CENTRAL COLORADO
VisitCOS.com/meetings; @VisitCOS—Colorado Springs is known as “Olympic City USA,” and for good reason. The city is home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, and natural training grounds used by locals and athletes alike. Combined with wide-open spaces, 300 days of blue skies each year, and stunning scenery offering a beautiful backdrop to a meeting or event, it is easy to see why so many planners and groups choose to host in Colorado Springs. “Places like the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Weidner Field, Flying W Ranch, and Colorado Springs Convention Center at The Broadmoor offer unparalleled options for meetings and events of all sizes,” says Kathy Reak, vice president of sales for Visit Colorado Springs. “At our destination, you will find room to inspire, innovate, connect, and re-energize.”
Meeting venue options in Colorado Springs are vast. The largest space, Colorado Springs Convention Center at The Broadmoor, features 779 guest rooms and more than 315,000 square feet of space, including the 200,000-square-foot convention center. Cheyenne Mountain Colorado Springs, a Dolce Resort offers 315 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of space, while Garden of the Gods Resort & Club features 83 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of space. “Garden of the Gods Resort & Club recently finished a $40 million renovation to the property to enhance the guest experience,” Reak says. “The project included renewed guest rooms, renovated dining areas, and new tennis and pickleball courts.” Opening soon, Hotel Polaris, located at U.S. Air Force Academy, will offer 375 guest rooms and 26,000 square feet of space.
Colorado Springs offers 15,928 hotel rooms throughout the city, including the 311-room Great Wolf Lodge; 309-room Colorado Springs Marriott; 300-room Chamonix Casino Hotel; 200-room DoubleTree Hotel; and 273-room The Antlers, a Wyndham hotel. The Mining Exchange, a Wyndham hotel in downtown Colorado Springs, recently completed a renovation of its guest rooms, redesign of its lobby, and addition of a brand-new coffeehouse; in addition, plans are in the works to renovate the spa and connecting restaurant as well.
Beyond meetings, Colorado Springs has plenty to offer for group outings and family adventures for attendees looking for some family fun pre- or post-meeting. Garden of the Gods is a geological wonder and is consistently ranked as the No.1 park in the country. Pikes Peak, the highest summit of the southern front range of the Rocky Mountains, sits at 14,115 feet; a variety of Jeep, bus, and van tours takes visitors to the top of Pikes Peak to experience its incredible setting. Adrenaline junkies can experience the thrill of Pikes Peak Bike Ride with Challenge Unlimited, a 19.5-mile downhill mountain-bike ride starting at the summit.
Manitou Incline, also commonly referred to as “The Incline,” is one of the most-challenging hikes in all of Colorado Springs—with a 2,768-step hiking trail and 2,000-foot vertical elevation gain. Hikers will enjoy the beautiful views of Manitou Springs along the way.
Another popular Colorado Springs attraction is U.S. Air Force Academy. Guests can tour the Academy for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to join the U.S. Air Force and a close-up view of a B-52 bomber at the Bomber Plane Display.
Traveling to, from, and in Colorado Springs is easy, Reak says, thanks to consistent infrastructure updates. In 2023, Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) kicked off a multi-year concourse modernization project, prioritizing accessibility and sustainability. “Colorado Springs Municipal Airport also recently implemented the Hidden Disability Sunflower program, a worldwide initiative providing a discreet way for people with disabilities to make others aware of their disabilities,” Reak says. The program uses identification cards, lanyards, wristbands, and pins featuring a sunflower design to make it easier to identify persons who might need assistance due to limitations and disabilities. In downtown Colorado Springs, The Zeb shuttle service—named after Zebulon Pike—offers an easy and free way to navigate the city’s popular attractions along the main downtown drag.
