Seventeen thousand visitors will be snowed in in Denver on Jan. 28-30 during the SnowSports Industry Association’s Snow Show, a trade show that’s not open to the public.
The event kicks off the first year of an 11-year contract for the gathering — the largest in Denver’s convention history — and it’s estimated that it will bring in more than $30 million a year when you consider hotel bookings, meals and other expenditures.
Since the convention is a credentials-only event, Visit Denver, the city’s booster arm, has added the World’s Largest Après Ski + Ride Party where conventioneers and the public can attend ski-resort-sponsored parties all over town with lift-ticket giveaways and other swag.
It’s Denver’s chance to put on the snow dog to show SIA folks what this town has to offer.
“We asked ourselves how do we welcome (convention attendees) and how do we celebrate the fact that we have more snow-sports enthusiasts than any other city,” said Visit Denver marketing vice president Justin Bresler.
The website includes a map of all the parties. Après-show revelers also will be able to text “denver apres” to 32075 for the latest Après Ski + Ride info.
Snagging the SIA convention was quite a coup for Denver, which plucked the annual show from the jaws of “fun city” Las Vegas. What does Denver have that Vegas doesn’t? For starters, ski resorts.
“For the first time in the show’s history, they’ll be able to do on-snow demos,” Bresler said.
Exhibitors will shuttle to Winter Park for ski and snowboard demos and to Devil’s Thumb for Nordic equipment.
And don’t forget “Wear Your Ski Wear to Work Day” Jan. 29. Turquoise jumpsuits encouraged.
Peet’s takes a powder.
Peet’s coffee on the 16th Street Mall at Glenarm has closed “due to weak performance,” according to a spokeswoman for the San Francisco- based brew.
Three stores remain in the metro area: Cherry Creek, Southglenn and Boulder.
New chair seated.
Bruce K. Alexander, president and chief executive of Vectra Bank Colorado, will step in as the 2010 chairman of Visit Denver, the state’s convention and visitors bureau.
Alexander, who succeeds Mike Benson of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, will lead a 55-member board of directors that oversees the operations of Visit Denver.
Projects on tap under Alexander’s leadership include completed construction of Predator Ridge, the largest project in the history of the Denver Zoo, the new Clyfford Still Museum, building a rail line to the west and planning one to Denver International Airport, and completion of two downtown hotels.
The seen.
Dining together at Shanahan’s restaurant in the Tech Center on Monday: Mayor John Hickenlooper (right), bigwig businessman Larry Mizel (left) and the mayor’s chief of staff, Roxane White (center).
EAVESDROPPING
A woman watching the Broncos- Chiefs game Sunday with two gal pals:
“You know it’s bad when three of the best Broncos fans break out the Yahtzee game in the first quarter.”
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-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
