Annual Denver Tourism Update
RMGA Membership Meeting Review
Annual Update on Denver’s Tourism Venues
April 8, 2019 RMGA Membership Meeting
Molly Keech, with Taubman, was our contact at CCSC this year. She arranged hors d’oeuvres and wine at 801 Chop House in the same meeting room that we had the past two years. 801 Chop House has been so welcoming to RMGA. There were 40 in attendance – just about the usual attendance for this program.
After networking, President Sherry Moon conducted a short meeting: she commented on upcoming FAMs and Mike Dulude, Education Chair added information about the FAM to the Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg. Sherry also noted that Vice President, Jessica Ward, had resigned her position and moved back to Pennsylvania. Sherry asked all present to think about volunteering to be Vice President.
Sherry then introduced Program Committee member, Nancy Brueggeman, who introduced Molly to the group. Molly explained the parking validation procedure. Molly updated us on the new shops at CCSC: EyeBol’s (eyewear), UnTuckIt (men’s shirts) Marisia, a new restaurant (Flower Child) in the old Safeway building, Hermes (moving from 1st Avenue) and the CC fresh market on the West Side of the mall, opening May 4th and will run through October on Saturdays and will add Wednesdays beginning June 12th. Molly also noted that the CC Arts Festival will be held July 5-7 and will feature free parking. Elway’s will have summer concerts from Mid-June through Mid-August.
Molly gave more details on the CCSC passport – available online as a PDF, available in six languages, also no longer is there a guest services desk though currency exchange is still available. CCSC does have Wi-Fi.
Molly then updated us on events happening at Denver Performing Arts Center (Suzanne Yoe was unable to attend) – Wicked and Anastasia will be at DPAC this season. Also, Ilene Kamsler with Gray Line Colorado was ill and unable to attend – updates here include a PU for passengers at Union Station and Gray Line does have scheduled tours on the Pikes Peak Highway.
Heidi Weisman with the Denver Art Museum, who we had seen just a few weeks ago at the DAM FAM, had lots of information for us: there is a new event space model available, she gave information on how to become members, noted reciprocal museum information (buy a ticket for one, get to visit another), the free days, Final Friday nights (an ongoing event), show dates for upcoming special shows (i.e., the Berger Collection, on view from May 5 through August 25), and the Degas exhibit (1st time in 20 years and the only US location). She reminded us to book early for Degas, many tickets already spoken for though the prices have not yet been announced. There will be no discounts for group tickets to these events. Final Fridays – untitled event – generally a mix of ages and interests for this event. The renovation of the North Building is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. The first and second floor will reopen sooner and will have new event spaces. She suggested we have another DAM FAM when this happens. There is no museum fee for those under 18, however, the special exhibitions will have a charge.
Sarah Young, with the Museum of Nature and Science reminded us all of the Leonardo di Vinci exhibit of his models and codices. Also, the Sensory 4 – immersive theater – you are in the middle of some of di Vinci’s famous works. They have discovered through infra-red technology that there are four paintings under the Mona Lisa, and doodles on the back. Our Senses takes you into your own brain (this exhibit is free with general admission), showing lots of aspects of how your own self reacts. There is also a 3-D film about super power dogs – these are working dogs, how they can scope out whatever they are trained to find and how they work. This exhibit is open through year-end 2019. The IMAX theater will show Apollo 11 and have lots of space programming (2019 is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11). This show will also be open from May 16th to year-end 2019. MSN offers 10% discounts for groups of 10 or more.
Erin Bird, the perennial presenter with the Denver Botanic Gardens gave us an update on both the York Street and Chatfield Farms. York Street has opened the Mordechai rooftop garden (no water yet) for kids. The art displayed this year will be that of a local collector of Human Nature (all the pieces are human forms). This exhibit will run through September 15th. Erin reminded us of the Mother’s Day plant sale and noted that 15,000 hyacinths and tulips are opening now. The concert series begins June 12th and runs through August 25th. The Botanic Gardens is building a new science lab on the north side and it will have four indoor galleries and a new auditorium. This new building should open next spring. Erin also noted that the coffee shop on York Street does not require an admission fee – it’s open to the public from the street. Erin noted that the regular $12.50 admission is discounted to $10.50 for groups. Seniors pay $8. Chatfield Farms has 700 acres, and their farms provide produce for low income families. July 20th is the lavender festival. The pumpkin festival is from October 11-13 this year and the corn maze is open through October 27th. Holiday lights (geared to families with young children) runs from November 29th through December 22nd. She also reminded us to check out the Colorado Experience show on TV which will present a history of the gardens.
Andrea Blankenship with the Colorado Tourism Office showed us the latest version of the Colorado State Visitors Guide and the replacement for “Roots” the annual brochure (Love Colorado). She also gave us a page with current (March 2019) statistics on Colorado tourism. A recurring theme is “leave no trace” a sustainability effort to keep our parks and mountains clean. They also offer a program to the Colorado Concierge on “how to treat the tourists”. Colorado is the 8th most visited state and Rocky Mountain National Park is the 3rd most visited National Park.
Jenna VanOort, with Visit Denver, told us about several items: a new international flight to Frankfurt, Germany on both United and Lufthansa and she reminded us about the “Go the Extra Mile” program happening next week (most RMGA members have already taken this and those that have are ineligible for a rerun). Beer Here is at History Colorado. Americas’ soccer will be played here and this is the third year for Slow Food Nation. Also Crush Walls, Denver Beer Week, the Great American Beer Festival, and Denver Graffiti Tours are all on the calendar for 2019.
Jake with the Denver Zoo, told us that Harmony Hill, the new bear enclosure, will open in May with two rescued grizzly bear cubs. This exhibit will have “natural” habitat and will show how to mitigate conflict between humans and bears. The zoo is also building a new hospital which should be done next year. This hospital will have the ability to raise an elephant in a sling for medical procedures. There are new lion and tiger areas. A new baby sloth is due any minute. We have a male lion from the Bronx zoo (help make a new family). By 2025 the Zoo expects to be 100% waste free (currently 68% waste free). The zoo offers docent tours, and highlights. The Zoo is non-profit – every visit helps. The Zoo offers $2.5 million to worldwide projects. The zoo is using a temporary hospital, an old building repurposed, and Jake noted that most procedures must be done in the animal’s habitat. The largest is the grizzly bear, about 800#. They will be able to do MRI’s on most animals when new hospital opens. CSU partners with the Zoo and student interns help with the animals. Jake noted that the Toyota Elephant Walk was designed for Asian elephants (endangered – only 30,000 or so left. African elephants are threatened – 300,000 – 400,000 left) as part of an Asian exhibit of endangered animals, including orangutans (only 30,000 worldwide).
Christine Zazueta, Manager of Community Engagement with RTD, updated us on the latest at RTD. She noted that Bruce Abel (who retired from RTD last year is working on special projects with RTD) is working on the 61st and Pena Station – an autonomous vehicle at Panasonic has a person on it at all times. She noted that the G line will open on April 26th and will offer free rides on opening day and also on the 27th. There will be station parties. She also noted that positive train control is on the H, G, and B lines. The E, F, and R – all three zones will open May 17th(free rides that day) from Lincoln Station to Ridgegate and system-wide free days on May 18th. Only three zones system-wide. The N line to 120th and Lakeview is in the testing stage – and should open sometime in the spring of 2020. Fares have been restructured – a 3-hour pass is good in both directions now. The My Ride card is reloadable and is available on a mobile app. Groups (convention) can pre-purchase tickets to give to their attendees and guests. Trivia – the A line is DC (direct current) on the north side of town and the light rail (AC) is on the south side of town.
I did not receive business cards from all the presenters and/or their substitute presenters so do not have contact information.
Written by Nancy Brueggeman
WHAT: RMGA Membership Meeting -- Cherry Creek Shopping Center - Denver Tourism Update
WHEN: April 8, 2019, 6:00 – 6:45pm – networking, 7:00pm Short Meeting, 7:15pm – 8:00pm - program.
WHERE: Cherry Creek Shopping Center at the 801 Chophouse
PROGRAM: Molly Keech and Andrea Zediker of CCSC will introduce representatives of various tourism venues to update us on what is happening in Denver for the 2019 tourism season.