The 81 conventions that came to Denver in October 2012 brought more convention delegates and occupied more convention-associated hotel room nights than any other October in the city’s history, according to Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau.
More than 75,000 delegates used 118,369 room nights in October, which resulted in the highest average daily hotel rates, or ADR, for the year: average rates were $188.81 per night downtown and $125.62 metrowide, according to the Rocky Mountain Lodger’s Report. This ADR was the highest for any month of the year, even besting those of August 2008 when the Democratic National Convention came to town. It wasn’t one big convention that made the difference, but rather a series of small to medium meetings held last month. Among these were nine that were able to squeeze into the convention center, providing a steady flow of convention business to the city.
Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver, predicts that overall Denver hotels should finish 4 percent to 5 percent above last year for revenue per available room, or RevPAR, which is the industry standard of performance that combines occupancy and average rate.
Among the groups meeting in October were the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Urban Land Institute, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Sweet Adelines International, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Great American Beer Festival.
