The major coup for Denver recently was attracting the 2008 Democratic National Convention but the so-called mile high city is also bringing in a lot of other meeting groups.
This year, a broad mix of groups — from sellers of fly-fishing gear to storm chasers and science teachers to Japanese animé artists — picked the Denver area for meetings, conventions and other events for reasons that are just as diverse, said the Denver Business Journal.
Some will come because they’ve never been here before, and others because of something unique to this area. Still other groups — from the Rocky Mountain Division of the Train Collector’s Association to the Rocky Mountain Animé Association — will meet in metro Denver because it’s a hub for their members.
The area CVB says the city is on track for another record year for conventions.
Downtown Denver’s Colorado Convention Center was doubled a few years ago.
As of late January, 58 conventions with total estimated attendance of 211,395 people had made reservations.
The Democratic National Convention alone expects to attract 35,000 people, and could pump $150 million to $200 million into the local economy.
Said Rich Grant, the Denver CVB’s communications director:
“2007 will be our best year ever.”
Report by David Wilkening
