Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/999395
B M & T ••• May/June 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 AREA GUIDES D E N V E R MEETING IN THE MILE HIGH CITY 365 DAYS A YEAR BY REGGIE MURPHY Welcome to Denver, where 300 days of sunshine, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and natural beau- ty combine for the world's most spectac- ular playground. When it comes to meeting planning, Denver has it all: A state-of-the-art con- vention center; a central location; an inter- national airport; a walkable downtown dis- trict packed with shopping, dining, nightlife and cultural attractions; thou- sands of hotel rooms; and a convention bureau that knows how to create a suc- cessful event. Located in the heart of downtown Denver is the Colorado Convention Center. Boasting 584,000 sq. ft. of con- tiguous exhibit space, two ballrooms totaling 85,000 sq. ft., 63 meeting rooms and a 5,000 capacity theatre, this venue is surely able to accommodate meetings, conferences, weddings and reunions of any size. Metro Denver has 45,000 first-class hotel rooms in the area, conveniently linked to downtown by efficient highways and light. There are more than a dozen hotels in the Denver Tech Center led by the 628-room Denver Marriott Tech Center, all with easy-to-use light rail serv- ice to downtown. February may be the official Black History Month, but in Denver, the rich her- itage of the city's African-American resi- dents past and present is celebrated year-round. The Mile High City and its outlying areas are home to three impres- sive museums centered on African- American history and culture, as well as several other fascinating landmarks. For decades, Hollywood westerns depicted a Wild West that was populated almost entirely by White people. The Black American West Museum puts this myth to rest permanently by highlighting the prominent role Blacks played in the settlement of Colorado as miners, sol- diers, homesteaders, schoolteachers, ranchers, blacksmiths, cowboys, lawmen and more. A veritable treasure trove of educa- tional and archival materials, the Blair- Caldwell African American Research Library offers traditional library resources, but also hosts illuminating exhibits on the history, literature, art, music, religion and politics of African-Americans in Colorado and throughout the Rocky Mountain West. The Stiles African American Heritage Center celebrates the positive contribu- tions made by African-Americans through guided tours, cultural exhibits, artifacts and memorabilia. Located in Five Points, the heart of Denver's historic African- American community, the Center's stated mission is to teach African-American his- tory and to encourage young people to go forward with dignity and pride. The Mile High City is one of only two cities to offer seven professional sports teams! With five sports stadiums, Denver offers MLB baseball with the Colorado Rockies; NFL football with the Denver Broncos; NHL hockey with the Colorado Avalanche; NBA basketball with the Denver Nuggets; MLS with the Colorado Rapids; as well as two professional lacrosse teams. Denver boasts 85 miles of bike trails, all part of the largest city park system in the nation. In 2010, Denver launched the nation's first major bicycle sharing pro- gram, B-cycle, with 800 shiny red bikes available for sharing at more than 80 sta- tions. The Denver International Airport pro- vides daily nonstop service to more than 181 destinations worldwide. DEN serves as a hub for United, Southwest and Frontier airlines. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Denver Marriott Tech Center 628 Westin Denver International Airport Hotel 519 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel 1,231 Grand Hyatt Denver 516 AC Hotel Denver 223 Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center 1,100 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Colorado Convention Center Total Exhibit Space: 584,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms: 63 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Denver (800) 233-6837 www.denver.org Colorado Convention Center BlueBear Photo Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin