Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
MEETING IN COLORADO: TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT BY CLETUS RAMSEY A Colorado meeting experience goes beyond mere amenities to stir something deep inside you. Any destination can offer state-of-the-art meeting facilities and accommodations. From mountain towns to dude ranches and cosmopolitan hotels to ski resorts, Colorado meeting and con- ference venues — and the beautiful state that surrounds them — give you reason to enjoy every second. Destination Colorado www.destinationcolorado.com can assist you to find meeting facilities, conference centers and event venues throughout the state. Tis helpful organiza- tion brings together all of the key players who provide meeting, convention, busi- ness and leisure group services. • • DENVER • • With 300 days of sunshine, a walkable downtown, thriving arts and culture, an award-winning culinary scene, and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver offers an affordable mix of urban sophisti- cation and outdoor adventure. When it comes to meeting planning, Denver has it all: A state-of-the-art convention center; a central location; an incredible shopping district packed with dining, nightlife and cultural attractions as well as thousands of hotel rooms. Located in the heart of Downtown Denver lays the Colorado Convention Center, which is ideal for any size meeting or convention group. Loaded with 584,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, a 50,000-sq. ft. Mile High Ballroom and a 35,000-sq. ft. Four Seasons Ballroom, this venue definitely has the space to accommodate a group of just about any size. The convention center is also equipped with 63 meeting rooms and the Bellco Theatre, which can accommodate up to 5,000 people in an auditorium-style fixed seating format. Downtown Denver is home to over 11,000 rooms near the Colorado Convention Center, and 50,000 metro- wide. including an adjacent 1,100-room Hyatt Regency, the 1,200-room Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, the 615-room Marriott City Center, the 511- room Grand Hyatt and the 430-room Westin Tabor Center. When the workday is done, there is no shortage of things for attendees to do and see. In the Five Points neigh- borhood, the history of African- Americans in the West can be studied at the Black American West Museum and the exciting Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, while the surrounding shops and restaurants offer everything from soul food to jazz. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the second largest in the nation with 10 venues seating 10,000 for opera, theatre, symphony and ballet. In Denver, You Are Never Far from Nature: Denver has the nation's largest city park system and the fourth largest museum - the massive Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Denver International Airport offers nearly 1,600 flights daily with nonstop service to 181 destinations worldwide. • • BOULDER • • A top city in the U.S. for outdoor adventure, tech startups, food, beer, art and happiness, Boulder is a place for meetings with distinction. Conveniently located 45 minutes from Denver International Airport, the city is large enough to provide exceptional facilities and a buzzing, urban culture, yet it has an intimate feel with stunning surroundings. From an acclaimed culture of food and beer to new hotels and even cash incen- tives, there are some significant advan- tages to meeting in Boulder. See the list- toppers below. Three new hotels opened in one of the most exciting areas of Boulder, just moments away from the Boulder Creek Path, Twenty Ninth Street shopping cen- ter, the Dairy Arts Center, breweries, restaurants and the University of Colorado. These centrally located proper- ties are just a short drive from beautiful outdoor attractions like the Flatirons, Eldora ski area and Eldorado Canyon State Park. The three new properties are the 204-room Embassy Suites Boulder (meeting space for groups up to 550), 172-room Hilton Garden Inn Boulder (two meeting rooms), and 155-room Residence Inn Boulder canyon Blvd. (meeting space for groups up to 80). WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Boulder CVB – (303) 442-2911 www.bouldercoloradousa.com B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 52 AREA GUIDES • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency 1,100 Sheraton Denver Downtown 1,200 Hilton Denver City Center 615 Grand Hyatt 511 Westin Tabor Center 430 Denver Marriott Tech Center 628 Westin Westminster 369 Omni Interlocken Resort 390 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Colorado Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 594,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 50,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 63 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Denver – (800) 892-1112 www.denver.org C O L O R A D O Denver city skyline Photo Credit: Colorado CC