A Mile Closer to the Stars

Facilities Division Report, 10/07

Patty Wells

In a recent visit to Denver, our Convention Center Hyatt sales manager told us that Denver has moved up from being the 117th most popular meeting destination to being 5th in just the past few years. Denvention 3 has gotten caught in this sudden popularity.

So we're in a great city that has become more desirable by facilities upgrades, new hotels, and the addition of a 16 block long pedestrian mall (with free shuttle buses and free WiFi) close to the convention center and hotels. Denver is vibrant, filled with wonderful restaurants, and action. The most memorable moment for me in Denver was watching a full, and formally dressed, wedding party in pedicabs being cheered by folks in the outside seating of the original Rock Bottom Brewery.

The convention center is beautiful. The staff people I met were wonderful, and positive about how interesting our convention will be; the free shuttle runs continuously; and the beer down there is excellent. And I'm from Portland, so I'm not easily impressed by the beer supply. It will make for a great Worldcon.

The unfortunate side to Denver's popularity is that there will be several groups sharing the city, the convention center, and the hotels with us, including John Deere and the American Statistical Association (ASA). We have rooms in three of the hotels closest to the convention center, and in other hotels that are 4-5 blocks away and on the free down town shuttle bus route. We have rates no higher than $159 (double) at most hotels; a few are as low as $129.

I know what you're thinking, "Yeah, there's the hype, get to the details." The hotel details will be up on the web no later than the beginning of 2008, and booking information will be out in Progress Report Two about the same time, as is traditional. You will be able to book rooms yourselves; suite bookings will be through the Denvention 3 housing staff, also as is traditional.

will try to help you get the accommodations that will help make this a wonderful Worldcon experience in a great city.