Top 5 Types of Destination Meetings Held in Colorado

By Beth Buehler

Colorado is the ideal location for destination meetings with a wide array of options from mountains, plains, cities and towns of all sizes loaded with rich history. There are many reasons for destination meetings, but key is generating excitement among attendees. Here are ideas for five types of gatherings ideally suited for Colorado. Popularity is based on current meeting industry trends we see.

Corporate Destination Meetings – The type and size of corporate meetings vary just like kids from the same family. Product launches, sales powwows, trainings, awards, team-building gatherings and more are right at home in a state with so much variety. Take some pressure off by hiring knowledgeable destination management companies and local meeting planners, and definitely touch base with convention and visitor bureaus to get insider tips and access to many partners with one RFP. Towns like Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado Springs and Loveland are used to working with corporate groups and have venues, lodging properties and activities for a standout meeting.

A scenic view of Vail Valley. Courtesy Vail Valley Partnership.

A scenic view of Vail Valley. Courtesy Vail Valley Partnership.

Conventions – There are great hotels and resorts sprinkled throughout the Centennial State with dedicated conference centers to hold conventions of various sizes if your groups needs lodging and meeting space all under one roof. For some of the largest spaces with lodging and many amenities nearby, consider the convention centers in Denver, Keystone, Pueblo and Grand Junction.

Blue Bear peeking into the Colorado Convention Center. Courtesy VISIT DENVER.

Blue Bear peeking into the Colorado Convention Center. Courtesy VISIT DENVER.

Association Meetings and Conferences – Visiting different places is half the fun of going to an annual association gathering or board meeting. If the association is based in Colorado, there is no shortage of places to rotate a meeting geographically every year from mountain communities like Aspen/Snowmass, Telluride, Estes Park and Glenwood Springs to college towns like Boulder and Fort Collins.

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Estes Park’s new event complex. Courtesy Estes Park.

Incentive Travel Trips – Reward top employees and clients with the time of their lives at ranches like Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa and C Lazy U or AAA Five Diamond properties such as The Little Nell, The Broadmoor and The Ritz-Carlton, Denver. Rest assured that the customer service will be top-notch and that attendees will go home keeping the trip in their memory banks.

The Little Nell in Aspen is one of Colorado's AAA Five Diamond hotels. Courtesy The Little Nell.

The Little Nell in Aspen is one of Colorado’s AAA Five Diamond hotels. Courtesy The Little Nell.

Executive, Fraternal and Spiritual Retreats – Private, unique, easy access to activities and great food are key features for executive and team retreats. Colorado packs a powerful punch with properties like The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Garden of the Gods Club and Resort and Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa.

No matter what kind of destination gathering you are planning, consider what Colorado has to offer and find attendees arranging their schedules to make the trip happen!

Beth Buehler is editor of Colorado Meetings + Events and Mountain Meetings magazines, has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado in all seasons.