The Mile High City is the only mountain entry on Cvent’s list of the Top 10 U.S. Meeting Destinations, which is an even greater distinction considering its relative geographical isolation, being the only major metropolis for hundreds of miles.
While this may make its drive-market position a bit of a challenge, Denver more than makes up for it via its standing as a major hub for air travel. According to Toronto-based market research firm Longwoods International, 36% of Denver’s 2024 overnight visitors—12% over the national average—arrive at Denver International Airport and then end up spending 70% of their time in the city.
Once there, Denver certainly has enough to keep them in-market.
“Denver is naturally uplifting by nature,” said Lee Ann Benavidez, SVP and chief sales and services officer for Visit Denver. “With 300 days of sunshine, a walkable downtown, thriving arts and culture, an award-winning culinary scene, a state-of-the-art convention center and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver is the perfect place for meetings, events and conventions. Iconic attractions like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Union Station and the Denver Art Museum showcase the city’s unique character.”
No Resting on Laurels
Denver’s urban renewal is a work in progress, as the recent completion of the $176 million renovation of the 16th Street Mall (now just “16th Street”) demonstrates.
In addition, the record number of attendees at the Colorado Convention Center “can be attributed to the convention center’s recently finished expansion project, which added more than 80,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space as well as an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the city and the beautiful mountains,” Benavidez noted. “Attendees enjoy the city’s affordability, vibrant culinary and craft beer scene, thriving arts and culture, and exciting professional sports.”
Among downtown’s 13,000 hotel rooms are those of two Michelin One Key Hotels: the 239-room Four Seasons with 24,411 square feet of meeting space and the 112-room Crawford, with no purpose-built meeting space but with access to offsite venues within Union Station. (Denver’s third One Key property, the 63-room Clayton Hotel & Members Club, is located in Cherry Creek.)
Denver also has 26 restaurants recognized by Michelin, including downtown eateries like Guard & Grace and Bruto that can accommodate large groups.
Having all these amenities within a walkable area makes it easy to create “meaningful, curated experiences that blend learning, wellness and a sense of place through local culture,” Benavidez said. “Flexibility has become non-negotiable as planners face budget constraints, shorter booking windows and a need for stronger contingency plans.”
Sporting Chances
While many destinations are struggling with international visitations—mountain destinations have seen steep summer booking drops from Canada (55.5%) and Western Europe (35.5%), according to performance tracker DestMetrics—one aspect of international appeal that keeps cities hopeful is the diverse number of professional and amateur sporting events that bring international visitors to U.S. shores. Last month, Denver hosted the semifinals of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 September 14 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in neighboring Commerce City.
“From world championships to grassroots leagues, Denver is a sports town through and through, and now we get to bring that same energy to international rugby,” said Mayor Mike Johnston in a press statement.
A key to Denver’s meeting success has always been its numerous sports venues, notably Coors Field and Empower Field at Mile High, both of which are close to the Colorado Convention Center. Including outlying facilities, these play a pivotal role in drawing millions of locals to downtown each year, creating a vibe that visitors can also enjoy.
Denver is also improving the National Western Complex, home of the National Western Stock Show. Now in its 119th year, the annual rodeo and equestrian event draws about 700,000 people annually. With the objective of creating year-round programming for the venue (which takes place during the winter season), plans are calling for a 4,500-seat equestrian center, a 160-room hotel and a parking garage.
Uplifting Experiences at DEN
Home to one of the busiest airports in the U.S. and offering hundreds of daily nonstop flights from around the world, Denver banks on its world-class airport and the travel experience it offers to bring in business.
“Air access remains crucial for attracting conventions, and Denver International Airport (DEN) continues to be one of our city’s standout assets,” Benavidez said. “Denver is a convenient place for all attendees to travel to,” she added. As of last August, DEN held the No. 1 spot in the nation for the most nonstop domestic destinations, making it the premier gateway to more U.S. cities.
It’s even greener than most airports. This year, DEN received the No. 1 Green Fleet of 2025 Award from the NAFA Fleet Management Association for reducing the environmental impact of its fleet vehicle operations. This reduction included growing its electric vehicle (EV) fleet by 49% and more than doubling its charging capacity for the fleet.
In recognition of its importance—in 2024, DEN served more than 82 million travelers—the airport is also embarking on a major renovation project.
When an expected 100 million passengers arrive at DEN by 2027, they will be greeted by the newly renovated, $2 billion Great Hall.
Putting Sustainability on the Map
This year, Time Magazine proclaimed Denver’s 265-room Populus hotel as one of the World’s Greatest Places. It’s a heady endorsement for biophilic hotel design, of which there are currently only a handful of examples in the U.S.
The “zero carbon footprint” of the LEED Gold-certified Populus benefits greatly from Denver’s wider sustainable infrastructure. For example, the Populus has no parking availability; airport rail delivers travelers downtown, with ground transportation making it easy for guests to navigate the city.
[Related: New Properties and Services Give Colorado Meetings a Lift]
Besides private dining space in its restaurants, there are 2,000 square feet of purpose-built meeting and event space. However, planners with a sustainability mandate can leverage the property’s incentives, such as the One Night One Tree initiative, organic food sourcing and its onsite biodigester, which composts 100% of food waste, to deliver an overall smaller footprint.
“Denver’s commitment to sustainability ensures that events have a positive impact on the environment—a key priority for many meeting planners,” said Lee Ann Benavidez, SVP and chief sales and services officer for Visit Denver. “Visit Denver is proud to be the world’s first destination to be certified at the Platinum level under the Event Industry Council’s Sustainable Event Standards.”
The Populus hotel is eight minutes from the LEED Gold-certified Colorado Convention Center, where waste management, energy, water and air quality systems strive for sustainability while still allowing 665 covered parking spaces. In addition, there are dozens of eco-friendly hotels that are also walkable to the convention center.
“Sustainability is taking center stage, with many organizations expecting host cities and venues to reflect their ESG [environmental, social and governance] values,” Benavidez said. “In response, DMOs, convention centers and hotel partners are evolving, offering more agile solutions, clearer communication and deeper collaboration to meet the moment and build stronger, more resilient partnerships.”
