On Location — Savvy Planners Book These Colorado Hot Spots

Vegas, LA, New York? Sure, they’re great places to hold an event or a corporate convention. They’re also expensive, crowded, and can be a logistical nightmare. Good thing there are fantastic places closer to home that are affordable, accommodating, and easy to navigate. Take a look at some fun facts about these Colorado hot spots that are fast becoming popular with planners:

Create Lasting Memories Here

Visit Colorado Springs and find out why it’s a top destination with over 55 area attractions to find fun when the work gets done.
• Choose your accommodations from 5-star resorts, boutique properties and brand-name hotels, all with fabulous views at which you can rest, relax, and meet.
• Restaurants here range from gourmet cuisine to rustic outdoor farm-to-table suppers. There are even foodie tours for the gourmand in your group.
• Make your meeting memorable at any of the area’s fabulous venues including The Abbey, Bella Vista Bison, Briarhurst Manor Estates, or Cloud Camp.
• There are more than 55 incredible can’t-miss attractions here including Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, and the Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

Take the Trip of a Lifetime

Grand Junction is home to awe-inspiring natural beauty with its dramatic red rock landscape, craggy Redland desert, and turbulent Colorado River.
• Whether you choose a cozy hotel, rustic retreat, or luxury inn, you’ll find accommodations here are affordable and comfortable with amazing service.
• Order classic American cuisine or international fare at the city’s diverse restaurants. From old-fashioned favorites like BBQ to modern culinary classics like Colorado lamb with cherry red wine reduction, there’s no shortage of must-try restaurants in this town.
• Gather your group in one of the area’s exceptional meeting and banquet venues, such as the Two Rivers Convention Center, Two Rivers Winery & Chateau, the Museum of Western Colorado, or the Colorado National Monument.
• When work is done, see the sights, go biking or hiking, ski or snowboard, play a round of golf or relax at a spa. From breweries to distilleries, art galleries to museums, there’s something for everyone in Grand Junction.

Discover All the Hidden Treasures

Boulder sits 5400 feet above sea level and enjoys 300 plus days of sunshine per year.
• Founded in 1859 by explorers, Zebulon Pike, Stephan Long, and John Fremont discovered gold here, sparking interest in the area.
• Meeting space is distinctive and abundant, including the Folsom Field-Rooftop Terrace Club, CU University Memorial Center, and the Fox Theater to name just a few.
• There is plenty of comfortable lodging available here, from upscale to family-friendly accommodations, as well as dozens of casual and fine dining establishments. In fact, Bon Appetit magazine called Boulder “America’s Foodiest City.”
• Don’t forget to experience the local culture and attractions by visiting the brick-paved Pearl Street, the Flatirons, Boulder Theater, and the University of Colorado Campus.

A Fairytale Snow Globe

Visit Vail Valley for year-round events including the US Open Snowboarding Championships, the Burton US Open Halfpipe Junior Jam, and Spring Back to Vail.
• Lodging is plentiful here from rustic lodges like the Border Lodge, to luxury spa condominiums like The Vail Spa.
• Whether you’re a skier or snowboarder, hiker or biker, shopper or foodie, there’s plenty of fabulous things to do in the Vail Valley.
• Distinctive and versatile meeting venues include 4 Eagle Ranch for up to 800, BearCat Stables to accommodate 200, or the Betty Ford Gardens, the highest elevation botanical gardens in the world.
• Vail boasts loads of local attractions like the Minturn Saloon, the most historic restaurant in the Valley; Red Cliff, the oldest town in Eagle County; and the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with cave tours, thrill rides, restaurants, special events, and more.

This is No Place for Ordinary

Aspen Chamber Resort Association for year-round adventures, arts and culture, and small-town charm all nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains.
• There are lots of unique and interesting things to do and see in Aspen, including skiing, mountain gondola rides, live music, and scenic drives. Aspen’s can’t-miss, main attraction is The Maroon Bells, a series of distinctively bell-shaped, wine-colored peaks towering above the Maroon Valley.
• Whether you want to get comfy in a rustic lodge or pamper yourself at a five-star luxury hotel, you’ll find some of Colorado’s best accommodations in Aspen. From vacation rentals to B&Bs, you’re guaranteed to find relaxation here.
• Get a taste of local flavor at over 80 restaurants serving everything from American cuisine to Asian, Mexican, and Italian. “Adventure Dining” is a “thing” in Aspen, with year-round outdoor and deck dining at some of the most scenic mountain-top locations.
• A variety of unique meeting spaces can accommodate conferences or banquets. Consider the Aspen Institute, the Aspen Art Museum, the Holden-Marolt Mining & Ranch Museum, or the Wheeler Opera House for a memorable gathering.

The Base Camp for Rocky Mountain National Park

Estes Park is the place to plan your unforgettable event. Explore the Rocky Mountains, encounter real wildlife, celebrate the Estes Park Winter Festival, or the Wine and Chocolate Festival.
• A variety of unique meeting and banquet venues await your group, including the Fall River Village Resort, Taharaa Mountain Lodge, or Estes Park Events Complex.
• Whether you want to book a luxury hotel or a rustic lodge, a B&B or historic inn, area lodging is comfortable and accommodating.
• With an abundance of locally-owned restaurants, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, from Grubsteak Restaurant, to Latitude 105 Alehouse, Claire’s on the Park Restaurant, and Mama Rose’s Restaurant.
• When the work day is done you can go for a trail ride at the Sombrero Stables; navigate a ropes course at Open Air Adventure Park; go rafting on the Colorado River with Estes Park Adventures; or relax at the Elements of Touch Wellness Spa.