Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

Colorado

Learn why you should host your next meeting, event or conference in Colorado. 

Why Colorado for Your Next Meeting or Event?

The Centennial State has a wealth of outdoor event and adventure space, and more indoor meeting space is on the way. Denver is in the process of expanding the Colorado Convention Center, and updates to the Denver Airport are underway, making more space for large groups and easing their arrivals.

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Denver

Event Venues, Additions & Renovations

• An expansion of the Colorado Convention Center is expected to finish in late 2023. The plan is to add 80,000 square feet of meeting space and 100,000 square feet of prefunction space, which will include a 50,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with mountain views. The center’s technology and networking spaces also will be enhanced. 

• Denver International Airport is in the midst of a massive renovation to its Jeppesen Terminal. A budget of $770 million has been set aside to enhance security, improve passenger flow and increase the facility’s capacity. Phase one is on track for completion by the end of the year, while work on phase two will begin over the summer. The airport is investing another $1.5 billion to add 39 new gates by 2022.

• The 1,231-room Sheraton Denver Downtown has completed an $80 million property wide renovation. The hotel now sports the brand’s newest look in the rooms, lobby and 133,000 square feet of meeting space.

•  Marriott has added the Element Denver Downtown East Hotel near the convention center. The property has 118 guest rooms, 39 suites and two meeting rooms.

• Hyatt Hotels has broken ground on the 216-room Thompson Denver, the first Thompson hotel in Colorado, which is expected to open in 2021. The property will be on Market Street in LoDo (Lower Downtown), around the corner from Union Station. The design aims for a modern-day chalet vibe, evidenced in the oversized fireplace that will extend from the lowerlevel meeting space through to the lobby floor. Amenities will include a grab-and-go café that will become a bar in the evening. The brand’s signature Thompson Suite will be one of 15 luxury suites offered by the hotel. 

Next Door to Denver

Raw Space With Promise
At the People’s Building in Aurora, the Gallery has floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar, while the Flex features an LED wall and retractable seating. 

• An expansion of the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center has been halted until further notice. The project was expected to add 317 guest rooms to the 1,501-room resort. The Gaylord Rockies, which debuted in 2018, offers more than 517,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 47,748-square-foot ballroom.

• The city of Aurora has instituted a $2 destination marketing improvement fee per room night, hoping to bring in an extra $3 million per year to promote the city. The charge is in addition to the city’s 13 percent total tax on hotel rooms. Meeting hotels in Aurora include the 249-room Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver and the brand-new 1,501-room Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. 

Meeting Hotels

More than 8,600 guest rooms are within walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center. To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s new venue finder.

Colorado Convention Center

Colorado Convention Center; exhibit space, 584,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 63.

Transportation

Denver International Airport, about 30 miles from downtown. Transfer cost to downtown:

  • By taxi, $68
  • By Lyft and Uber, about $40

Taxes

  • Room tax, 10.75% 
  • Sales tax, 4% 
  • Tax on hotels with 50 or more rooms, 1% 
  • Total tax on hotel rooms, 14.75% (15.75% in larger hotels)

CONTACT: Visit Denver

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