Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel Blog

How's this for a cool way to spend St. Patty's Weekend? Win $100 and have your favorite St. Patrick's Day drink recipe featured at 16mix! Details below...

Good Luck, Drink Up, Erin go bragh!

Stuck with ideas for things to do this week (other than work, school, and the usual daily grind)? Here’s a suggestion: swing by the Sheraton’s 15/Fifty Restaurant for Social Hour, which runs from 5 – 7 p.m. weekdays. $5 food specials this week include:

• Truffle Thyme Tots - Parmesan and Creme Fraiche
• Nicoise Antipasto - Seared Tuna, Herbed Potatoes, Haricot Vert, Cured Tomato, Egg, Olives
• Cheese, Fruit & Baguette - Warm Chevre, Vanilla Poached Cherries & Apricots

Here are some suggestions from About.com Denver Guide Nina Snyder on things to do on St. Patrick's Day, and for more ideas visit http://denver.about.com/.

March - in like a lion, out like a lamb. If you're from Denver, you know that saying describes Colorado weather pretty well. One day it's snowing, the next it's a balmy 65 degrees and sunny.

But whether it rains, snows or shines, there's plenty to do in our fair city all month long. Check out this list below and for more suggestions, visit our friends at Visit Denver - www.visitdenver.org. 

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel hosts many large conferences and conventions organized by companies with headquarters out of state, but we’re also an ideal venue for smaller, more intimate meetings and events held by many local corporations here in in the Denver metro area. One of these events is the Apple Awards, the biggest annual fundraiser for the Douglas County Education Foundation (DCEF).

On Feb. 23, more than 200 amazing Douglas County teachers, support staff and administrators representing every school in the district were honored during a gala at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, including seven employees and a corporate sponsor. This is the eighth year for the Apple Awards, which shines the spotlight on outstanding educators throughout the Douglas County School District. In addition to honoring excellence in teaching, the event raises proceeds totaling more than $500,000 for collaborative programs benefiting the classrooms and students in the district.

Congrats to all!

At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, we host many different meetings and events on a weekly basis. After all, as the largest hotel in Colorado with the most meeting space, we’re an ideal venue for corporation looking for large spaces or more intimate venues.

March, the month of spring break, sports and monkeys? The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel offers a March Monkey Madness shopping package that includes a gift card to The Denver Pavilions, self-parking and an appetizer in 16Mix Cocktail Lounge. The gift card may be used for shopping or for tickets to the new movie "Oz the Great and Powerful," opening March 8 at the United Artists Theater at the nearby Denver Pavilions. The Sheraton Social Hour serves Colorado-made wines including Colterris Cabernet, Guy Drew Viognier, Guy Drew Meritage and Infinite Monkey Theorem Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet.

We recently received some nice feedback from Accuvant, who hosted their Annual Company Meeting for more than 500 employees at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Jan. 22 – 25.

The SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Snow Show descended upon the Mile High City on Jan. 31, attracting thousands of ski and snowboard industry professionals for four days. While the Colorado Convention Center transformed into a one-stop shopping spot for all the latest trends for on-mountain gear, local hotels such as the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel were happy to welcome thousands of out-of-town visitors making up the 19,000 attendees.

EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association and the foremost community of IT leaders and professionals committed to advancing higher education, just hosted their annual meeting "Advancing the Next Generation of Learning" at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Feb. 4 - 6, 2013. Our client noted on-site that attendees were thrilled with the lunch menus, particularly the vegan dishes: "Please pass along to your chef the positive feedback we have received from our attendees (and myself from our staff) on how delicious lunch was today. One attendee was so appreciative [of the vegan options] and said he wanted to ask for a second plate, it was so good!" You are all very welcome! 

Hotel manager Chuck Schuringa recently chatted with Jason Freed, reporter at Hotel News Now, about how the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is meeting the changing needs and demands of event planners. Read his great insights and commentary below!

A few weeks ago, our parent company Starwood Hotels & Resorts offered a look at what 2013 has in store, including a strong year of openings and new hotel agreement signings, which continue to build on the momentum the brand has established over the past year for continued growth around the globe. 

The company also noted that 2013 will be a strong year for Starwood's upper upscale brands - Sheraton, Westin and Le Meridien. "Sheraton has been a first mover in many new markets around the world, and will continue to fuel Starwood's growth with nearly 20 planned openings in 2013, a historic number of openings as the brand moves towards its milestone 500th opening in 2015," the press release stated. 

Read more in this article by Travel Pulse. 

Looking for a room with a view? Then look no further than the Rocky Mountains. With spectacular views, plenty of space for meetings and events, and numerous options for team building exercises (and some personal downtime!), the options are endless.

Smart Meetings Magazine recently profiled Colorado and her neighbors for a piece aptly titled "New Meetings in the Old West." Naturally, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel - the largest hotel in Colorado with the most meeting space - was prominently featured as an option for groups both large and small.

Looking for something to do this weekend? The 36th annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition kicks off today and runs through Jan. 20 at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center.

If you live in Denver - or have ever visited on business (or pleasure) - then you know that everything in the city relative to meetings and conferences stretches along the 16th Street Mall. Prevue Magazine explores the "most convenient and walkable big city in America for large scale groups" in "Denver: The Most Walkable, Connected Big City in the USA." Read it below. 

With winter in full swing, there's plenty to do in Denver - and throughout Colorado - no matter how much you love (or hate) the cold and snow. Check out these winter festivals and visit our friends at www.colorado.com for more details.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown's iconic 18-foot tall ballet dancer sculptures are "United in Orange" tutus in support of Saturday's Denver Broncos playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

One of Denver's oldest traditions - the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo - begins its 107th run on Saturday, bringing with it two weeks of Western wildness to the big city. From livestock shows, bull riding and draft horses to many other special events and numerous vendors selling everything from food to clothing, there's plenty to delight both young and old. Why not make a weekend (or staycation) out of it and include an overnight stay at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel? 

There's no time like the present to save money on your next meeting or event. Book one at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (or any Starwood property in the US, Canada, Caribbean or Latin America) by March 31, 2013 and you'll receive bonus Starpoints, a rebate on master-billed rooms and a value-add of your choice. 

On Saturday, January 12 the Denver Broncos will play their first playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel will be abuzz with activity in the hotel's 16Mix Cocktail Lounge, 15/Fifty Restaurant, the Yard House and Kate Mullen's Irish Pub and Restaurant.

We love compliments - who doesn't? Recently, we received a nice note from a colleague in the meetings and events sector, who made a point of singling out one of our group sales managers - Henry Hughes - for a job well done on providing assistance during her trip to Denver. Mark Major, our Director of Convention Services, also received a pat on the back for simply being "awesome." Keep up the great work, Henry and Mark! We love it when you make us look good!

Everyone - and everything - needs a little lift every now and then, and we're excited to show you photos of our recent renovation project at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. The sky bridge that connects the I.M. Pei Tower to the main lobby was updated with new furnishings and photographs of Denver - and the hotel - taken back in the 1950s. Stop on by next time you're in town and take a walk down memory lane.

On Sunday, Dec. 16, the annual black-tie Jack and Jill Beautillion was held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Coordinated by the Denver chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the evening celebrated the "Power, Promise and Potential" of today's African-American teens, with 24 outstanding high school seniors honored during the event. 

The Beautillion was established in 1983 as a way to honor college-bound African-American males who are seniors at Denver-area high schools. Those chosen have excelled in academics, community service, athletics and various other extracurricular activities.

Read more about the event in this great write-up by Joanne Davidson at the Denver Post. 

We're honored to host Father Woody's Christmas Party, which was held yesterday. The annual holiday tradition welcomed nearly 4,500 homeless and low-income families and individuals, and provided them with a free lunch, pictures with Santa, and presents. A great deal of gratitude goes out to our staff and the numerous volunteers who helped put this together - from cooking and serving food to collecting and organizing donated presents. 

As the largest hotel in Colorado, we know how important it is for meeting planners, guests and our associates to remain connected at all times. That's why we have joined forces with Sprint to complete a major upgrade of our technology infrastructure, allowing guests to connect to their cellular network from anywhere within the hotel - from guestrooms, meeting spaces or the numerous bars and restaurants.

We've noticed a few interesting articles over the past few weeks on the holiday party tradition, mainly how giant, over-the-top parties that were once a fixture on year-end calendars have changed dramatically due to a still shaky economy and tighter spending restrictions. Nowadays, while companies are not canceling events like they were a few years ago during the height of the recession (that's good news!), most have scaled back on glamorous events and instead are opting to host something realistic in size and scope - like a potluck lunch, after-hours party at the office, or spending a few hours volunteering at a local charity or hospital. 

What is your company doing to celebrate the holidays?

Looking for something to do in Denver over the holidays? Check out this great list of holiday events in town, from Santa at the Colorado Railroad Museum, the Colorado Ballet's rendition of the Nutcracker and White Christmas at Buell Theater to Trails of Light at the Botanic Gardens, Living Lights at the Butterfly Pavilion and Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. 

What's one of the best kept secrets among business travelers? Club level executive lounges. Our friends at Hotel Interactive wrote a great overview outlining the benefits of executive club floors, which offer everything from check-in and check-out services to food service. Specially trained concierges are also available to provide assistance with whatever needs guests might have. The article goes on to note: "At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, whose 5,000 square-foot club lounge is the largest in the city, hotel manager Chuck Schuringa said his club manager one time carried food from the hotel club lounge down two floors for a female guest who has to walk with crutches. 'Now she stays with us every time she comes to town,' Schuringa said."

Kudos to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel's catering manager, Ashley Woodworth, and her team. They recently received glowing accolades from Stephanie Hector, event planner at Desire2Learn, who hosted a conference for 180 people at our property the other week. An excerpt from her note follows below. 

Ha! We love this slideshow from Smarter Travel on "annoying" people in hotels, from kids who push EVERY button in elevators and parents who let their kids run amok to public fighters to noisy neighbors. Tell us what's missing from the list - like people who "save" multiple lounge chairs by the pool but never use them (one of our favorites). 

It's a busy weekend in Denver for Santa! Downtown Denver's signature holiday event - the annual 9News Parade of Lights - is tomorrow and Saturday night. The sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons, majestic floats and delightful characters - including Santa - will once again wow hundreds of thousands of spectators. Then, on Saturday morning from 8 - 11 am, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel will host the third annual Breakfast with Santa in 15/Fifty, the hotel’s restaurant.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is a long-time partner with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, which offers a loving home away from home, at little to no cost, to families needing to be near their seriously ill or injured children while they're being treated at local hospitals. 

If a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Denver or Aurora is not readily available when a family needs one, the Sheraton will provided temporary guestrooms on an as-needed basis while they wait. 

If you missed out on Cyber Monday, don't worry - there's still time to take advantage of Starwood's Cyber Monday Sale! Through Friday, Nov. 30, save up to 25% off rates and packages at more than 500 participating hotels and resorts in North America and Latin America (including the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel). And since it's the season of giving, for every room booked through the Cyber Monday Sale, Starwood will donate 10 Starpoints (up to 500,000) to UNICEF as part of #GivingTuesday - a socal movement to create a National Day of Giving at the start of the holiday season. They'll also support the American Red Cross by matching any Starpoints donations made at spg.com/redcross through Nov. 30 to benefit those impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Giving back to the community is part of the Starwood DNA, and the Thanksgiving holiday gave Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel employees an opportunity to donate part of their day off to serve a meal to Denver's homeless. 

Journalist Steve Winston was in Denver recently, and wrote about his experience visiting the Mile High City including a brief stay at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel - the largest in Colorado and convenient to everything, as it sits astride the 16th Street Mall.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals aren't just for electronics and toys. Hotels, airlines, and tour comanies also discount their rates with flash sales you won't want to miss - and the same goes for the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel!

We're offering Cyber Monday savings on rooms booked between Nov. 26 and Nov. 30. Not only will guests save up to 25% on all weekend stays (arrivals Thursday to Saturday) between now and March 31, 2013, but Starwood (our parent company) will also donate 10 Starpoints to UNICEF for every booking, up to 500,000 Starpoints, in support of #GivingTuesday - a movement to create a day of giving this holiday season.

Don't delay - book online anytime between Monday, Nov. 26th and Friday, November 30th, or call 877/782-0108 and refer to promo code CYBERLTO.

This holiday season, Starwood (our parent company) wants to make your holiday travel wishes come true. Through January 31, 2013, the first 5,000 Starwood Preferred Guest members who add their wish to our Travel Wish Map found at www.starwoodpromos.com/mytravelwish will earn 100 Starpoints. Full details can be found here. 

We just read a great article in Hotel Interactive about how hotels are trying to meet and exceed customer tech demands by offering programs and services that (hopefully) differentiate them from the competition. The piece quotes Starwood's Chief Brand Officer Phil McAveety, who talks about the Link at Sheraton, our take on the Internet Cafe. 

Fall is in full swing here in Denver, with snow in the mountains and a chill in the air. But with Thanksgiving just around the corner and the holidays quickly approaching, there's no time like the present to start planning for winter, spring - and summer! - meetings and events. And of course, there's no better place than the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. We host many meetings (both large and small) as well as special events. But don't take our word for it - check out some feedback we received from the Colorado Democratic Party and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, who recently held high-profile events at our property.

We recentely received a very nice note from Greg Movesian, EVP of Resource Development for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, folllowing their annual Thin Mint Dinner, which was held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 23:

"Last night was great! My compliments to the chef – the food was delicious and the service was wonderful! My staff was very appreciative of all the help they received from Sheraton staff following the event as well.  I’m very pleased that we moved our event to the Sheraton, and thank you for guiding us through the process."

Thank YOU Greg - and the Girl Scouts of Colorado - for selecting us as your partner. We look forward to working with you again next year - and in the years to follow!

November is officially Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and hotels around the world are encouraging guests to take a proactive approach to end smoking habits and reduce their chances of lung cancer. HotelChatter lists a few packages, programs and treatments being offered by a select few in this article, including properties in the UK, Australia, Portugal and - closer to home - southern Florida.

Of course, there's always the cold turkey route...but friends and family might not want you sticking close to home for that. So go ahead - book a night (or two or three) at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel instead!

We really enjoyed this article by our friend Joanne Davidson at the Denver Post about the 2012 Pink Tie Affair that was held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on Oct. 27. Approximately 1,000 guests helped the Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Denver Affiliate fight breast cancer by wearing pink outfits and accessories and pledging $420,000 for research and treatment. Way to go! We think EVERY month should be Breast Cancer Awareness Month - let's keep working together to promote awareness, share information and provide greater access to services. 

Whether you're looking to celebrate the election results - or the end to the political campaign ads (at least until the next election!) - there's a "watch party" somewhere in town for you. 

The Colorado Democratic Party is hosting its election-night "watch party" at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel from 7 p.m. until midnight. Come join us - and 1,500 other candidates, supporters and guests from around the metro area - as we celebrate the outcomes of several races across the state. This is the official Democratic Party party, so it's guaranteed to be a big one you won't want to miss!!!

It's the Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints tonight. Who's tuning in? Or better yet - who's joining us at the Yard House for happy hour?

November is a great time to be living in (or visiting) Denver. It’s still warm enough to leave the jacket at home during the day, the resorts to the West are starting to ramp up for the winter, and there’s an endless supply of places to go and things to do – like Denver Arts Week!

Mmmmm….Girl Scout cookies. If you’re a fan like we are, then you’ll be thrilled to learn it’s completely acceptable to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as anytime in-between. Don’t believe us? Just ask our Executive Chef Scott Skomal, who stopped by KUSA 9 News with the CEO of Girl Scouts Colorado, Stephanie Foote, to talk about the “Thin Mint Dinner” – a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts held Oct. 23 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.  

Hiring great talent is one of the primary reasons we continue to be a leading hotel in downtown Denver. So it goes without saying that we’re thrilled to welcome the three newest associates to our growing team: Meg Dalbey, Sales Manager; Dustin Silks, Director of Restaurants & Bars, and Ferda Durak, Director of Six Sigma.

Some days it’s really tough to go to work…and not love every minute of it! One of those days was Oct. 13, when the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel was the center of a star-studded event for a great cause: the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Fashion Show – the single largest annual fundraiser benefitting people with Down syndrome.

Giving back to the community has always been a part of the culture at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. So we were excited to participate in the “100 Women, 100 Shoes Challenge” in conjunction with O, The Oprah Magazine and Crocs, Inc. The best part was raising money for a local organization – the Ronald McDonald House – but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t love our new pair of Crocs shoes! 

We just read a great article by USA Today's Nancy Trejos about hotels making it easier to stay fit on the road. More hotels are offering unique fitness programs in an effort to appeal to travelers who are committed to keeping up with a fitness routine. Not surprising, these offerings coincide with similar efforts to bring healthier dining options to hotel restaurants and room service menus so travelers can avoid packing on the pounds while away from home. 

The article highlights some fitness options available to guests at various hotels across the country, including the Sheraton (and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel). Notes Trejos, "Guests at Sheraton Hotels and Resorts also have access to four 30-minute video-on-demand workouts for free" and "can order a complimentary 'workout in a bag,' including workout cards, a workout mat, foam rolls, resistance band and massage stick to be delivered to their room."

Meeting planners: looking for a place to hold your next meeting or event? Look no further than the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel! We're offering big rewards if you book a meeting before the end of the year.

Hard to believe it’s that time of year again! AAA Travel just came out with their annual travel predictions for the Labor Day holiday weekend, and the results are indeed good news for the travel industry as a whole, with more Americans expected to hit the roads. Travel website Kayak noted the most popular hotel destinations include Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta, and Orbitz also reported the first two cities as popular destinations in addition to Chicago.

There was an interesting article in USA Today recently about the rise of “extreme commuters” – employees who fly (instead of drive) to their jobs, who call a hotel room or part-time apartment home, who spend as much time getting to and from the office as they spend behind their desks, and who see their families only on weekends. Experts blame the rising trend of “super commuting” on the recession, which pummeled employment and the housing sector.

Two weeks ago, meetings technology company Cvent unveiled the top 50 meeting destinations in the country – with Denver ranked #15. Now we can boast that we're one of the top 50 meeting hotels in one of the most popular places for meetings and events in the country!

Juice cleanses are the latest rage when it comes to healthy “eating,” and hotels are getting in on the action with juice cleanse packages as part of wellness-based vacations.

According to a story on ABCNews.com, these packages are popular among both die-hard cleansers who regularly do them at home as well as travelers looking for something different to try while on vacation. And for those not ready to give up on solid food entirely, some properties offer juicing bars as well to help them ease into the fad.

TripAdvisor recently surveyed more than 25,000 hotel owners and managers in North America and discovered that more than half promoted discounted room rates to attract guests. Other popular incentives that were used in promotions included free Wi-Fi, a free night’s stay, free parking and free newspapers.

What would make you a repeat guest at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel?

Congratulations to these Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel employees on their recent promotions! Heather Kastner was promoted from Sales Assistant to Sales Manager; Thomas Gay from Sales Reporting Systems Analyst to Sales Optimization Manager; Ashley Woodworth from Executive Meeting Specialist to Catering Manager and Asuvini Vengadasalam from Sales Assistant to Convention Service Manager. Thanks as always for your hard work and dedication!

The August 2012 issue of Smart Meetings Magazine included a six-page feature story on hotels, sustainable dining, and meetings and events in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs – and we’re excited to report that the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel was mentioned three times in the article!

If the Olympics have inspired you to get in shape, take note of what the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel offers next time you stay with us for business – or pleasure.

Sheraton Social Hour offers hotel guests an opportunity to relax, socialize and sample some top-rated wines while learning more about renowned wineries from around the world. Tasting events are held weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in our 15 Fifty Lounge, where guests have access to a specially curated menu of premium wines rated 90 and above by Wine Spectator.

We loved hosting both the National WIC Association and Gamma Phi Beta, and wanted to share some awesome feedback we received:

In a few weeks, the CEO and 25 other employees from our parent company Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will embark on a four-day bike ride from Chamonix, France to Monte Carlo called “The Road the Awareness” to raise money for the UNICEF Early Childhood Care and Education program in Ethiopia.

How hotels are helping mom and dad salvage their sanity while traveling with the entire brood.

Baby-boomers represent "one of the biggest customer niches in the history of the hotel industry.”

What a busy summer it’s been at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel! We hosted a few different groups during July, including attendees at the GALA Choruses Festival (held at the nearby Colorado Convention Center), the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses 2012 Leadership Conference and Learning Forward’s 2012 Summer Conference.

No doubt, many business travelers appreciate the convenience and ease of bypassing the front desk and checking themselves into and out of their hotel room via kiosks or mobile devices – especially after a long day of meetings and/or travel. In fact, nearly 80% of business travelers recently surveyed by software provider Smith Micro said they would use mobile check-in and check-out services over the front desk.

Whether you’ll be sipping daiquiris by the pool or enjoying an after-work martini, cooling down with a cocktail is one of summer’s great pleasures – and a surefire way to pack on the pounds. Never fear, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is offering refreshing calorie-conscious summer cocktails that allow guests to savor the flavor without consuming a day’s worth of calories in liquid form.

Inspired by the upcoming Olympic games to hit the gym more? Check out the fitness center at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Created in partnership with world-renowned personal training experts Core Performance, the center invites guests to take part in state-of-the-art fitness equipment, specialized in-room and restaurant dining options, and a custom website with online fitness programs and more. The center features 22 pieces of weight training equipment as well as 23 pieces of cardio-equipment with built-in TVs to each unit and iPod hook ups.

Check out the latest issue of Colorado Meetings + Events, which includes two mentions of the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel!

Associates from the Sheraton Denver Downtown’s Green Team recently planted an organic rooftop garden on the hotel’s 5th floor pool deck. The garden includes herbs and vegetables such as mint, tomatoes, cilantro, peppers and lavender, all used in the hotel’s culinary department as well in drinks served in the hotel’s 16 Mix Cocktail Lounge. The idea for the garden germinated from several hotel associates asked to “think green” to reduce the hotel’s environmental impact.

A mint on the pillow is so yesterday! A recent article in the Saudi Gazette noted more hotels are trying to distinguish themselves in the crowded hospitality market by offering travelers one-of-a-kind experiences ranging from celebrity restaurants to chic collaborations with high-end fashion houses. And The Daily Beast noted some upscale hotels are offering a new kind of room service (and a home-away-from-home entertaining option) for refined jet-setters with money to burn: top-shelf cocktail programs. Some properties let you summon a bartender to mix up a batch of specialty cocktails in the comfort of your room. Others include room service that will deliver custom kits with all the necessary ingredients, with expert mixologists on hand for private in-room lessons. Why venture out for happy hour when room service can wheel it to you?

Have you been inspired to book a vacation after seeing photos on a friend’s Facebook page from a recent trip to that destination? If so, you’re not alone – recent studies reveal that more than 52% of Facebook users said a friend’s vacation pictures inspired them to stop daydreaming and to start packing and book a trip.

Great article by Bloomberg Businessweek earlier this month on how hotels are building spaces – skating rinks, yoga studios, meeting rooms that can be repurposed for nighttime cooking parties and everything in between – to bring in new streams of revenue. The spaces are also intended to appeal to local residents, businesses and government officials, who can rent and use the spaces for their own needs. In fact, our parent company Starwood recently announced plans for the $100 million renovation of 10 W hotels in North America; the revamp will entail the reworking of public spaces such as lobbies, bars and nightclubs, with a focus on “drawing in locals.”

At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, we have taken substantial steps to reduce our energy appetites.

As Americans celebrate the birthday of the United States on July 4th, we thought it would be a good time to remind folks that the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is always ready to celebrate our guests’ birthdays. In fact, we even have a special discount for them! Stay with us for a maximum of three nights and after the first night (which starts at $129) you’ll only have to pay a rate equal to your birth year.

Denver Hotels Examiner Chad Chisholm recently posted a great update about the wildfires ravaging our beautiful state and how some local companies are lending a helping hand. Three Denver hotels – including the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel – are raising funds and offering special rates to fire victims to ease the burden of being displaced from their homes. Read more about it here and if you can, lend a helping hand or two – every little bit helps!

Fitness and travel go hand in hand, so it’s great to see innovation in the area of fitness centers, particularly as more travelers look to find ways to keep up with their fitness routines while away from home. USA Today recently ran an article about hotels offering boot camp workouts for guests, in addition to rigorous, personalized classes with physical fitness trainers. At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, we recently partnered with Core Performance to bring our guests Sheraton Fitness – breakthrough training programs in addition to dining options for better nutritional choices, exercises and training equipment they can use right in their room, Video On Demand with informational programming, and more. And our fitness center is open 24 hours a day so guests can work out any time they have open slots in their busy work schedules. 

How many times have you lost your hotel room key, or realized as you’re rummaging through your bag/purse outside in the hallway that it’s sitting INSIDE your room? And you have to love it when your credit and debit cards demagnetize your room key and you have to trudge all the way back to the front desk to get it fixed.

At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, we like to think we know a thing or two about beer. After all, craft brewing is a way of life in Denver – the city alone is home to 10 nationally ranked and award-winning breweries, is ranked number one in the nation for beer production per capita, and is ranked second nationally in the number of breweries per capita. Not to mention Colorado was recently ranked by The Beer Institute as number one in terms of gross beer production – 111 breweries producing over 23.3 million barrels. Nothing to sneeze at!

Conde Nast Traveler has been reporting on the best hotels, restaurants and spas for 16 years so they’ve seen their share of the best….and the worst. Check out their “Best and Worst Hotel Trends” and let us know if they missed any!

Much has been reported already this year about the changes happening in the meetings and conference industries, and Hotel Executive recently published a good overview of the most significant trends and opportunities they projected to see, including continued substantial growth, more opportunity in social/leisure group travel, fierce competition, increased expenses on behalf of corporations, increased meeting budgets, and more focus on technology. It will be interesting to see how the second half of the year shapes up according to plans and projections!

Book a meeting by Sept. 30, 2012, at any participating hotel in the United States, Canada, Caribbean or Latin America (yes, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is a participating hotel!) to receive a value-add concession of your choice (including bonus Starpoints, accelerated room policies or special credits) along with complimentary Coca-Cola beverages for EVERY attendee.

We love it when happy clients sing our praises!

At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, we understand the importance of staying connected. Whether you’re planning a smaller group presentation or an international broadcast with thousands of attendees, our meeting spaces are equipped with a wide array of technology services with knowledgeable technicians staffed on site to assist with your data, voice and audio visual needs.

In mid-May, PBS held their Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Bringing together employees and local PBS stations from around the country, producers and others to talk about upcoming PBS and PBS KIDS programming of all types. From breakfasts hosted by Sesame Street, inspirational keynotes and general sessions with PBS management and leadership, and programming previews to special appearances by celebrities such as Meg Ryan, Olivia Wilde, Fred Willard (PS check out his new show, Market Warriors, which premieres July 16!) and many others, the hotel was buzzing with high-caliber entertainment and informative sessions. We also love that they invited bloggers to attend the conference to learn more about the company/s upcoming broadcast and online programming, and that a heavy emphasis was placed on social media and its importance to PBS and local affiliates. Way to go PBS, keep up the great work!

Love food? Then you’ll drool over Starwood’s rewards for foodies. As long as you’re a member of our SPG Loyalty Program (and get those points up!) you’ll be able to take advantage of some tantalizing rewards like sushi-making classes or dinner with world-renowned celebrity chefs. Lacking in the points department? No worries, you’ll still get dining discounts at more than 500 restaurants and bars at Starwood properties around the world – including the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. How’s that for a sweet deal?

In May, our sister company Westin announced a new program that re-invents the traditional (okay, antiquated) hotel business center model to meet the changing needs of today’s business traveler.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel recently received a 2012 Watts to Water Award for “Greatest Improvement in Efficiency” from the Denver Metro Building Owners and Managers Association.

Did you know? The Global Business Travel Association’s Business Travel Quarterly Outlook – United States, released in April, stated that the business travel market has finally stabilized and is expected to hit its pre-recession levels by the middle of 2012 (so right about now). The report estimated overall growth would be 4.6 percent this year - which bodes well for the economy as a whole.

As the largest hotel in Colorado with 133,000 square feet of flexible and versatile meeting and exhibit space along with a wide variety of room sizes and capabilities, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel can accommodate groups ranging from 10 up to 3,000 (and more!). We’re fortunate to work with many local companies as well as groups from around the world representing a variety of industries – and interests.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel recently received the 2012 Watts to Water Award from the Denver Metro Building Owners and Managers Association.

For the past few years, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel has had the honor of hosting the Colorado Symphony Ball, the annual soiree and fundraiser for Colorado’s only full-time professional orchestra.

Denver may be known as the microbrew capital of the United States, but now wine lovers also have a reason to rejoice: the Sheraton Social Hour, a first-of-its kind premium wine program at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.  At the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, tasting events are held weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the hotel’s 1550 Lounge, where guests have access to a specially curated menu of premium wines rated 90 and above by Wine Spectator.

Starwood recently announced a new live music program for Starwood Preferred Guests called “On Tour with SPG: Hear the Music, See the World.”

Psst – did you hear about the cool contest parent company Starwood recently launched with a few of our favorite travel bloggers? The Starwood Preferred Guests American Express blogging partners program (try saying that three times fast!) features six travel bloggers (we like to call them “Amex Stars”) giving away 25,000 points from Starwood/Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. We’re talking a bunch of free hotel stays in New York City, people!

Last week, Forbes ran a Q&A with Starwood’s Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Phil McAveety, on how the company stands apart in creating dynamic and innovative brands – including St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, and Sheraton. It’s a good read and a good overview on how our parent company is working to differentiate the brands. C

What goes better with a hot summer night than a cold, frothy beer? Maybe some food to nibble on while enjoying the brew! Executive Chef Scott Skomal recently provided our friends at Smart Meetings Magazine with his recommendations for the best food and beer pairings. You can find his suggestions on page 36 of the May 2012 issue here: http://pubs.royle.com/publication/frame.php?i=108268&p=&pn=&ver=flex. Or, continue reading below for an excerpt. Warning: major temptations ahead, so don’t read this on an empty stomach!

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel was named among the top 50 Meeting hotels in the United States by Cvent.

Jene Crawford, a five-year employee, enrolled more guests in the SPG Program than any other front-desk agent at Starwood properties across North America during the January to December 2011 timeframe.

While Earth Day (April 22) has officially come and gone, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel we strive to make EVERY day Earth Day.

A few weeks ago, Denver was home to the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships (March 30 – April 1), and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel was privileged to be chosen as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) headquarters hotel.

Earlier in the year, planning professionals stated they expected an increase in the number of business meetings in 2012, but that they would be shorter, smaller and closer to home. Companies were keen to avoid the perception of excessive spending on events, and many were following the pharmaceutical industry’s lead by incorporating a code of compliance that limits the use of five-star properties in addition to those with certain resort-type amenities like golf course and spas.

An interesting article published by Hotel News Now on April 3 by Melanie Nayer offered an in-depth look at the future of meeting planning, including implications of mobile technology on the workforce (e.g. the need to appeal to a tech-savvy crowd), how to create meeting spaces that are more appealing to attendees (think mood lighting), and the latest trends in meeting location including non-traditional venues outside dark boardrooms and stuffy conference spaces (beach or rooftops, anyone?).

Denver is an ideal city to turn a business trip into a “bleisure trip,” and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel offers business travelers many amenities including access to wireless high-speed Internet, PC stations and free printing, LCD flat screen televisions, smart desktops with laptop, iPod and television interfacing capabilities, and more.

Did you know? Through partnerships with other local businesses, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel can work with meeting planners to create customized packages for event attendees, including tickets to local events and attractions such as the Denver Art Museum, the new History Colorado Center, Coors Field (home to Denver’s baseball team, the Colorado Rockies) and more.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel hosts many large conferences and conventions organized by companies with headquarters out of state, but we’re also an ideal venue for smaller, more intimate meetings and events held by many local corporations here in in the Denver metro area. One of these events is the Apple Awards, the biggest annual fundraiser for the Douglas County Education Foundation (DCEF).

Spring is here and that means warmer weather, more hours of daylight, and only a few more months to hid any extra pounds packed on during winter underneath layers of clothes. To help guests get ready for summer, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts on Tuesday launched a new approach to nutrition with “Color Your Plate by Sheraton Fitness,” a dining program that makes it easy for travelers to eat healthy on the road.

We’re excited to announce another recent addition to our team: Brian Noel, Director of Food and Beverage.

On Saturday, March 10, the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF) held their annual Gala – this year themed “El Toro!” – at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. We’re honored and thrilled to once again be the location for this special annual event, and look forward to hosting many more in the future.

Starwood Hotel & Resorts hosts Recipe to Win, a first-ever food & beverage leadership conference at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, March 13-16, 2012.

Xcel Energy recently recognized 10 Colorado businesses for their outstanding efforts to save energy at the annual Energy Efficiency Customer event. The Sheraton Denver Downtown was awarded the Management Systems Achievement Award in recognition of new thermostats, all-new lighting in the parking garage, replacement of motors and light fixtures, replacement of all bulbs with high efficiency models and adding a new dish machine that saves 2,400 gallons of water daily compared to the old model.

Last week, our parent company – Starwood Hotels and Resorts – launched a new free iPhone, iPod and iPad app that complements the changes we recently made to our Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program – the richest elite program in the industry for mega travelers and road warriors who travel a ton for business.

Cost-conscious meeting planners shopping for value and price will appreciate our latest promotion that offers added incentives and perks for booking a 2012 group or business meeting at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Bookings made by June 30, 2012 and held by Dec. 31, 2012, will receive 50 percent attrition, complimentary AM/PM breaks and complimentary Internet access in guest rooms.

According to a recent Metropoll survey (the largest of its kind in the industry) of more than 2,000 corporate and associate meeting planners throughout the country, Denver ranks as the fifth best convention city in the U.S.

The next time you book a meeting or event at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, point out to your guests that they are spending time in an award-winning building that received the highest honors in the architecture community. Honors bestowed upon an architect who also designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, and other famous buildings throughout the world. How’s that for a distinctive and unique meeting venue?

Have you heard about the changes we made to our loyalty program? Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, our parent company, just announced on Wednesday the launch of the “richest elite traveller benefits in history.” These perks are for our most frequent Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members: road warriors who travel a ton for business or mega travelers who have the luxury of taking many personal vacations a year (we’re talking 75 nights or more in a Starwood property).

Hoteliers from around the globe met earlier this week in Los Angeles for the first big event of the year – the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) – and if the attendance and energy levels were any indication, folks are cautiously optimistic that 2012 will be a good and perhaps a great year for the hotel industry.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, the largest hotel in Colorado, today announced the recent appointments of industry veteran Chuck Schuringa as Hotel Manager and Adam Roberts as Director of Engineering. Mr. Schuringa is the first addition to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel’s executive committee since the property was acquired, rebranded and renamed in Feb. 2008.           

Meetings and conferences often present big challenges for those on a restricted diet, with limited menu options such as the default vegetarian dish – pasta with cheese in cream sauce. But when thousands of convention attendees require kosher meals – and a non-Jewish chef runs the hotel’s non-dedicated kosher kitchen – the challenges shift from those who need to be mindful of what they eat to those who need to be mindful of what they prepare and serve.

With the recent opening of the Yard House, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel has become Denver’s Best Beer Hotel.

We are excited to announce that Scott Skomal has been named executive chef at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Scott previously held the same postion at the Sheraton Overland Park in Kansas, where he was named chef of the year by the Greater Kansas City Restuarant Association, and the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Alabama. He has been with Starwood Hotels & Resorts for more than 20 years.

Real Pirates

Enjoy a getaway to Denver and experience the Real Pirates – The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship (An exhibition from National Geographic), presented by Denver Museum of Natural Science. Real Pirates tells the true story of the Whydah, a slave ship turned pirate ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod nearly 300 years ago. Enjoy one of our packages below:

100% of the proceeds from Peets Tea & Coffee sales from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 10 will be donated to the 6th Annual PJ Day for Denver's Road Home. Selections of the house-made breakfast pasty items available that day will include Tequila Sunrise muffin, orange carrot muffin with brandied cherries, Amaretto scones and apple rum breakfast bread, list just a few.

A panel of convention and meeting experts put together by the Toronto Globe & Mail selected Denver as the No. 1 destination in the world for conventions. 

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is located a block away from Civic Center Park and the “Big Air” competition. For great hotel rates for the “Big Air” competition, please visit us at www.sheratondenverdowntown.com.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is pleased to announce special rates for fans attending Cavalia. The Sheraton Denver Downtown is located on the 16th St. Mall in downtown Denver and only one mile away from the Pepsi Center. Click Here to book your special Cavalia rates.

Civic Center Park Is located adjacent to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Come in and enjoy a great Labor Day experience at the 2010 Taste of Colorado and stay the night on the famous 16^th St. Mall at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

Looking for a great place to stay for the Denver Summer Brew Fest or other downtown Denver events, come to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

The Sheraton Denver is a great place to stay when looking for Cherry Creek Hotels. The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel puts you in the center of the action. Located in Downtown Denver, on the 16th St. Mall, the Sheraton is only a few minutes away from Cherry Creek, Coors Field, and the Pepsi Center.

As an Official Hotel Partner of the King Tut Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, guests of The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel will have exclusive VIP access.

Book your free weekends at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel!

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel received an award for providing an amenity that will bring new conventions to downtown Denver and elevate the experience of visitors to the city.

The Sheraton Denver is a great place to stay when looking for Cherry Creek Hotels. The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel puts you in the center of the action. Located in Downtown Denver, on the 16th St. Mall, the Sheraton is only a few minutes away from Cherry Creek, Coors Field, and the Pepsi Center.

Downtown Denver is bringing outdoor movies to Skyline Park for the Summer of 2010. Skyline Park is located behind the D&F Tower on 16^th and Arapahoe. In 2010, the Denver Theatre District will provide live entertainment before and after each movie, so come early and plan to stay late! This series is in cooperation with Denver Parks and Recreation and the Denver Theatre District.

The Denver Auto Show will take place at the Colorado Convention Center. The Colorado Convention Center is less than a mile walk from the newly renovated Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. The Sheraton Denver offers great accommodations and rates for people visiting Denver for the 2010 Auto Show.

Book rooms at the Sheraton Denver Hotel from March 18 – 30, for rooms from $89 a night.

The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is excited about our new lounge 16Mix. 16Mix is not your typical hotel bar, but rather a trendy escape for locals and tourists alike. Experience some of the most innovative cocktails in Denver. From the appropriately named Shera-tini, to the mouthwatering Junior Mint, there is something for everyone at 16Mix.