Five new reasons to sell Colorado

It’s got wide-open spaces, jaw-dropping scenery, legendary skiing and not one but four spectacular National Parks that are teeming with wildlife. But you already knew all that, didn’t you? Here’s five more reasons why you should sell Colorado:

The iconic Rocky Mountaineer has arrived

Already a firm favourite in Canada, the Rocky Mountaineer (pictured above) has a brand-new route from Colorado to Utah.

Starting in Denver, the train heads west out of Union Station to Glenwood Springs, where you’ll find world-famous hot-spring pools. After a night spent in the town, the train snakes its way from the Rockies to the Red Rocks, arriving at the mountain-biking mecca of Moab, just over the border in Utah.

The Rocky Mountaineer service, which started in August for a preview season, will return next April and continue right through the summer until the end of October.

Sales Coordinator Anthony Sheffield says the two-day trip will appeal to those who’ve ridden the train in Canada as well as those who’ve never experienced the Rocky Mountaineer.

“This is very different to the Canada trip because of the landscape,” he said. “The scenery is out of this world.”

With demand likely to be high and some 2022 departures already full, clients should be encouraged to book well in advance.

It’s more accessible

When United Airlines launches a second daily flight from London Heathrow to Denver next spring, there will be more year-round flights between the two cities than ever before.

United will resume its daily service on 5 March 2021, which will be followed by the launch of the second daily flight on 27 March, making it the first carrier in Denver history to operate double-daily flights to a European destination.

As an added bonus, both flights will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the second will have United’s new Premium Plus service onboard from the launch date, while the other will be fitted with Premium Plus later in the year.

Not only will United’s second daily flight provide more seats to Denver, which is also served by British Airways, but it will also make it easier to sell multi-centres and road trips to Colorado, where United flies in and out of eight other airports.

There are new hotels

Colorado hoteliers took the opportunity to refurbish, expand and even open stylish new properties during the pandemic – and there are more in the pipeline.

A great option for families, travellers on a budget and long-stay visitors is the new uber-cool Catbird, a boutique property in Denver’s up-and-coming industrial chic district of RiNo. Stuffed with art and feel-good vibes, Catbird’s bedrooms incorporate kitchenettes so guests have the option to cater for themselves. And its rooftop bar with panoramic views is one of the places to enjoy a craft beer in Denver!

Another new opening in the Mile High City is The Rally Hotel in McGregor Square, right next to Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team. Inside are 182 rooms, ranging from small and cosy to spacious suites, while above is a rooftop pool deck with awesome city views.

Beyond Denver, Colorado Springs welcomed Kinship Landing in spring this year and this winter, Aspen, pictured above, unveiled its beautifully renovated Limelight Hotel

You’ve got more to sell

UK tour operators have increased their capacity to Colorado by more than 20% for summer 2022 compared with 2019, providing more holiday choices than ever before.

There are also new events to pull in the visitors, such as the new interactive, multi-media, mind-bending art venue, Meow Wolf, which is the third location for an art collective that started in Sante Fe and moved to Las Vegas before landing in Denver.

Not new but vastly improved is the Pikes Peaks Cog Railway, which has reopened following an extensive $100m refurbishment. The historic railway takes passengers nine miles up to the 14,115 feet summit of Pikes Peak, where they’ll not only be greeted by stupendous views but also a new visitor centre.

You can see it for yourself

From next June, Colorado is looking to bring agents to experience the state once again. “You don’t really understand a destination until you see it,” says Andrea Blankenship, Colorado’s Director of International Tourism. “You will see us focusing a lot on the Rocky Mountaineer, but we’ll organise splinter groups to visit different areas.”

Colorado is hoping to hire someone in the New Year to organise fam trips, so watch this space! In the meantime, Colorado.com is the best source of information for agents organising trips to the state.