"I guarantee we will surprise you, Denver is very hip and happening and more than just the outdoors," Andrea Blankenship, Director of International Tourism for Colorado tells me in an interview at an event Tuesday night celebrating the state.
Colorado is of course, perhaps best known for its skiing in the Rocky Mountains - there are 28 resorts in the state, making it #1 in the country. There's the Ikon pass, a season's pass you can use at ski resorts in Canada such as Blue Mountain or Mont Tremblant, or over at Colorado based ones such as Steamboat.
There are also many ghost towns, rivers and National Parks like the Black Canyon of the Gunnison which boasts some of the steepest cliffs in North America or Mesa Verde where you'll find well-preserved ancestral cliff dwellings.
But the message Blankenship wants to get across is that there is all that and much, much more. Like 140 wineries, 330+ breweries (just over 70 in Denver alone) and a growing number of spirit distilleries.
Which we're sure will come in handy at this year's International PowWow in May as Denver plays host to the conference.
"One of the things we've really been working on, especially with IPW is to ensure we are ready for international travellers, with good bookable rates at hotels, and activities that are included, we've been working hard to make sure we're ready," says Blankenship. "With the increased airlift from Canada, Colorado really is the place to be."
The airlines are definitely ready. Earlier this month, WestJet announced a new Calgary to Denver route and Air Canada recently increased capacity across the country.
Blakenship says it's important for agents to visit, and will be working to organize agent FAMs for 2018, adding it's the best way for them to sell it.
"We want you to see the state because then you'll love it too."
Topics From This Article to Explore
