Smart Meetings

Since its origins as a mining town in the mid-1900s, Denver has always been an entrepreneurial and hard-working city, and this spirit is clearly embodied by Weil, who still sits behind the weathered desk at his downtown shop, greeting faithful and curious customers alike.

As you leave the creaky floorboards of the store and step out onto Wazee Street, other sides of Denver are just steps away—a few of the city’s several dozen brew pubs, a new upscale supper club, a café filled with chatty students. Denver will never shed its image as a rustic, outdoorsy, independent-minded destination—nor would it want to—but beneath this solid reputation it has steadily been developing a parallel identity. This new, younger slice of Denver shows a city embracing the modern and the hip, and this blend of the traditional and the new make for a destination that can serve the needs of almost any group.

“People expect that Western charm, and we have that,” explains Rachel Benedick, associate vice president of convention sales for the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. “But the ‘aha’ moment is the sexiness—the art, the shopping, the dining.”

As one of the most isolated big cities in the United States, it’s understandable that Denver may have kept to its old ways over the years. Plus, when you have 300 days of sunshine, the Rockies as a backdrop and plenty of authentic Western class, you’ve got a pretty timeless combination.

Nevertheless, the last decade has seen the city embrace a strong assortment of new and chic hotels, boutique shops, modern bars and trendy restaurants. Cherry Creek, an upscale community a few minutes from downtown, boasts an impressive collection of fashionable shops, in addition to quaint restaurants and a JW Marriott as its centerpiece. For people-watching, dining and nightlife, you can head back downtown to the historic and trendy LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood. With more than 70 bars and restaurants, it is a lively, pedestrian-friendly area at night, and the numerous art galleries and shops keep it busy during the day. Finally, sports fans will feel right at home, as the neighborhood is bordered by Coors Field (baseball) at one end and Pepsi Center (basketball) at the other.

In the heart of downtown you will find a meetings epicenter that couldn’t be more convenient—the Colorado Convention Center, several large convention hotels, a new Four Seasons hotel slated for next year and the truly impressive Denver Performing Arts Center. Everything in this collection is a mere minutes’ walk from one another, with dozens of popular restaurants and shops sprinkled in-between. Once your group arrives here, you can rest assured they will be able to walk to anything they need, and will never be late to a meeting or event (or, at least they won’t have any excuses).

As a friendly, relaxed and truly Western city for decades, Denver is now unveiling a friskier, more youthful side of its personality. And just in time, too—the Democratic National Convention convenes here next month for what may be one of the most dramatic and important political events in decades, and with Colorado’s capital as its stage. While your next event may not be quite as big, Denver will certainly be primed for it.

BASE CAMP
In terms of geographic location, Denver is best-known as the “mile-high city,” for its exact 5,280-foot elevation. But it is the city’s horizontal placement that is more interesting—right where the Rocky Mountains flatten out into the high plains of the Midwest. Because of this, Denver is able to enjoy the relatively mild climate of the flatlands yet be only minutes from the largest and most impressive mountain region in the country.

The Rocky Mountains are an integral part of the American identity. From beer commercials to luxury ski resorts to raw nature, the massive range claims as much of America’s culture as it does the land. No state possesses more of this range than does Colorado, and Denver serves as the portal to some of the best mountain recreation in the world.

Just a half-hour north of Denver, the town of Boulder is a mecca for rock climbing and mountaineering, and another half-hour out is the exquisite Rocky Mountain National Park, with some of the most spectacular views and pristine mountain terrain around. Ski buffs will have a difficult time keeping still as well. Within a quick flight or few-hours’ drive from Denver are some of the most famous ski resorts in the world, like Aspen, Vail and Snowmass.

It is this level of allure that will have your attendees extending their stay after meetings, while off-site recreation is also perfect for day-long team-building experiences or incentive trips. But even if you can’t get your group out of town, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors close to the city, with more than 200 parks, two rivers and 29 city recreations centers.

SEE THE CITY
With a relaxed air about it, perpetually sunny weather and wide sidewalks, Denver is a city walker’s dream come true. The downtown core provides everything a meeting-goer could need, from the convention center to the hotels to the shopping, art, dining and nightlife.

During the day, the Golden Triangle Museum District brings the best of Denver art into one easily navigable section of downtown, perfect for a half-day excursion. The Golden Triangle includes the renowned Denver Art Museum, which houses a collection of more than 40,000 pieces, including an impressive ensemble of Western American art. History buffs might opt for the Colorado History Museum, with exhibits that cover every facet of the state’s heritage. If art appreciation is high in your group, consider an evening function at one of this district’s numerous museums and galleries.

To get them there, you may also have a chance to showcase one of Denver’s many eco-friendly initiatives, with the 16th Street MallRide shuttle. Not only is this shuttle-bus service free—running both directions of the downtown’s central 16th Street corridor—it is also green, using hybrid natural gas engines. With stops almost every block and less than a minute’s wait time between buses, it couldn’t be easier to get around.

Your attendees may need that helpful lift after a few hours in the LoDo neighborhood. “This historic area has become extremely popular,” says Richard Grant, communications director of the DMCVB. “You’ve got brewpubs, more than 90 bars, rooftop cafes, bookstores.” And don’t forget about the shopping—the neighborhood’s trendy Larimer Square is packed with some of the best shopping in the city. There’s also plenty of excellent dining for refueling between stores.

MEETING VENUES
Downtown Denver is lucky to have half a dozen completely different hotels, the convention center and most of its performing arts all within a few blocks of each other. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the second-largest of its kind in the country, after Lincoln Center in New York City. The four-block center includes 10 separate performance venues with a total of more than 10,000 seats. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House is the premier venue of the center, with world-class acoustics and translation devices built into every seat. Smaller theaters provide a great option for product launches or keynote speeches, and several of the venues offer handsome space for banquets or receptions.

Just a few steps away, a massive blue bear peering through a large glass façade gives you no doubt you are at the Colorado Convention Center. Don’t be alarmed if the center looks a little larger than you remember—it underwent a $310-million renovation in 2005, doubling in size to a total of 2.2-million sq. ft. The huge bear structure is just one example of the artwork that runs throughout the center, as well as throughout the city, thanks to a program that requires one percent of all new-build funds to go toward public art. Be sure to listen for the laughing escalators as you move between floors; it’s guaranteed to stop your attendees mid-conversation.

Almost a piece of art itself, the new 5,000-seat Wells Fargo Theatre provides an unusual option for convention centers, a great choice for speeches or large presentations. And if green meetings are on your agenda, you can find solutions with the help of the center’s full-time sustainability manager, the first in the country.

With this combination of innovative and modern options, it’s no surprise that the Colorado Convention Center had an impressive 89 percent occupancy over the second half of last year.

With a meetings epicenter of this caliber, Denver would, of course, require a large, upscale and modern headquarter hotel, and the new Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center has risen to fill this role. Just across the street, the Hyatt, which opened December of 2005, offers 1,100 guest rooms and 60,600 sq. ft. of meeting space. In tune with Denver’s green initiatives, the hotel provides recycling in both its meeting space and its guest rooms. Also, the 27th-floor Altitude restaurant offers stunning views of the city below.

For a fun and funky alternative, The Curtis opened just last year directly across from the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The completely unique 336-room hotel provides 13 floors, each with a separate pop culture theme. Throughout the hotel, the environment is lively, bright and entirely unusual. “We want to make you smile,” says Kelly McCourt, director of sales for Sage Hospitality. Downstairs, the Corner Office Restaurant and Martini Bar is regularly packed with both conference-goers and locals.

If you would prefer a historic venue, you can’t find more refined and traditional luxury than at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. The 115-year-old building is in a unique triangle shape, and the eight-story-high stained-glass atrium ceiling is as impressive today as it was at the turn of the 19th century.

UNIQUE VENUES
From outdoor venues to art galleries to rooftop bars, Denver provides plenty of incentive for taking meetings beyond the traditional. One of the best-known music venues in the country, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is absolutely stunning, as massive monoliths form the only naturally occurring amphitheater in the world. If one of the many world-class concerts is in town, you couldn’t ask for a more memorable night. If it’s not in use, take over this amazing venue for your own—there are 30,000 sq. ft. of space in the visitors center.

Another option outside the city is the Conference Center at Copper Mountain. In addition to being surrounded by towering peaks, the resort offers two golf courses and a diverse range of meeting spaces.

Splitting the difference between getting out of the city but keeping all the city comforts, some groups might be a perfect fit for the JW Marriott at Cherry Creek, a Four-Diamond, 196-room hotel in the upscale community of Cherry Creek, just a quick drive from downtown. Surrounded by excellent restaurants and shopping, the hotel focuses on the needs of the group, with state-of-the-art meeting and banquet facilities.


COLORADO SPRINGS
Less than an hour south of Denver, the city of Colorado Springs offers a great alternative for smaller groups, with several top-notch resorts and even more outdoor recreation. Although Colorado Springs sits 1,000 feet higher than Denver, at 6,000 feet, the real star of the show here is Pikes Peak, which, at more than 14,000 feet, towers over the city. It’s even in the name of the CVB—Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak.

Despite being an outdoor recreation-driven destination, the city is surprisingly large and modern. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., it is now home to almost 400,000 residents. And it was even selected as the No. 1 Best Big City in “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine in 2006.

Attendees can expect impressive dining and entertainment options throughout the city, and a large number of outdoor recreation outfitters and guides. When it comes to the meetings side, planners can go from Five-Star to budget-friendly, and the mountain views are always included.

For the former category, you cannot do any better than The Broadmoor, a world-renowned Five-Diamond, Five-Star resort set on 3,000 acres near Cheyenne Lake. It also offers the greatest amount of meeting space in the city, at 185,000 sq. ft. The 700 luxurious guest rooms will keep your attendees well-pampered, while three championship golf courses, 18 restaurants and a spa will provide plenty to do between meetings.

Another excellent resort option is Cheyenne Mountain Resort. The unique design clusters the 316 guest rooms and suites into eight separate residential lodges, which allow for great buyout potential. More than 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is available, and the environment surrounding beautiful Cheyenne Mountain offers abundant outdoor recreation as well as an inspiring backdrop.

Getting There

Denver International Airport is the 10th-busiest airport in the world, with direct flights from most major U.S. cities. It is a major hub of United Airlines and headquarters for Frontier Airlines.

Colorado Springs Airport receives daily nonstop flights from such major cities as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix.

Not To Be Missed

• A stop by “Papa” Jack Weil’s Western clothing store.
• A concert at the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
• A performance at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
• A walk through Denver’s trendy LoDo neighborhood.
• A photo op at Pikes Peak, just outside of Colorado Springs.