The winners of the 2009 Colorado Meetings + Events Reader’s Choice awards were announced this week. The highly coveted awards went to several winners who have enjoyed the honor in the past, as well as some first time recipients. In all, twenty awards were handed out, including some awards that the editors Colorado Meetings + Events gave out to organizations that were worthy of recognition, even if they didn’t make it on to the final ballots.
The winner of Best Attraction was the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. This three time winner is a favorite among event planners and attendees. Starkey Productions/Pro Entertainment won best Entertainment Agency, while the Colorado Convention Center won for best Green Meeting Facility. Other recipients included the Denver ChopHouse & Brewery for best restaurant with private dining, Invesco Field at Mile Hile Stadium for best Meeting Venue without a Hotel. There was even a tie this year, when The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center and Keystone Conference Center were both awarded best Conference Center.
The editor’s picks included Devil’s Thumb Ranch for Green Meeting/Event Facility and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum for best attraction. Read about all the winners at Colorado Meetings + Events.
Although The Broadmoor is known as one of the premier Colorado hotels for meetings and events, the hotel recently announced a startling new guarantee that will take effect immediately. For the entire calendar year of 2009, this guarantee provides event planners with the certainty they need to ensure that their events go off without a hitch.
During this time period, if a meeting held at The Broadmoor does not provide superior value in service, facilities and quality, the charges to the master account will be completely waived. “We feel that in difficult times it is more important than ever to bring people together,” says Steve Bartolin, President and CEO. “At the same time, organizations want to be certain they are making a responsible decision in doing so. I can’t think of a better way to assure that decision then by guaranteeing the outcome, or the entire meeting is free. To my knowledge, this has never been done before and it demonstrates the confidence we have in our staff.”
For more information about the Broadmoor’s new guarantee or for more information on booking an event or meeting, please visit www.thebroadmoor.com
In February, the Pinnacle Club by Grand Hyatt Denver won the “Best of Weddings” award for the second year in a row. The Knot, a national and acclaimed wedding publication, awards the “Best of Weddings” award each year to a venue that offers excellence in wedding hosting. The Pinnacle Club received the award in 2008, and according to The Knot it’s still the perfect venue for the wedding of your dreams.
The Pinnacle Club is a two-level event venue that connects to the Grand Hyatt in downtown Denver. One of the things that sets The Pinnacle apart is its view of almost 11,000 miles of mountain peaks including Pikes Peak which is over 100 miles away. The view is almost as broad as the entire state of Massachusetts, with a full 32 of the mountains reaching at least 13,000 feet above sea level. This amazing vista is one of the highlights of attending the venue, and makes a beautiful backdrop for a wedding, or any event.
Aside from the natural wonders of the area, the facility features 513 rooms, leather furnishings, around-the-clock room service, a fitness facility, and special touches like granite in the bathrooms and oversized showers.
For more information, visit GrandDenver.Hyatt.com where you can see a video about the benefits of having a wedding at the Pinnacle Club.
The 2009 Colorado Springs Official Visitor’s Guide is now available. The Official Visitor’s Guide (OVG) theme for 2009 is Go for the Gold! ™ The Guide is a collaboration of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association and Experience Colorado Springs, and covers attractions and events in the Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Region in 2009.
The Go for the Gold! ™ theme for this year is to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush. But the theme also applies to the new United States Olympic Committee Headquarters that’s been opened in downtown Colorado Springs and the predominant color of Colorado Springs’ fall foliage.
Changes in the 2009 OVG include a comprehensive listing of low-cost and free activities in parks, as well as a larger editorial section. Each year, 150,000 people request the Official Visitor’s Guide by phone or over the Internet. Many people stop at the Visitor Information Center and pick up a copy, and the rest are distributed to places like hotels, popular tourist sites and attractions, and other visitor centers. With 600,000 copies printed, the OVG is has the largest distribution of any Colorado-centered publication.
Capella Telluride, located in Mountain Village in one of the most breathtaking mountain settings in Colorado, opened in February, 2009. Capella Telluride offers guests the opportunity to experience world-class amenities and luxury in an intimate venue. Though nestled in an area known for its 19th and 20th century mining communities, this new hotel features the latest technology.
The hotel boasts over 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space that be separated into 3 separates spaces or used as one large room. Next door, the Telluride Conference Center offers 14,000 square feet of space for events and meetings to help handle larger groups.
Within Capella Telluride, an elegant ballroom, the Idarado Ballroom, has room for 270 guest when arranged reception-style and 170 guests for sit-down meals. The hotel’s 100 guest rooms and 60 condo suites feature all of the standard amenities as well as some services unique to Capella Telluride. Personal Assistants can help groups take full advantage of everything the Telluride area has to offer, and guests can relax at the alpine-inspired Spa or workout in the state-of-the-art fitness area with its pool and hot tub that are indoors but feature a spectacular mountain view.
With all this, its meeting accommodations and ski valet service during the season, to special events and activities just for kids and teens, Capella Telluride is the perfect place for organizations, business travelers, and family vacations in Colorado.
The highly anticipated Readers Choice Awards Ceremony, held by Colorado Meetings + Events magazine is scheduled to take place on the night of March 16th. During the ceremony winners for the following awards will be announced:
• Best Caterer
• Best Attraction
• Best Venue
Each year, the Reader’s Choice Awards are given to those in the meeting and event field that have gone above and beyond, grabbing the attention of the peers and of the entire industry. Starting at 5:30pm on the 16th, The Infinity Park Center in Glendale, CO will host the event. Live entertainment, cocktails and hors de’ oeuvres will be provided. The actual ceremony will be taking place at 7:00 pm.
In order to attend this meeting, which is free to all in the industry, RVSP’s must be received by the 13th. For more information, please visit http://www.comeetings.com. Valet parking will be provided free of charge for all who attend the event.
The 2009 Finalists have already been selected, and you can get a sneak peek at the honorees at the above website.
