even stronger start in the first quarter of 2016, with new developments being planned accordingly.
“The atmosphere is excellent across all of our properties right now,” says Kathy Reak, senior director of convention sales with the Colorado Springs CVB. “We’re seeing higher room rates, higher occupancies and a lot of new product coming on board to include properties, renovations and attractions.”
Reak said that Colorado Springs’ ideal group size is around 250-300 people and that more corporate and government business is coming in as the economy improves. She says the city is a good fit for groups seeking authentic experiences that go beyond the meeting room, due to its scenic setting.
On the upscale side of the hotel spectrum, the recently launched, 40-room Lodge at Flying Horse combines with the existing Flying Horse facilities (including an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf Signature Golf Course) to make an ideal retreat for smaller corporate groups. The 69-room Garden of the Gods Club & Resort is also expected to undergo renovations and makes for another excellent luxury retreat. Both venues offer around 10,000 square feet of meeting space for conferences and events.
Spas are also a popular group offering in Colorado Springs, and new and updated spa experiences can be found at the Manitou Springs SunWater Spa, The Mining Exchange, MX Spa and the Cheyenne Mountain Resort’s Alluvia. Each facility offers its own signature spin on the traditional spa experience.
Incoming family-friendly (and more-affordable) attractions include a Great Wolf Lodge-branded waterpark and resort set for a late 2016 launch, and the newly-added Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours.
