The Broadmoor’s vice president of sales and marketing, John Washko, has not seen prices this low at the ritzy resort in the 6 1/2 years he’s worked there.
That’s a clear indication of what Washko calls the “AIG effect,” a slashing of business-travel business as well as the reticence of families willing to travel long distances for pricey vacations in this mac-and- cheese and garden-hose economy.
So what do you do to get rears in rooms? Go after the Denver market with deep discounts and added value.
Through Sept. 30, families can stay at the 1918 Colorado Springs hotel for roughly 40 percent off last year’s price.
The offer includes: $125 per person for adults; kids stay and eat free; complimentary tub soak or fitness class; free admission to the movie theater; free bike and paddle-boat rentals; 15 percent discount on selected retail items; 40 percent off suite rates; and a $50 resort credit when you stay three consecutive nights.
Upon checkout, each visitor receives a frequent-stayer card worth $50 toward the next stay through the end of the year. And that card is transferable.
One factor driving the discounts is that the hotel has more empty rooms than in the past because of a roughly 20 percent decline in business bookings this year.
“Like everyone else, we realize the pie has shrunk,” Washko said. “We’re all sort of jockeying with our product offerings to get more slices of the pie. The upper-tier resorts took a lot of cancellations in 2009. That’s what’s driving these values.”
Foodie fodder.
I told you Friday that chef/founding partner Bobby Fitzgerald of the White Chocolate Grill was in it to win it in the “Live With Regis and Kelly” one-minute video contest with his grilled citrus soy glazed salmon.
The people have spoken, and Fitzgerald took tops. He will cook the delish dish on the show, which airs at 9 a.m. Friday on Channel 2.
The White Chocolate Grill opened in the Vistas at Park Meadows last fall.
• The Ritz-Carlton downtown, 1881 Curtis St., celebrates its new outdoor happy hour with free chair massages for the first 10 folks to drop by between 5 and 8 this evening. There will be drink and food specials along with live entertainment.
Eavesdropping
. Two gay men discussing pets at JR’s:
“Do you want a dog?”
“Yes, I want a pug.”
“Aren’t they expensive?
“About $1,000.”
“You know you can rescue a pug at a pug rescue?”
“Yes, but I don’t want a ‘scratch and dent.’ ”
“But aren’t all your loved ones?”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
