EDITOR’S LETTER

Curling & Cocktails at Vail Marriott Mountain Resort

Beth Buehler, editor

CONTACT ME AT BETH.BUEHLER@TIGEROAK.COM

Keeping It Fresh & Interesting

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the Colorado Meetings + Events Best of 2019 winners in 25 different categories and the seven standout professionals who are being inducted into the magazine’s Hall of Fame. It’s always fun to celebrate accomplishments and network while also showcasing something new, and the recently introduced Ironworks used in combination with sister property Mile High Station fit the bill for 2019. Also, thank you to our partners and sponsors!

Bruce Horii, our lifetime achievement recipient, served on one of my early editorial advisory boards more than a decade ago, and I am happy to see him recognized for his dedication to the meetings and events industry as a worker bee and volunteer leader. He talks about how clients and colleagues have become lifelong friends, and I couldn’t agree more.

Colorado also continues to open new hotels of interest to groups, and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to experience several while traveling around the state. I’ve been a guest on the very first night of business for both the Limelight Snowmass in December and The Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop in Denver’s Cherry Creek North district in October and more recently was part of a media group experiencing the new Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in January, less than a month after launching. What stands out most is that each of these properties are distinct and have Colorado weaved in the décor, food and beverage programs and outlets, and activities offered. Many existing hotels are keeping up with the new competition through fabulous renovations and creative programming that we feature in the Industry Update section of each issue.

Airports are also working hard to stay current and innovative. Since November, flights have landed me in the Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Columbus, Ohio, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico airports. There are some you don’t mind having a few hours to explore like the Minneapolis airport, and I look forward to seeing how the renovations underway at Denver International Airport turn out as it has become the sixth busiest in the nation. Also don’t forget to use regional airports, as nothing beats getting in and out of smaller airports quickly and being near outlying destinations.

As we celebrate another Colorado Meetings Week with the Colorado M+E Best of 2019 readers’ choice awards on March 11 and the Meetings Industry Council (MIC) of Colorado Educational Conference & Trade Show on March 12-13, I want to applaud an industry that works so well together in our state and stays at the forefront to keep it fresh and interesting from all angles. Make the most of 2019!

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