Meetings and Events City Profiles

Image: 

In Durango, Old West meets New West. You can visit the ancient cliff dwellings of native tribes, ride a Victorian-era train through rugged terrain or hit the slopes, depending on the season. It’s a year-round destination with plenty of appeal for groups, blending true Western hospitality with a full menu of things to see and do.

>> A Little History

Durango, the largest city for miles around, sits close to the Four Corners area of southwestern Colorado. It draws frequent visitors from Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

After gold was discovered in 1860 in the San Juan Mountains just north of Durango, the area was flooded with prospectors, miners, entrepreneurs, farmers and their families. By July 1882, tracks for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad were completed and cars full of gold and silver ore came down from the mountains.

The train also transported both freight and passengers to and from nearby Silverton. Today the railroad hauls sightseers typically more than 200,000 annually.

The historic downtown also dates back to the mining era, with well-preserved Victorian architecture. Don’t expect to feel withdrawal from “civilization” however, as there’s a mall, plenty of dining options and a great motorcycle dealership lurking on the edges of town.

>> Diversions

Groups should consider a day trip to Mesa Verde National Park, about an hour away. The cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people draws heavy visitation in the summer, but lighter numbers in spring, fall and winter. Much of the park is closed during the winter season, but some of it is always viewable, weather permitting (and it often is).

Or traverse through the wilderness, along creeks and through pristine forests in style on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which still wends its way to the historic mining town of Silverton. The train trip there and back can take most of a day. There’s an option to ride it one way and take a motor coach the other (which is quicker).

In winter, the train doesn’t go all the way to Silverton, but many special events are offered, including a St. Patrick’s Day train in March and a Polar Express excursion in December.

In fact, small groups actually can meet on the train with up to 45 people convening in one car. The only problem is the scenery is a bit distracting!

The Bar D Chuckwagon in Durango not only offers a Western-themed barbecue meal, but old-time Western entertainment (think cowboy songs). The chuckwagon operates mostly in the summer months, but will gear up to serve groups in the shoulder seasons.

And, of course, there’s a full complement of outdoor activities, from Jeep tours and skiing to hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. Just ask, and you’ll be directed to an outfitter or source of information. At the end of the day, soak your weary bones in the Trimble Hot Springs just north of town.

>> Venues for Meetings

The striking, historic Strater Hotel in downtown Durango is a popular place for groups to gather, offering 93 rooms and space for up to 125 for meetings and meals.

“We are doing quite a few meetings, and that segment of our business is really growing,” says Emily Spencer, sales and catering manager.

Because Durango is relatively small, hotels and restaurants and other venues collaborate, rather than compete, for meeting business. For a meeting of 175 female pilots last year, the Strater provided 50 rooms, the Best Western booked 30 rooms, and so on. Archeology groups and small museum curators are among some of the other groups hosted recently.

The largest local venue with lodging is the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango with 159 rooms and meeting and banquet space suitable for a maximum of 150 to 200. The property often hosts government meetings, conventions and corporate events, says Kristin Nielsen, director of sales and marketing.

Besides being an appealing destination with lots of charm and history, Durango also is more affordable than some cities, especially in winter. “There’s a lot to do here in winter,” Nielsen says. “Skiing, cross-country, snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, sledding and tubing…it’s a great time to visit and the prices are amazing compared to other mountain resorts.”

>> Help with Planning

There aren’t many meeting planners in the Durango area, but Sarah McLean, group sales manager for the Durango Area Tourism Office, will help guide you to the best venue(s) for your event. “We are actively trying to bring more meetings to our area,” she says. “Last year was our busiest ever.”

Also, staffs at local hotels fill the gap, interacting to make sure every group’s needs are met. “Since we’re trying to bring more meetings into our area, we can only do that if we all work together,” she notes.

And they specialize in off-season meetings. “Unlike most ski areas, our busy season is in the summer,” she says. “We have lots of accommodations and activities available at an affordable price in the shoulder seasons and winter.”

Downtown can handle meetings of up to about 250 people. They can’t all stay at the same hotel, but the lodging properties are close enough that it’s not a problem, McLean emphasizes.

>> What to Expect

As a meeting locale, the community is “fantastic,” says Heather Garbo, marketing and events manager for Downtown Colorado Inc., a group that hosted an annual meeting with approximately 150 attendees in Durango last September. “I can’t say enough good things about it.”

The group has about 16 meetings a year in various cities around the state and especially enjoyed a meal prepared entirely from local products by the Strater Hotel’s chef. Meeting venues included the Strater Hotel, where many attendees stayed, and the local arts center.

“We got rave reviews (from members) on the food,” Garbo says. “That usually doesn’t happen at a convention.”

Attendees also went on a brewery tour and downtown culinary walking tour. “They have so many great restaurants!” Garbo says. “It’s amazing, for a town that size.” (In fact, Durango boasts more restaurants per capita than San Francisco.)

“There are things you can plan and things you can’t predict,” Garbo says. “Everyone we worked with in Durango, from the tourism office representatives to the hotel staff, stepped up to make sure we had the best conference ever.”

GET CONNECTED
DURANGO AREA TOURISM OFFICE
800.525.8855