By Dawn Harker
With so many diverse locations within the state of Colorado, it is hard to decide what place to choose to host a meeting. Nicknamed “Colorful Colorado,” there is an endless palette of options to use in creating a group experience or meeting plan throughout the state.. The more specific the goals and objectives, the more targeted your group program can be crafted.
Colorado offers a colorful palette for groups. Courtesy AlpineAccess.
Located in the center of the United States, Colorado is easily accessible from most major U.S. hubs. With reasonable flight times from either coast, groups requiring a central U.S. location are easily satisfied. Denver International Airport (DIA) is the sixth busiest airport in the country, and a 30-minute transfer provides attendees quick access to the resources of a major metropolitan area. An additional 1½ to 2 hours places your group in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. It all depends on your objectives.
In late 2018, Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center is scheduled to open just 10 minutes from DIA. With 1,501 guest rooms and 485,000 square feet of meeting space, this premier meeting and convention hotel will enable large groups to access Colorado in a manner that was previously inaccessible. The advent of this new property promises to bring a new type of guest to Colorado, broadening the growing list of group options.
Courtesy of Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center.
South of Denver lies Colorado Springs. Home to The Broadmoor, U.S. Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain, this medium-sized city is rich in history and provides the recreational offerings of a mountain resort. A perfect mixture of a city and a resort, this distinctive destination is served by a growing regional airport that reported a 21 percent increase in air traffic in 2017 vs. 2016.
Looking to the west, Colorado’s acclaimed mountain resorts are known throughout the world for delivering quality alpine experiences. Mining towns turned ski resorts turned year round resorts, each community has its own culture. All worth exploring!
Beaver Creek is one of the many great mountain resorts in Colorado. Courtesy Beaver Creek Resort.
The farther you venture west in Colorado, the further you travel from the metropolitan lifestyle. Clean air, clear water and blue skies are a part of the daily commute. The farther your venture, the more pristine the experience. While all of our resorts are accessible by ground, guests may fly directly into these resort airports: Eagle Vail Airport, Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Telluride Regional Airport.
Imagine meeting and relaxing in the mountains. Courtesy Copper Mountain Resort.
No matter the path you choose, Colorado offers a colorful palette of resources to exceed any expectations and satisfy the purposes for any meeting and event. Destination management companies like the seasoned professionals at AlpineAccess will gladly work with you to marry the resources of the destination with the objectives for your meeting.
Riding bike paths is one of several activities to choose from. Courtesy AlpineAccess.
Dawn Harker is the Owner/Operator of AlpineAccess, a destination management company based in the Vail Valley and serving Colorado’s resort communities. Dawn has 27 years of experience working with groups in the resort and travel industry in Colorado and brings this expertise into every facet of her work.
