Denver in 2008 bucked a national decline in business and leisure travel setting a new record for visitor spending of $3.1 billion, up 7 percent over the $2.9 billion spent in 2007, according to the Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau.
According to the bureau, 12.2 million overnight visitors stayed in the city in 2008, about the same as 2007. But boosted by the Democratic National Convention and a strong convention year, the leisure and business travelers staying in Denver spent more money.
“Denver had its best convention year ever in 2008, which helped offset the huge decline in business travel that occurred in the fourth quarter due to the economy,” said Richard Scharf, president and chief executive of VISIT DENVER.
The report for the bureau, conducted by Longwoods International, said Denver experienced a slight growth of 1 percent in overnight leisure travelers in 2008 but those travelers spent 10 percent more than the previous year.
Business volume declined 2 percent in 2008 but the DNC and other conventions accounted for 5 percent more spending. Business travelers spent $940 million, a new record, in the city in 2008.
Although the number of business travelers declined 2 percent, officials said it was “minor” compared with an 11 percent decline nationally.
The report said that about 6.7 million people came to Denver on day trips in 2008, an increase of 10 percent over 2007, and spent $368 million.
The study said that in 2008, Denver was perceived more positively by visitors compared with 2007. The visitors said they had a positive visit based on affordable dining and accommodations, unique local cuisine, excellent vacation value, great nightlife and entertainment, and excellent museums and galleries.
The top overall attractions in 2008 were the 16th Street Mall, the Cherry Creek shopping district, the Denver Zoo, the Castle Rock Factory Outlets, LoDo Historic District, Larimer Square, Coors Brewery, the Colorado Rockies, Colorado state Capitol and Denver’s Downtown Aquarium.
The top paid admissions were the Denver Zoo, the Colorado Rockies, the Downtown Aquarium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Art Museum, the Colorado History Museum, Children’s Museum of Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Botanic Gardens and Elitch Gardens.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
