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Denver has a reputation as one of the greatest beer cities in the world. It will be obvious why during the first ever Denver Beer Fest (www.DenverBeerFest.com), as businesses all over the city combine efforts with local breweries in order to provide an unique perspective on the world of beer brewing. The festival takes place between September 18th and 27th, 2009, nestled in between the two weekends of the Oktoberfest in Denver, which is centered on Larimer street.

The Denver Beer Fest is a celebration of quality brews that lasts for 10 days and is full of beer tastings at bars and restaurants, dinners matched with quality beers, beer tappings, trips to breweries, opportunities to meet brewers, and other beer-related events.

This festival for beer lovers serves as a lead up to the famous beer competition event, the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival

Check out some of the other events supported by VISIT DENVER that take place during the festival:

** John Hickenlooper, the current mayor of Denver and one-time brew pub proprietor, will kick off the festivities at 4pm on September 18th by tapping the first beer cask and announcing the start of the Beer Fest.

** A variety of restaurants, including Rioja, Stubens, Elways, Oceanaire, Duo, Vesta Dipping Grill, TAG, Rialto Café and others will be providing hungry and thirsty celebrants with dinners matched to choice brews – in many cases the actual brewer will be on hand as well

** At Wynkoop Brewery, twenty rare and unique beers will be offered for the tasting by awareness group Pints for Prostates

** Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret will feature tastings from Avery Brewery and an opportunit to meet the brewmaster during an event called “Beer and Burlesque, Tastings and Tassels”

** The hard to fine beer called Coor’s Barman will be offered up in various events at the Golden Hotel

** A Winter Park excursion sponsored by Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Café

** A “brews cruise” will be running all day long, starting with a healthy breakfast *

** Two nights of tastings and three-course meals paired with the right beers at WaterCourse Foods

According to Richard Scharf, president of VISIT DENVER, explained that Denver is sometimes referred to as “The Napa Valley of Beer,” and it offers plenty of beer-related landmarks and events during the Great American Beer Festival. He noted that combining them under the Denver Beer Fest label was just a natural thing to do. Scharf explained how in the past, none of these beer-related events were unified, so people had trouble finding information about them.

Devner Beer Fest has a centralized home on the Web at www.DenverBeerFest.com , which serves as a hub for information on beer events during the week. Scharf referred to a similar event that takes place annually in Philadelphia that grew exponentially just a year after it was first launched.

Two key events mark the beginning and ending of the 10-day festival:

Larimer Street Oktoberfest: A traditional celebration in Denver, Oktoberfest takes place from September 18th to 20th and again from the 25th to the 27th. Taking its inspiration from the real deal in Munich, Germany, Denver’s Oktoberfest pays homage to this classic tradition. It features musical performances from groups on tour, concerts with accordions, stunning dance acts from around the world, events for the kids, a 10K/5K run and the Long Dog Derby. That’s not to mention all of the great customary food.

The 28th Annual Great American Beer Festival sponsored by the Brewer’s Association: This festival runs from September 24th through the 26th and takes place at the Colorado Convention Center. Noted by the Guinness World Records organization as offering the largest variety of beers in the world. Nearly 50,000 beer lovers visit each year, along with a slew of notable beer critics. The event features over 2,000 distinct beers from 400 breweries.

Scharf explained that in 2004, VISIT DENVER kicked off Denver Restaurant Week in order to bring more attention to the dining options in the city. Over the course of those years, the event grew from featuring just 84 venues to over 200 last year. All in all, almost 300,000 meals were presented, and at lower than usual prices. Denver Beer Fest is looking to replicate that level of success, and get the word out both to Colorado residents and people across the country that Colorado has great beer and great breweries.

$500 reward packages (available towards industry organizations) are now available for meeting planners who book a meeting at any Omni Hotel. Thanks to Omni’s Select Rewards program these cash rewards are available immediately upon the closing of a meeting or convention contract.

$500 reward packages can be applied to PCMA, RCMA, ASAE, MPI and NBTA conferences, foundation donations towards any of the listed organizations or as annual dues.
Our $500 reward package is just one of many new programs designed to help meeting planners with their fast-paced, demanding jobs. On top of the reward package Omni also offers the ZERO Attrition, RapidResponse and ReSELL programs to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s versatile meeting planners. And, as a bonus the $500 reward is provided immediately after the contract is signed. There is no waiting for the meeting to take place, or payment to be received in full; it’s literally as easy as turning in a signed contract to get a $500 reward. This is a great way to help pay for an upcoming conference without having to wait for your admissions fees.

Terms and Conditions: The $500 reward package offer cannot be used in concert with other promotions and offers. This reward package is applicable only to new group bookings that create $25,000 or more in rooms revenue that are both scheduled and consumed in the 2009 calendar year. The reward package must be used in a way specified within the reward description including payment organization fees or donation to meeting attendees for the purpose of raffle prizes and giveaways.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working with both the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) and the Convention Industry Council (CIC)’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) in order to develop new standards of what constitutes “green” for the meeting and event industry. The plan has been to design a uniform measurement of environmental performance for the industry.

It has been announced that the final draft of the Green Meeting and Event Standards are now ready for review and comment by ASTM International and the meetings industry. The draft standards can be read at the APEX virtual blog site at http://wp.apexsolution.org – Observations and feedback regarding the standards may be left at the blog.

The Green Meeting and Event Standards plans will go through several committees at both APEX and ASTM before being submitted to ASTM in a final draft. All feedback received prior to September 11, whether through any committees or through the APEX blog, will be given due consideration before the final draft is produced.

It is projected that there will be a final Green Meeting and Event Standards that has been officially approved by both APEX and ASTM by the end of 2009. And, while the standards will be voluntary, it is expected that widespread use by planners and competition will incite others to adopt the standards.

CHRISTMAS DAY BUFFET

Friday, December 25^th, 2009

12pm to 3:30pm

Boulderado Mezzanine

Adults $33.95

Children 6 – 12 $15.95

Children 5 and Under FREE

Prices are PLUS Tax and 20% Gratuity

Christmas dinner at the Hotel Boulderado…a special holiday tradition that the entire family will enjoy. Imagine sitting with your loved ones in our beautifully decorated dining room, feasting on some of the most delicious foods you have ever tasted. Picture first-class service in an elegant atmosphere, with your family at the center of it all. Envision our twenty-seven foot tall Christmas tree sparkling on the Mezzanine while you stroll through the hotel’s lobby, just to take a quick look at all of the magnificence of this historic landmark. The food…the service…the atmosphere…Christmas dinner at Hotel Boulderado has been a beloved Boulder tradition for many years now. Come join us this year and find out why.

MENU

Chef-Carved Rosemary and Garlic-Rubbed Prime Rib, served with Roasted Shallot Au Jus and Horseradish Cream Sauce

Chicken Cacciatore with Cremini Mushrooms, Red Wine, Tomatoes, and Fresh Thyme

Fresh Oven-Baked Cod with a Butter Crumb Topping, Grilled Baby Bok Choy, and Apple Miso Broth

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Roasted Squash and Ricotta Cheese, served with Red Lentil Stew

Boulderado Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere Cheese and Caramelized Onions

Green Beans with Julienne Bell Peppers and Pine Nuts, served with Fines Herbes Butter

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Fresh Chive Butter

Mixed Winter Greens Salad with Candied Pecans and Caramelized Pears, served with Sherry Vinaigrette and Maytag Blue Cheese Dressing

Peel-and-Eat Shrimp and Crab Cocktail Claws with Cocktail Sauce and Lemons

Fresh Fruit and Cheese Platter

DESSERTS

Eggnog Cheesecake

Chocolate Kahlua Toffee Cake

Lemon Crème Brulee

Fresh Pear and Cranberry Pie

Tiramisu Cheesecake

Chocolate Fountain

Hotel Boulderado

2115 Thirteenth St.

Boulder, Colorado 80302

For Reservations, Please Call: 303.440.2880

According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), there will be a decline in the number of travelers over the Labor Day holiday this year. During the 2008 holiday period approximately 17 million people traveled; this year, the ATA states there will likely be about one million less travelers, amounting to only about 16 million people. It is projected that there will be nearly 3% fewer international air travelers and roughly 3.5% fewer domestic air travelers.

Although air travel has been decreasing, most planes have remained near capacity. Median airfare prices have begun to display a slight rise as the air carriers have persisted with their downsizing efforts; however, prices are still below those that were charged during the 2008 Labor Day holiday season.

Source: Air Transport Association