Colorado Springs
The city weathered a difficult early summer, when wildfires ravaged the foothills. All area attractions reopened quickly as the Waldo Canyon fire was contained, but the Flying W Ranch in the Mountain Shadows area, which had been run by the Wolfe family since 1953 and specialized in Western-themed events, was destroyed. The family plans to rebuild; meanwhile, the entertainers at the property, the Flying W Wranglers, still can be hired for events.
Parts of the two-year, $60 million renovation at the 744-room Broadmoor have been finished, including upgrades to the 21 guest rooms in the Southlake building and the 6,300-square-foot Cheyenne Lodge conference space. Scheduled to be completed by April 2013 are the rebuilding of the Tavern's Garden Room; an expansion of the Golden Bee pub; and the addition of an activity center in Broadmoor West, with bowling lanes, billiards and food outlets. The third phase of the project, finishing up in 2014, features the redesign of the West Lobby Bar, the addition of a new Italian restaurant and the expansion of the 154 rooms and baths in Broadmoor West. Currently, the resort has three golf courses and 185,000 square feet of meeting space.
In May, the 117-room Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel, opened in what was once the local stock exchange and the adjacent Independence and Freeman-Telegraph buildings, following a $30 million transformation. The property has 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 3,317-square-foot Grand Ballroom; a spa will open in 2013. The on-site eatery, Springs Orleans, serves Cajun fare, and downtown is on display from the Stratton Lobby Bar.
The Colorado Springs U.S. Olympic Training Center now offers more than 20 meeting rooms totalling 18,433 square feet. The largest space is the 4,114-square-foot West Wing Conference Center; there's also a 225-seat auditorium.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort and the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving jointly offer high-speed team-building activities at Pikes Peak International Raceway. The 316-room resort, a member of the International Association of Conference Centers, features 40,000 square feet of meeting space, the Lotus Salon and Spa, a Pete Dye golf course and three restaurants.
Meeting Hotels
The top meeting properties in town include the 744-room The Broadmoor; 500-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Colorado Springs; 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort; 309-room Colorado Springs Marriott; 299-room Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs--World Arena; 292-room Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs; 207-room Embassy Suites Colorado Springs; 117-room Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel; and 87-room Garden of the Gods Club. For a more complete list of area hotels, go to mcvenues.com.
Airport Transit
Colorado Springs Airport, about 11 miles southeast of the downtown district. Transfer cost by taxi, approximately $20 to $25. Many area hotels offer airport shuttle service.
Taxes
Room tax, 2%; sales tax, 7.4%; total tax on hotel rooms, 9.4%
Group Venues
Colorado Springs was founded in 1871, and the history of the West is preserved in a number of venues around the region. In town is the Ghost Town Wild West Museum, created in 1954, featuring several rescued buildings filled with everyday items from the 1800s and early 1900s. The buildings have been reassembled as a main street inside an old stone structure that was built in 1899. The museum hosts about 150 for a dinner and 250 for a reception. (719) 634-0696
In nearby Manitou Springs is the Miramont Castle Museum, built in 1895 with disparate architectural elements including medieval battlements, a Gothic front door and Flemish stepped gables. Events for up to 50 people can be held there, highlighted by tours through nooks such as a 16-sided room. (719) 685-1011
CVB Services
Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, (800) 888-4748
Refreshed in Aspen
Many properties in this recreation mecca are getting makeovers. The 94-room Hotel Jerome, closed since August, unveils its propertywide renovations in December and welcomes the Auberge Spa. Upgrades began last spring at Kimpton's 90-room Sky Hotel, wrapping up next spring. At Snowmass, the former Silvertree Resort reopens as the 254-room Westin Snowmass Resort on Nov. 15, with its newly renovated 18,100-square-foot conference center; debuting at the same time is the 153-room Wildwood Snowmass. New on the mountain is the $13 million Elk Camp Restaurant, which hosts up to 250 for an event. A slew of other eateries also have opened, including downtown's Meatball Shack.