CENTRAL COLORADO
Denver.org; @VisitDenver—Urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure in Denver.
“With 300 days of sunshine, a walkable downtown, thriving arts and culture, an award-winning culinary scene, a state-of-the-art convention center, and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver is the perfect place for meetings, events, and conventions,” says Richard Scharf, president/CEO of Visit Denver.
Accessibility is key to the success of conventions. Denver International Airport offers hundreds of daily nonstop flights from around the world. Add the direct rail line via the Regional Transportation District connecting the airport to downtown, and travel is convenient and sustainable.
Once downtown, it’s easy to get around. “Denver boasts the 10th-largest downtown area in America and one of the most exciting and walkable,” Scharf says.
Within a one-mile radius, downtown Denver has three major sports stadiums, the nation’s second-largest performing arts center, three colleges, an assortment of art and history museums, a theme and water park, an aquarium, the Denver Botanic Gardens, and hundreds of chef-driven restaurants.
Earlier this summer, Denver celebrated the newly renovated 16th Street, a mile-long, pedestrian-friendly street lined with hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, entertainment venues, and free transportation.
Denver has nearly 13,000 rooms downtown and 55,000 in the metro area. The 265-room Populus hotel, opened in 2024, is inspired by nature with sustainability in mind.
Just two blocks from 16th Street is the LEED Gold-certified Colorado Convention Center, also within walking distance of downtown hotels. Newly expanded, the convention center includes 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting and ballroom space, 35,000 square feet of pre-function space, and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains and city skyline.
The new National Western Center, located on a 246-acre campus, is undergoing renovations to add state-of-the-art spaces for trade shows, conventions, classes, and more. More than 2.2 million square feet of indoor and outdoor space are being developed.
Denver had 26 restaurants recognized in the second year of MICHELIN’s Colorado Guide. Among the new offerings is Alteño, which opened this past March at The Clayton Hotel, by Michelin-starred chef/owner Johnny Curiel. Another is Olivia, the Michelin-Recommended restaurant by co-owners Ty Leon, Austin Caron, and Heather Morrison; they are opening a second concept at 3615 Delgany St., on the ground floor of The Current.
Denver Art Museum is undergoing an extensive renovation, which will include a new permanent collection of galleries. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver now offers a viewing experience for color-blind visitors. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science unveiled its new Infinity Theater in 2023, featuring improved audio and visual accessibility. The space can be used for conferences, private events, stage performances, movies, films, concerts, live streaming, and more.
A 15-mile drive from Denver is the spectacular Red Rocks amphitheater, designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior. The venue includes areas available for private event rentals.
Denver boasts more than 200 parks within the city and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains. The city has its own bison herd at Buffalo Herd Overlook. Other mountain parks include Echo Lake, at the base of the Mount Blue Sky highway—the highest paved road in North America—and Buffalo Bill’s grave on top of Lookout Mountain.
Sports lovers can schedule a group outing to catch a game. Denver fields six professional sports teams: MLB’s Colorado Rockies; NFL’s Denver Broncos; NHL’s Colorado Avalanche; NBA’s Denver Nuggets; MLS’ Colorado Rapids; and NLL’s Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team. Many of Denver’s professional sports stadiums allow event rentals for a unique meeting experience.
Denver offers a wide array of family-friendly activities, including the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Gates Planetarium, and the Downtown Aquarium.
