Local Update: The city's largest property, the 1,225-room Sheraton Denver Hotel, has been transformed by a $70 million revamp. Every inch of the property has been refurbished, including the more than 133,000 square feet of meeting space. Flat-screen TVs, Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds and ergonomic desk chairs are among the guest-room enhancements. Work on the pool was slated to finish up this month. The Concord Club level is set for completion by January.
A 403-room Embassy Suites is now under construction across the street from the Colorado Convention Center. The property, with 20,000 square feet of meeting space, is expected to open in October 2010.
The 240-room Four Seasons Denver Hotel still is on schedule to open sometime in 2010. The property will feature about 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa, a rooftop garden terrace and a restaurant.
Just north of Denver, the 369-room Westin Westminster has completed a $9 million renovation with a revamp of the property's 30,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition, all guest rooms have been outfitted with new TVs, soft goods and more, and the hotel's lobby has been redone.
A 180-room W Hotel announced by local developer Sage Hospitality for Denver's trendy LoDo (lower downtown) neighborhood is on hold until the financial markets improve.
At the historic 1892 Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, the bathrooms in 199 of the 241 guest rooms are being refitted with updated plumbing and fixtures. The project was started in 2008 but will not be completed until late 2010 in order not to disturb groups in house. The luxury property offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space.
Work is finished on the renovation of the lobby of the 219-room Warwick Denver Hotel, the final piece of a $25 million project. All guest rooms have new carpeting and furniture, 32-inch flat-screen TVs and Serta Eurotop mattresses. The property offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
A $9 million rooms renovation was completed in February at the Denver Marriott City Center. The 615-room property offers 27,000 square feet of meeting space.
Set to open in August is the 161-room Holiday Inn & Suites Denver Airport. The property will feature more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant, a fitness area, a business center and complimentary shuttle service.
The new Aloft Denver International Airport debuted last December. The property features 144 guest rooms and approximately 10,800 square feet of meeting space.
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Groundbreakings have not yet taken place for two museum buildings planned for the city. The Colorado Historical Society will be relocating the Colorado History Museum to a new $113 million home. Funding relies on taxes levied on gaming venues in Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek, where betting rises from a maximum of $5 to a maximum of $100 in July. A 31,500-square-foot facility that will house the 2,000-piece collection of American abstract expressionist Clyfford Still is in the works, but at press time an opening date had yet to be established.
 Meeting Hotels: More than 8,300 rooms are within walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center. Major properties include the 1,225-room Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1,100-room Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, 615-room Denver Marriott City Center, 512-room Grand Hyatt Denver and 430-room Westin Tabor Center. For more information, visit omfg.com.
 Convention Center:
Colorado Convention Center; exhibit space, 584,000 square feet; number
of meeting rooms, 63; (303) 228-8000; denverconvention.com
 Airport Transit: Denver International Airport, 20 miles northeast of downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, flat rate of $46.50; by Super Shuttle, $19
Taxes: Room tax, 7.5%; sales tax, 7.35%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.85%
 Group Venue: South of Denver in Littleton, the Arrowhead Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout that sits among the foothills' signature red rocks. Whether or not they participate in an outing, attendees will love dining in the 2,500-square-foot ballroom, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. Arrowhead welcomes groups of up to 150. (303) 973-9614; arrowheadcolorado.com
When the weather is beautiful, the Washington Park Boathouse is an ideal spot for a gathering of about 150 people. The 1913 structure, designed by J.J.B. Benedict and restored in 1987 by Anthony Pellecchia Associates, sits on the scenic south shore of Denver's Smith Lake. The facility, part of Washington Park near the city's Cherry Creek district, is open from mid-April to mid-October. Fishing and boating are available on the lake, and the park is known for its flowers. (720) 913-0766; denvergov.org/parksandrecreation
 CVB Services: Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, (303) 892-1112; visitdenver.org
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