It Pays to Meet in Colorado: Cash Incentive Rebate Program Extended to June 30, 2024!

By Beth Buehler

There is a pool of cash incentive money that meeting and event organizers can tap into when groups gather in Colorado, and there is plenty left. The $10 million Meeting & Events Cash Incentive Rebate Program was introduced in 2021 to assist in the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to encourage groups to meet face-to-face again while following any local health guidelines.

As of Feb. 28, 2022, $7,310,690 was still available, and the deadline for eligible events has been extended from December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2024. This is big news!

To receive the incentive rebate, the applicant must be the primary organizer (event host or meeting/event planner) and submit all the necessary information no later than 45 days before the meeting or event has occurred. It’s an eight-step process to claim the rebate, with representatives from Destination Colorado Meetings available via email or a one-on-one call to help applicants get started. Why wait? Find out more today.

The program provides pre-approved applicants with a 10% cash rebate of up to $100,000 against the eligible hard costs of hosting meetings and events. Things like venue/event rentals, food/beverage (excluding alcoholic beverages), audiovisual support, entertainment, transportation, and registration and event management technology are among eligible hard costs.

Events that qualify

An event is eligible for a rebate once per year. Eligible events include but are not limited to business meetings, conferences, conventions, exhibitions, trade shows, consumer shows, festivals, concert series and weddings. The event needs to:

• Be a NEW Colorado meeting or event contracted on or after April 6, 2021.
• (Or, be a previously booked or recurring meeting or event taking place in Colorado that is at risk of being canceled, postponed or relocated outside of Colorado without support.)
• Generate at least 25 paid overnight room nights in a motel, hotel, vacation rental or other lodging establishment.
• Have total eligible hard costs of at least $35,000.
• Meet any additional criteria established by the Colorado Tourism Office.

Examples of recipients

As of Feb. 28, 2022, 33 conferences, 16 weddings, 15 business meetings, 4 sporting events, 2 festivals, 2 concert series, 1 exhibition/trade show and 4 events falling under the category of “other” have been approved for amounts between $3,600 and $100,000.

For example, after a 2020 Mediterranean cruise for high-producing employees was canceled, one company relocated the event for 40 to Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa south of Grand Junction. More than 110 room nights were booked. The Alzheimer’s Association brought its five-day international conference and more than 1,200 delegates to Denver in 2021. Numerous event spaces (including the Colorado Convention Center and multiple hotels) and a variety of food, beverage and entertainment venues were utilized, and more than 5,000 nights of lodging sold.

Don’t miss out on this cash incentive opportunity. It pays to meet in Colorado!

Top Photo: A scene from the annual Meetings Industry Council of Colorado Education Conference & Trade Show demonstrates the energy that goes with meeting in Colorado. Photo by All Digital Photo & Video.

Beth Buehler has been editor of Colorado Meetings + Events magazine for 17 years and helped launch Mountain Meetings magazine in 2013. She has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado.