Good Essay About Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado is a beautiful city that is rich in culture, entertainment and facilities. Known as the Mile High City due to its location in the Rocky Mountains, it is a perfect venue for a meeting or convention. This picturesque city offers a variety of options meeting space, hotel accommodations and food and beverage options. There are numerous activities to pursue when visitors have leisure time from museums and shopping to outdoor activities.

History

Denver was originally part of the Kansas Territory. It was founded in 1858, primarily as a gold mining town. When the gold dried up, Denver became a supply town for other mining camps and towns in the Rockies. It was name after James Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory. Denver was named capital of the new state, Colorado upon its admittance into the union in 1861. Despite fires, economic depression, a plague of grasshoppers and the disappearance of gold, Denver survived. The completion of a railroad line from Cheyenne, the Kansas Pacific, in 1870 brought incredible growth to the city.
With the growing economy and population, Denver began to see the arrival of more cultural pursuits. Denver was always known as a place to drink and gamble, but the introduction of other entertainment venues offered diversity in entertainment. The Tabor Opera House was completed
in 1881 and was renowned as luxurious. The state capital followed as well as the Brown Palace Hotel. Denver was gaining a reputation as the most splendid city west of the Mississippi River.
The city went through periods of growth and severe recession over the next twenty years. During the early years of the 1900s the City Auditorium, Convention Center and Museum of Art and Science were built. Denver was awarded the Democratic National Convention in 1908. Denver was beginning to emerge as a destination in of itself and not a frontier town or a stop on a trip to San Francisco. The Great Depression affected Denver as harshly as the rest of the nation. With Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal, Denver benefitted greatly. Historic building were restored, roads and trails built, the Moffat Tunnel was completed through the Rocky Mountains, The Denver Municipal Airport was opened in 1929.
During World War II, many federal government offices were established in Denver. Gas and oil companies also set up headquarters and offices in Denver because of its proximity to the mountains. Denver began to grow into a true city, a bustling downtown and spreading suburbs. Coloradans are extremely aware of their environment and environmental concerns. When the Winter Olympics were awarded to the city in 1976 but residents rejected hosting the games due to the impact on the environment and landscape.
The 1980s and early 1990’s saw the construction of a new baseball stadium, a new airport and convention center. Arts and culture were fostered. Denver was becoming a diverse, rich city.
Road construction, environmental regulations and a light rail system have helped Denver deal with congestion, traffic and environmental concerns. Economically, Denver is stronger than ever. The core of economic activities include energy, government, agriculture, tourism and health care.

Climate

Transportation
Denver acknowledged the problems they were experiencing with growth in relation to transportation and environment. Available are both bus lines and commuter trains. These allow for transportation between the airport and important destinations, especially in the downtown area. Skyride is a bus service offered from the airport to destinations all over Denver. It is inexpensive and very efficient. Visitors staying in the downtown area have a myriad of public transportation at their disposal in addition to a simple walk between lodging and area attractions.

Entertainment and Attractions

Denver has a rich and diverse community that has fostered a wide variety of leisure activities. Theater, sports and outdoor activities are all very popular in the area. For the sports fans there is
Coors field, home to the Colorado Rockies baseball team and Mile High Stadium home to the Denver Broncos football team. The Pepsi Center is home to the Denver Nuggets basketball team.
There are a variety of parks for outdoor activities: Cheesman Park; Denver Botanic Gardens; and Washington Park. Golf at City Park Golf Course and biking along the Greenway Trail that follows the South Platte River. Just a short drive out of the city and into the mountains there is hiking, camping and fishing at Mt. Evans as well as a beautiful drive through the mountains on the Mt. Evans byway.
For museum goers there is a wide variety of destinations. For art there are the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art and the Denver Art Museum. There is the Denver Museum for Art and Science as well as the Forney Transportation Museum. For the performing arts, one can catch a show at the Denver Theater for Performing Arts or the Denver Center Theater Company. For the kids there is the Denver Zoo, Denver Aquarium and the Denver Children’s Museum.
Shopping and nightlife are also very popular activities. The renovated Union Station now houses several restaurants and bars. Larimer Square offers shopping and dining in the newly restored downtown area. Downtown Denver offers hundreds of restaurants and nightclubs for a vibrant nightlife.

Taxes

Taxes that one will have to incur when visiting Denver include a 7.62% sales tax. There is 11.25% tax on short term car rentals. An 8% tax is applied to food and beverage and liquor store sales. Marijuana, which is now legal in Colorado, has a tax rate of 21.12%. Lodging has a tax rate of 14.75%. All of these taxes are divided among the state and local government and a portion of all taxes is earmarked for the Cultural Facilities District. (Denver Combined Tax Rates)

Tourism

According to Blevin, over 64 million tourists visited Denver and Colorado in 2013. In Denver, overnight guests spent over $8 billion dollars. Denver accounts for fifty percent of tourism revenue in the state. Over 14 million visitors made Denver a destination in their travels in 2013.
Colorado implemented a tourism campaign, “Come to Life” to attract visitors to the state four years ago. Each year has seen steady growth in the number of visitors to the state. According to the Dean Runyan and Associates report, tourism revenue in Denver has doubled since 2002.
Peak season for tourism in Denver is the summer months, June through August. The weather is beautiful and outside activities abound. There are several art and music events that are planned for the summer months. The shoulder seasons are the spring, April through May and the autumn, September through October. Winter is the slow season. The skiing resorts of Colorado draw many more of the tourists during the winter months.
People visit Denver for a variety of reasons. Conventions in downtown Denver accounted for over 800,000 attendees in 2013. The leisure market accounted for 5 million visitors in 2012. This represents people who specifically chose Denver as their destination for vacation. Business travelers accounted for 2.3 million travelers, which is actually low compared to previous years.
The convention market attracted several large groups in 2012-2013. Groups that held their conventions at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver included SnowSports Industries of America, National Council of Mathematics Teachers and American Institute of Architects. Upcoming conventions this year include the Denver Boat Show, American Institute of Architects and the American Diabetes Association. Events booked at the Colorado Convention
Center often spill out into surrounding hotels. Most conventions are booked during the shoulder seasons.

Annual Events

Annual events that draw tourists include the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, which is a two week event. The Alpine Ski World Championships are held in Beaver Creek and draws
many tourists into Denver. Denver ComicCon is hosted in May. Every summer Denver offers the Shakespeare Festival. The Cherry Creek Art Festival and The Renaissance Festival is held every summer. Biennial of the Americas takes place on alternating years. The Evergreen Jazz Festival is a huge music event that takes place every summer. The Denver Fair and Colorado State Fair are also very popular summer events.

Why Book Denver?

Denver is beautiful and unique city. It history is rich with Western folklore and its present is that of a contemporary, eclectic city that appeals to a wide variety of visitors. Leisure activities range from strolls though beautiful parks, hiking and fishing in the nearby mountains, or a round of golf. A visitor could browse the museums during their free time or go shopping in the Larimer District downtown. Nightlife is varied and exciting from fine dining restaurants, sports bars and night clubs, there is an option for every taste.
Denver is made to host meetings and conventions. The Colorado Convention Center can host meetings of any size. Hotels are close by and abundant. Hotels offer a variety of options for smaller meetings. Transportation and getting around the city are very easy.

Venue Research and Food and Beverage Outlets

For larger meetings, 1000 people for example there is the Colorado Convention Center. The Convention Center is located in downtown Denver. The exhibit hall on the second level has 584,000 of square feet. This space can be broken down into 6 smaller sized halls. The street level holds the Bellco Theater, Mile High Ballroom, Four Seasons Ballroom and meeting rooms that range in size from 800 square feet to 10000 square feet. The Colorado Convention Center offers
catering through their partner Centerplate, SmartCity for all computer and networking needs, and Image Audio Visuals for all audio and visual needs. Centerplate can cater any event from coffee breaks to five course gourmet menus. Lodging accommodations are not available at the convention center but it is within walking distance of dozens of hotels in downtown Denver. In the neighborhood around the convention center are many restaurants, an art garden and the popular 16th Mall nearby. There is a 1000 vehicle parking garage and the center is accessible to public transportation routes. There is an Italian restaurant, attached to the convention center called Pizza Republica which offers casual dining.
The Denver Marriott City Center is a full service hotel. It offers 32,000 square feet of meeting space and 29 meeting rooms. The ballroom can accommodate 2,500 people. The also offer exhibition space and a large outdoor plaza. All services are offered that are needed to ensure a successful meeting, technology, computers, audio and visual equipment. Full food and beverage menus are also available. There is also a staffed business center.
The hotel offers 559 guest rooms and 14 suites. There are a variety of rooms from Kings to doubles to accommodate a variety of guests who may want their own room or to share a room. It is also located downtown close to museums, shopping and food and beverage. It has access to
public transportation, although many attractions are within walking distance. There is an in house fitness center and an indoor pool. Valet parking is offered at a premium price.
The Marriott offers limited food and beverage options. There is a breakfast buffet or a full American breakfast every morning. There are no options for an a la carte breakfast. There is also an on-site Starbucks. Starbucks offers coffee, teas, pastries and some sandwiches. The casual D-
Spot Lounge offers lunch and dinner. The menu for lunch offers sandwiches and salads and is a bit eclectic. The dinner menu offers the same items with the addition of steak, chicken and salmon entrees. D-Spot also has a full service bar. There is another restaurant that is currently under renovation. The Marriott is within walking distance of dozens of restaurants, casual, fine dining and ethnic. There are many choices for food and beverage service. Attendees can walk to Sullivan’s Steakhouse or Panzano for a casual Italian meal.
Another option is the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center. It is located fifteen miles from downtown Denver. It offers 60,000 square feet of meeting space that can be customized into as many as 43 meeting rooms. It offers onsite computer and audio visual support. The property is completely self-contained in services they provide. There is full food and beverage support that can be custom tailored for your meetings needs. The hotel offers three hundred guest rooms, kings and doubles as well as 19 suites. Other amenities include an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, fitness center, jogging trails and a full service spa. Guests can either valet or self-park their vehicles on property.
Food and beverage outlets include five restaurants. Then Garden Terrace serves breakfast and lunch, both a la carte and a buffet. The Fireside Wine Bar is open seven days for lunch and dinner. The menu consists of mainly of appetizers and snacks. The Spotted Dog is a traditional
pub open in the evenings. It offers games such as dart and the menu consists of mainly sandwiches and appetizers and a wide range of beers and liquors. The Golf Grill is open during golf season. It is a casual restaurant offering soups, salads and sandwiches. There is also room service available breakfast through late night.
The Inverness is a full service hotel that could easily serve a large conference, but their location would make it difficult for attendees to enjoy all that Denver has to offer. If one is planning a meeting, where the attendees can simply stay on property due to a rigorous schedule, the Inverness is ideal.
The Hyatt Regency in downtown Denver is a great choice as well. The Hyatt is home to 1000 guest rooms and 21 suites. There is over 110,000 square feet of meeting space that can be customized to the group’s needs. They also partner with their sister hotel the Grand Hyatt Denver which is two blocks away. Here is full technology, audio visual and business support. Food and beverage services are also offered and can be tailored for specific needs. The downtown location is ideal for accessing outside activities such as shopping, restaurants, museums and public transportation. The Hyatt also offers a full service spa, fitness center and indoor swimming pool.
Food and beverage options include Altitude, a full service restaurant offering breakfast lunch and dinner. A buffet is available for both breakfast and lunch. Perks Coffee and More is open 24 hours and offers coffee, tea and light fare such as pastry and sandwiches. The Peaks Lounge on the 27th floor offers beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains with cocktails and some light
appetizers. It is open every evening and available for private parties, which may be an option for a group. The Strata Bar on the main floor, is an open area bar offering drinks and light appetizers seven days a week in the afternoon through the evening.
The historical Brown Palace Hotel is another option for meetings and accommodations. It is located in downtown. It has 13,000 square feet of meeting space, 12 meeting rooms and can host up to 500 people. Technology, audio visual and business center are all available. Full food and
beverage services are also available. The hotel is Denver’s only four star and four diamond hotel. It houses 241 rooms, a dozen of which are specialized suites. There is a fitness center and full service spa on property.
For breakfast and lunch, there is Ellyngton’s, which serves a full a la carte breakfast and lunch daily. The Sip and Tavern is a casual establishment. They serve lunch and dinner daily and is casual in nature. The menu includes prime rib and seafood. The Brown is well known for its afternoon High Tea which is served in the lobby daily at 12 o’clock. The Palace Arms is their fine dining establishment. It is open for dinner daily and features gourmet American fare.
The location is downtown and opens many possibilities to other establishments for food and beverage as well as entertainment and leisure activities. The property offers valet parking on site for $40 a day. However, local transportation in the downtown area is excellent and a car may not be needed.
In the downtown area there are several restaurants that can be used as alternatives for meals out from the hotels. 1515 is a steakhouse in downtown that can host parties for up to 150 people. Apalloosa Grill, American fare can also be booked for up to 200 people. The chef will work with
groups to tailor menus. The Corner Office Restaurant is a few blocks from the convention center and can accommodate up to 300 people and offers a variety of menus that they will customize.

Sales Kits

The online sales kits for both the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Marriott were very professional. The services offered, the facilities available and nearby facilities and activities were clearly outlined. Direction, parking and other logistics were covered thoroughly as well. Pricing was a problem with each of the venues however. Unless, I was willing to book and begin
negotiations, information on pricing was very limited. Room rates were clearly posted for the hotels on their websites but better deals can be negotiated when reserving a block of rooms.

References

Blevins, Jason. Travelers stuffed $17.3 billion into Colorado tourism coffers in 2013. The
Denver Post, 29 July 2014 Retrieved from:
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26236834/travelers-stuffed-17-3-billion-into-
colorado-tourism
Dean Runyan Associates. The Economic Impact of Travel on Colorado 1996-2013 July 2014
Retrieved from http://www.deanrunyan.com/doc_library/COImp.pdf
Denver Combined Tax Rates Retrieved from
http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/571/documents/Tax%20Rates%20effective%201-1-
2014. pdf
Leonard, Stephen and Noel, Thomas. Denver: Mining Camp to Metropolis. Denver, University
Press of Colorado, 1991.
National Weather Service, Denver. Retrieved from: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/cli/climo.php